(Stafford)- Stafford Supervisor Bob Thomas has announced he’s a candidate for the 28th District House of Delegates seat held by retiring House Speaker Bill Howell. A Republican primary is set for June 13th. Fellow Supervisor Paul Milde is also running.
Here is a statement released by Bob Thomas:
16 March 2017
As you may know, our district has been fortunate to have Speaker Bill Howell as our delegate for many years and his wonderful wife Cessie has been with him every step of the way along the incredible journey they are now closing a chapter on. Their love for each other, for our community and the countless hours of service they have dedicated to all of us has left an immeasurable difference in so many lives. Fredericksburg and Stafford have certainly been fortunate to have the Speaker of the House representing our area. As a member of the Stafford Board of Supervisors, I can assure you on numerous occasions when we needed help with an issue all it would take was a call to the Speaker. He has been accessible, thoughtful, energetic and a man of his word.
This election however is not about electing the next Speaker of the House, but rather electing a junior Delegate who will go to Richmond in January and who must work hard to establish working relationships with members of the General Assembly on behalf of the 28th District. We must send someone to Richmond who, like Bill Howell, has the character, temperament, skill and reputation of building coalitions and consensus around issues and someone who has worked with officials from outside our district. In 2014, I was elected to the Virginia Association of Counties Board of Directors as the Region 7 Director where I represent the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, King George, Louisa, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania and Stafford. I will build upon these existing relationships to accomplish the work of our district.
As the George Washington member of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, I am proud of the work we have accomplished over the last several years. We have proven that conservative budgeting and tax policies produce more revenue to be invested into areas such as Public Education and Public Safety while at the same time reducing the pressure on property taxes. I started a small business over ten years ago and the experience in that endeavor has allowed me to bring a business perspective to the work of our county government. Like Stafford and Fredericksburg, the Commonwealth must diversify our economy away from the federal government to protect us if the fragile economic recovery fails. As legislation is crafted I will bring my business experience to the table to ensure Virginia is winning the economic development battle against our competitor states so all Virginia families have the opportunity for success.
I spent nearly eight years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps where I proudly wore the uniform and had the opportunity to showcase the best of what America has to offer to people around the globe. Our nation’s commitment to those who serve to protect our freedom and liberty is part of the bedrock of our nation. While we have made great progress on issues such as veteran homelessness, we must do more and I will work to ensure the Commonwealth continues to listen to and address the needs of our veteran community.
I’m humbled by the outpouring of support from across the 28th District. I thoroughly enjoy serving on the Board of Supervisors representing the residents of the George Washington District from White Oak to Ferry Farm to Chatham, but the overwhelming encouragement from many of our friends and neighbors confirms my belief that I can have an even greater impact on the community we all call home. With the unwavering support of my wife Christi, I am seeking the support of the residents of the 28th District to become their next representative in the Virginia House of Delegates.