Congressmen enter the fray in 91st delegate race
By JR Hoeft | Saturday, January 15th, 2011 | PoliticsNormally, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA01) and Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA02) see eye-to-eye on most matters. Unfortunately for Republicans in the 91st House of Delegate’s district, recently vacated by retiring Del. Tom Gear, they do not on who should be the GOP nominee.
This week, Wittman endorsed Seaford attorney Chad Green for the seat and Rigell endorsed Hampton councilman Chris Stuart.
Not surprisingly, Green lives in the 1st and Stuart in the 2nd Congressional Districts.
Wittman said of Green:
“I am pleased to endorse Chad Green for the House of Delegates,” said Rep. Wittman. “Having known Chad for many years, I have admired his hard work for the York County Republicans, and for many community organizations. Chad is a true conservative who believes in limited government, lower taxes, private landowner rights, and a strong military. He is exactly the type of leader we need in Richmond.”
Rigell said of Stuart:
“Chris is a proven job creator and a respected leader in our community and I believe he is the right candidate to fight for our shared conservative values in Richmond. Chris is committed to fighting for lower taxes and less regulation and will work to create the right environment to create more jobs in Hampton Roads. Please join me in supporting Chris Stuart for the Virginia House of Delegates.”
The firehouse primary will be held this Tuesday.
Green has also been endorsed by the Peninsula Tea Party and Del. Brenda Pogge; Stuart has received endorsements from State Sen. Frank Wagner and many current and former members of the Hampton City leadership.
Teresa Vanesse Schmidt, daughter of former Hampton City Councilman Alan Vanasse, and Poquoson Mayor Gordon Helsel are also running. Schmidt is Gear’s preferred candidate. Helsel challenged Gear in a nomination contest last go-around.
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Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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14 Responses to "Congressmen enter the fray in 91st delegate race"
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We need Chris Stuart like a fish needs a bicycle.
I got five election flyers in my mailbox today. One was from Teresa Schmidt, one was from Chad Green, one was from Chris Stuart and two were from the “FFCN PAC”.
I had to look up the FFCN PAC.
Teresa Schmidt’s card was an endorsement from Tom Gear and Chad Green’s was a laydown of his experience and his plans. Chris Stuart’s piece represents him as “Hampton’s Own” and lists his backers (including Kyle Adams) and accomplishments. It fails to mention that the outgoing delegate, Tom Gear, blasted Chris and publicly called him dishonest and said, “You are NOT ‘my good friend’ ” as Stuart’s robocalls had falsely claimed. It also fails to address the issue raised at the forum by one concerned voter that Stuart established a legal residence in this district (so he could run) less than two weeks ago and hasn’t been spending his nights there. Basically, the voter felt he was a carpetbagger and an opportunist. I felt Stuart was evasive on the issue. So I dug further. The more I dug, the more manure I unearthed.
We’ll get back to that.
The two pieces of literature funded by the FFCN PAC grossly misrepresent the candidates and their points. We really don’t need this kind of bull$@#t in politics — let’s call things the way they are and not give snippets of sentences to mislead voters.
The two FFCN mailers are defamatory and intentionally misleading.
One quotes Gordon Helsel as having said, “Don’t send me to Richmond handcuffed” and the second piece quotes Chad Green as having said “When I go to Richmond, I am going to party . . .”
Neither piece is worth the paper it is printed on. Pure scum and slime. This race deserves better. So do voters.
From my perspective, Chris Stuart reflects everything that derailed the Republican Party and ushered in the Democratic demise of our state and our nation. I just learned today that on August 3, 2009, Chris Stuart requested and paid for four different URLs:
1. Chris Stuart for City Council (the race he was entering at that point in time and position he has held for less than one year)
2. Chris Stuart for Delegate (this “unanticipated” race)
3. Chris Stuart for Mayor (a race he may intend to enter when he tires the delegate job or his City Council job — oh, wait, apparently, he’s already tired of that after less than one year.)
4. Chris Stuart for Congress (a race he likely thinks will be his next step after mayor and before the governor’s mansion or the White House)
After hearing him lash out against term limits, perhaps we should ask him to limit his job search focus.
