Lt. Gov. Hopefuls Woo GOP Voters
Posted: January 5, 2013
Susan Stimpson (right) talks to Valley Family Forum Director Dean Welty during an area Republicans First Fridays meeting Friday at Wood Grill Buffet in Harrisonburg. Simpson and Pete Snyder, both seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, addressed the gathering. (Photos by Nikki Fox)
Susan Stimpson touts her experience with the Stafford County Board of Supervisors as one reason why she would make a good Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.
Pete Snyder, who is seeking the GOP lieutenant governor nomination, told area Republicans during a stop Friday at Wood Grill Buffet in Harrisonburg that he’s running on “big, bold conservative ideas.”
Pete Snyder and Susan Stimpson are the first running for the position to speak with area Republicans, who gathered at Wood Grill Buffet for their monthly First Fridays luncheon.
Snyder, an entrepreneur who lives in Fairfax County, is running on “big, bold conservative ideas.”
He wants to limit spending, “defend liberty and the Constitution,” and make “transformational education reform.”
Stimpson, who announced her bid in August, is the chairwoman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.
During a speech, Stimpson called for “young and energetic leadership” for the Republican Party, and a need to defend liberty and cut back on “government overreaches.”
Both candidates voiced their strong support for limited government, more school choice, gun rights, and their position as anti-abortion candidates.
“I’m going to do everything I can to move the ball forward on our conservative principles,” Stimpson said.
The lieutenant governor, second in line to the governor, only has the legislative power to vote to break ties in the Senate, now evenly divided with 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans.
Others running for the Republican nomination include Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of Supervisors, Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter of Prince William, former state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis of Fairfax, Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson and Sen. Stephen Martin of Chesterfield.
The field of candidates is vying to replace Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who didn’t file for re-election so he could run for governor this year. Bolling has since withdrawn his name for consideration as the Republican nominee to replace outgoing Gov. Bob McDonnell, but hasn’t ruled out a run as an independent candidate.
The Republican nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and other statewide constitutional offices will be chosen at the Republican convention on May 18. The general election is Nov. 5.
The Democratic Party will determine its nominees through a primary election set for June 11. Candidates vying for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination include Aneesh Chopra, the nation’s first chief technology officer, and Sen. Ralph Northam of Norfolk.
Stimpson spoke first during Friday’s event in Harrisonburg, referring often to her experience as a county supervisor as an indicator of her effectiveness and principles.
“I am going to be a watchdog for your liberties and I have a record to show that,” she said, adding that her record includes votes to decrease her own power and pay, and reduce taxes.
“The bigger the bureaucracy, the more personnel, the bigger the budget, the more power and control the elected official has,” Stimpson said. “I want to do everything I can to preserve your freedom.”
Snyder called attention to his career as the founder of New Media Strategies, a social media marketing agency, to demonstrate a record of creating jobs and being an innovator. He now serves as the CEO of Disruptor Capital, another company he launched that invests in technology, ideas and entrepreneurs.
During his speech, Snyder emphasized the need for better school choice laws, and voiced his disapproval of teacher tenure. Advocates for school choice favor creating tax credits or putting public funds behind providing more options — such as home schooling or charter schools — for students.
He said he wants to see Virginia become a haven for entrepreneurs as well as medium and large business to boost the economy and would like to reduce government spending.
“Folks, if you want politics as usual … I guarantee you I’m not your guy,” he said.
Contact Emily Sharrer at 574-6286 or esharrer@dnronline.com