Chelsea Pickering (Arabi)
Chelsea Pickering | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 34th Vice President of Arabi | |
| Assumed office August 22, 2022 | |
| President | Robert Stephens |
| Preceded by | Robert Stephens |
| Speaker of the Arabin House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 2017 – August 22, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua Paxton March |
| Succeeded by | Steven Turner |
| House Majority Leader | |
| In office January 8, 2015 – January 8, 2017 | |
| Speaker | Joshua Paxton March |
| Preceded by | Colleen Gilmore |
| Succeeded by | Steven Turner |
| Member of the Arabin House of Representatives from New Cambridge's 11th district | |
| In office January 8, 2005 – August 22, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Brad Schroeder |
| Succeeded by | Harriett Snider |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chelsea Marie Nixon March 11, 1973 Columbia Bridge, Welwald |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | LSP (before 2020) |
| Spouse(s) | Jeff Hamilton (m. 1994; div. 1995) Tony Pickering (m. 1998) |
| Children | 4 |
Chelsea Marie Pickering (née Nixon; born March 11, 1973) is an Arabinian politician serving as the 34th Vice President of Arabi since 2022. Previously she served as Speaker of the Arabin House of Representatives from 2017 to 2022 and served as an Arabin Representative from 2005 to 2022. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Pickering is the fifth woman to serve as House Speaker.
Pickering is the first cousin twice removed to former U.S. President Richard Nixon.
Early life
Pickering was born to John Nixon (1943) and Marianne Conley Nixon (1944). John immigrated to Arabi from the United States in July 1969 when he was 26. Roughly two months later he met Marianne Conley. The two wed in February of 1970. They have three children, Greg (1971-1974), Chelsea (1973), and Fred (1975).
When Pickering was one year old, her brother Greg died due to Leukemia.
Career
House of Representatives (2005−2022)
House Majority Leader (2015−2017)
House Speaker (2017−2022)
Personal life
Pickering married Jeff Hamilton in November 1994. They divorced in August 1995 after nine months of marriage due to domestic violence. She said three weeks after marrying Hamilton, he started hitting her and verbally abusing her. On June 13, 1995, Hamilton became inebriated and started hitting and punching Pickering, after attempting self-defense against him, he grabbed a kitchen knife and non-fatally stabbed her three times. She was able to call the police and they arrested Hamilton and charged him with attempted murder. Pickering was taken to the hospital where she was treated for three weeks. The day after being released from the hospital she filed for divorce. In 1997, Hamilton was found guilty of attempted murder and was sentenced to 18 years in a state penitentiary, he was released in April 2015.
She met Tony Pickering in 1997 and subsequently married him after a year of dating. They have four children together; Martin (2000), Christina (2002), Marley (2004), and Daniel (2006). Pickering stated she hadn't planned on remarrying due to the trauma she endured during her first marriage but that Tony is "a kind and gentle giant who always put her needs before his own."
Vice President
Pickering became the 34th Vice President of Arabi on August 22, 2022. Robert Stephens nominated her on August 1, 2022, just hours after he was sworn in as President. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on August 22, 2022 and she was sworn in an hour later.