The FFCN PAC mailers were funded by Kyle Adams and other Stuart cronies. Stuart needs to apologize for them or publicly denounce the FFCN PAC for misleading voters.
The first mailer from FFCN PAC painted Gordon Helsel as a man Helsel-bent on raising taxes. I really didn’t get that impression at the forum and it’s not what he said. Helsel was, perhaps, the most experienced candidate with regard to transportation challenges and was discussing options that would be available to fund badly needed projects and simply said he didn’t want to be boxed in (e.g., “handcuffed”) if he won this seat and had to deal with those issues.
The second mailer is even more egregious. What Chad Green said was, “When I go to Richmond, I am going to party like it’s 1773!” in reference to the Boston Tea Party. He had just laid out $12 million in specific cuts he would initiate to save VA taxpayers money if elected and then made the statement to let voters know he had a budget axe and was going to slash spending and taxes — like our forefathers wanted to do in 1773.
Like others who know this information, I am seething at the unwarranted, deceptive slime and conspired plan to unfairly attack some fine candidates.
These flyers are only good if the roll in the bathroom is bare. We deserve better than this and we definitely deserve better than Chris Stuart. Even if he has lived in our district for almost two whole weeks.
Seriously? Are people forgetting that Tom Gear ALSO moved into the district before he ran for the seat? And that this is actually pretty common? As for Tom Gear standing up during the section of that debate when he was supposed to be THANKING people for honoring him, he showed his real class by attacking people. That shows how far from grace he has truly fallen and that he is desperate to try and smear people. I understand that politics take dirty turns all the time, but seriously? Why not argue about the things that matter instead of the petty nonsense that doesn’t?
If you don’t like the mail fliers coming to your door, then throw them away. You can tell that the election is coming up because now everyone is up in arms over the silliest things that won’t even matter after Tuesday. Chris Stuart, regardless if you like him or not, is an upstanding citizen, great businessman and a loving family man. He takes pride in his city and his work and that is something that should be considered. Not who is supporting him or what PAC is or isn’t. That is the petty politics peaking out. That won’t matter when he gets elected. What will matter are the things he has in store for the area. That is what people need to get excited and argue about. Not about his address, or who endorsed who, or even the fact that someone said you are my friend in a robocall. It’s politics, everyone does these things. Move on to the important stuff already.
Jo,
No one else in this race is doing these things.
Just Chris. (And his bag carrier, Kyle)
And, by the way, character IS important stuff.
Even if it’s not important to Chris. Or to Kyle. Or to you.
I never said I don’t like Chris. I actually think he’s smart and has some good ideas. I wholeheartedly agree that he should tout his business experience and community service. That’s not what has happened. He has chosen a different path — or at least mixed in alot of this bad with the good.
As a Hampton resident (since 3d grade in 1965 — not since 3 Jan 2011) I am hugely disappointed in how he has misstepped and misrepresented. You have no idea. I went to the forum unaware of this seedy side of him and went to it filled with great interest in hearing what he and Teresa Schmidt had to say (as our Hampton candidates). I went with the hope that they would BOTH be heads above Helsel and Green. It’s not how it turned out. So, I guess it’s my fault for having some reasonable expectation of decency and honesty in a candidate from my home town. I certainly felt Teresa Schmidt was candid and honest. Perhaps if Chris actually HAD spent time here in the 91st, he would have been imbued with similar traits. FWIW, Stuart didn’t come across as the best candidate — not even close. He was third in my book.
Anyone (not just Chris Stuart) who actually plots his political career moves by buying four URLs and runs and wins a City Council seat only to be more than ready to vacate it on this opportunistic run is not the kind of person ANY city or ANY district needs. With all the important issues out there (at least we agree on that), the LAST thing Hampton wants or needs on City Council is a seat vacated by an opportunistic member and it goes to reason that he’s definitely not the kind of person the 91st District needs in Richmond.
There’s no need to pretend Chris wasn’t consulted by Kyle on these flyers. I recall seeing Kyle at the forum wearing a Chris Stuart T-shirt. I seriously doubt Chris didn’t give a wink and a nod to the thin veil of this misguided idea. I don’t think Tuesday will turn out like you think. If Chris does win, he should know that we hold our representatives to a high ethical standard. Although I will agree with you that Tom Gear could have chosen a more appropriate time or place to set the record straight with Chris — you should (both) know that Tom and many constituents here are no-nonsense, hard-working, principled Americans and we won’t tolerate this kind of crap.
