State and National Government
The City of Danville — and its economic circumstances — have become a recent hotspot in the campaign for U.S. Senate. It started at the debate in Hot Springs, when Republican challenger Corey Stewart tied Senator Tim Kaine to trade deals like NAFTA which he says have brought blight and high crime rates to Southside cities like Danville. Kaine says Danville is making a remarkable economic recovery with new employers and desirable jobs. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
As a southwest Virginia school system prepares to arm some teachers, the two major party candidates for Senate have differing viewpoints on the idea. Republican Corey Stewart says he is all for training selected teachers and staffers in Lee County schools to carry concealed weapons. Democrat Tim Kaine says he doesn’t think that is best way to ensure school safety, but he defers to Lee County to make this a local decision. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Virginia Senator Mark Warner says effectively dealing with foreign countries’ efforts to impact America’s election process is a constant — and growing challenge. This seems to be one area where both parties appear to be in general agreement. Warner is the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which heard yesterday from social media experts, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Virginia Senator Mark Warner is playing a prominent role in Congressional efforts to address and combat foreign governments’ use of social media to impact our country’s political process. Warner is the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, where leaders from both parties agree Russia was worked actively — and at times effectively — to provoke social conflict.
The committee hosted social media experts today. Next month, senior executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google are expected to testify.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ House Speaker Kirk Cox has set a November date for a special election for a vacant state House seat. Cox announced Wednesday that the election to fill the spot in the Roanoke-area district will be held Nov. 6. That’s the same date as congressional elections. Republican Del. Greg Habeeb recently announced his decision to resign at the end of this month. His departure could imperil the GOP’s slim 51-49 majority in the House, but the district leans heavily Republican. President Donald Trump won the district by 30 percentage points. Political parties have until Aug. 17 to nominate candidates.
News release: Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox issued a writ of election Wednesday, setting November 6th, 2018 as the date for the Special Election in the 8th House District. The Special Election will coincide with the 2018 General Election. A copy of the writ can be found here. “With Delegate Habeeb’s resignation effective August 31, it is imperative that the citizens of the 8th House District have the earliest reasonable opportunity to elect a new Delegate,” said Speaker Cox. “Setting the Special Election to coincide with the upcoming General Election makes the most sense.” Cox added, “I want to thank Delegates Toscano and Herring for suggesting and working with us on selecting the date for this Special Election.”
Pursuant to § 24.2-510 of the Code of Virginia, the deadline for political parties to nominate candidates is Friday, August 17 at 5:00 p.m. All questions should be directed to the Virginia State Board of Elections at 1-800-552-9745. Ask for “special election information.”
From press release: House Democratic Leader David Toscano and Caucus Chair Charniele Herring issued the following statement about Delegate Greg Habeeb’s resignation and the special election to replace him.
“We respectfully request that Speaker Kirk Cox call for the special election to replace Delegate Habeeb to coincide with the general election this November. To hold it at a separate time would be fiscally irresponsible, especially after the House Republicans have already spent millions of taxpayer dollars to defend racially gerrymandered districts. We call on Speaker Cox to act in the best interest of Virginia taxpayers and voters and make this decison swiftly.”
Photo: Gentry Locke
Delegate Greg Habeeb has informed Republican party leaders he is retiring from elected office at the end of August. House Speaker Kirk Cox says he will call for a special election to choose a successor. The date is not yet selected. Here is his statement:
On January 11, 2011, many of you stood in the snow alongside Christy, the kids, and me as I offered myself as a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates. Eight years later and it still feels like yesterday. The kids are bigger – and I’m balder – but through it all, you stood beside me. You stood beside me through five elections where we led our ticket every time. You stood beside me through the highs and lows of life and politics. Every step of the way, you stood beside me.
Through it all, we accomplished great things. We reached across the aisle to reform education by reducing standardized testing, increasing teacher pay and modernizing the way we teach. We reached across the aisle to make our government more efficient and more transparent and to see that our Court system sought justice above all else. We reached across the aisle to improve Virginia’s economy by reducing regulations, investing in higher education, and keeping taxes low.
I am humbled and honored that you have given me the honor of being your voice in Richmond for eight years. It has been my honor to serve you, but I passionately believe in our Founders’ vision of a citizen legislature where regular people step up, take their turn at bat, and then stepped aside to let the next person step forward. With that philosophy in mind, it is time for me to step aside and let a new person, with new passions and new ideas, step forward to serve our community.
Throughout my time in the House of Delegates, my amazing wife and kids, along with my law partners and co-workers at Gentry Locke, have sacrificed to let me serve. They never complained when I missed a family meal or a kid’s basketball game. They never complained when they had to cover a deposition or hearing because I was stuck in Richmond. It’s time for me to pay them back by returning to being a full-time Dad and a full-time law partner at Gentry Locke.
Over the last few years, I’ve begun to take on a more significant role at Gentry Locke, culminating with my becoming an owner this year. Looking forward, there are some very exciting professional opportunities for my firm and me on the horizon. Those new responsibilities, along with the ever-growing responsibilities of being a Dad to my amazing kids and a husband to my incredible wife, make now the right time for me to step away. There is no such thing as the perfect time to leave an institution as remarkable as the Virginia House of Delegates, but there is a right time. For me, that time is now.
Thank you for all your support and prayers through the years. You’ll never know how much it meant to Christy, the kids, and me. I would also be remiss if I didn’t say a special thank you to all the amazing folks I was privileged to serve with in Richmond. Regardless of where you’re from, what you believe or to which party you belong, you all have my upmost respect for stepping into the arena and being willing to serve. You are all my heroes. Keep fighting for what you believe in. To my colleagues from the Roanoke and New River Valleys, thank you for your amazing leadership and for standing beside me in this journey.
Thank you, and may God bless you and your families.
From House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox: “Since his election in 2011, Greg has been a valuable member of the House of Delegates. He contributed on the floor, as the Chairman of the Civil Subcommittee and as a member of Commerce & Labor, Transportation and Rules committees during his time in the House. “While we are disappointed by his announcement, I respect the personal decision he made. Greg has committed to working alongside us to identify strong candidates who will be ready to fill his shoes. We are confident that Greg will be succeeded by a Republican who shares our commitment to conservative governing principles. With the House of Delegates currently in session, the power to call a special election rests with me as Speaker. I will be reviewing potential dates and making an announcement in the near future.”