You ought to do some ethical soul-searching and really mull over what is important. And have Chris do the same.
Character is important.
Soooo, has anybody seen that Chris Stuart is putting his 4×8′s in cemeteries? Talk about a lack of moral standards. Even my ten year old new that was wrong. We talked about it today over lunch and she couldn’t believe or understand why a candidate for office would put a 4×8 in a cemetery. She said she was riding with her mom down Hampton Roads Center Parkway and notice a funeral was being held near one of the 4×8′s. Talk about a lack of taste. Come one Chris, some locations are inappropriate, even my child knows that!
REL 4×8 signs in a cemetery:
Is he endorsed by the Westboro Baptist Church?
REF 4×8 signs in a cemetery:
Perhaps he is reaching out to Democratic Party voters?
Hahahahaha, all I know is everybody complains about how creepy the guy is when he campaigns. Alot of people I know laugh at him because he’s campaigning on his record, but also complain that he’s a real sleezeball when he campaigns, like they can’t trust him. I think the cemetery thing is the icing on the cake with that. But I don’t think he’s reaching out to Democratic Party Voters, especially since he’s got a large Democratic base that’s already going to come out for him
I joined the local Republican Party, several years ago because I was unhappy with the direction we were taking under the current (at the time) leadership. I believed that they were leading us down a path of destruction. I viewed the liberals as a threat to modern civilization.
Recent developments within the Republican party have made me reluctant to admit publicly that I am, in fact, a Republican. The recently revealed connections between Tommy Norment, Greg Garrett, Scott Rigell and now Chris Stuart, just makes me ashamed to be part of this travesty. The Good Ole Boy network is alive and well in Hampton. My vote in the Tuesday Firehouse Primary will be for one of the inexperienced candidates. I do not want to be responsible for sending any more crooks to Richmond. I think a Greenhorn candidate, with no political favors to repay, will make an excellent Delegate. Hopefully, we will get several years of good representation out of him, before he drinks the Kool-Aide.
So you are saying that I am unethical and need to do some soul searching? How dare you. You can’t make statements like that about someone you have never even met let alone had more than one encounter on a blog site with. That means you are the one who needs to figure out what is going on inside your soul and figure out your own business.
As for the fact that URLS were bought, have they been used? Has anything been done with them (except the Delegate one) since they were bought? Everyone keeps talking about how they were bought, and yes maybe those are his political goals for the future. If NOTHING has been done with them, other than be bought so that no one else can use the name for them, then what is the big deal? Had dates or anything like that been used in them, then yes I can see the problem. So far the only thing anyone has been able to say is that they were bought. I would also like to state that, it doesn’t mean he will ever run for those spots. He may never get to them. But he has them if HE so chooses to do so. So unless there are dates saying Running for Mayor in 2015, then move on. He bought the sites. Big deal. Have they been put to use? Other than the delegate one? Didn’t think so.
as for being a resident since Jan. 3 2011, who are you referring to? Me or Chris Stuart? If me, then you are right. I don’t live in the area, but I respect Chris Stuart on multiple levels and I actually work all over the City of Hampton. If you are referring to Chris, then I am pretty sure he has lived there for most of his life, with his family. So…why not clarify who you are talking about. Otherwise I think you just look at little silly.
If you feel that Chris is 3rd, then who is your line up? I am curious as I was there as well, but I don’t feel like he has misrepresented anyone. If anything, the fact that he has doesn’t have long time connections to the the 91st is a good thing. People complained that Gear would use his connections in less than favorable ways, and that was because of his long connection with the area. If Chris has no long connections, that means he can represent the area in a more effective manner. This allows him to look at things completely unbiased in what some of the citizens want verus what the masses want. That is the type of individual that I want in my district. I want someone who isn’t going to put the needs of his “buddies” before the needs of me and my family.
So because Kyle wears a Support Chris Stuart shirt to a forum, he is evil or corrupt or whatever you are saying about him? Seriously people? People are complaining about the “bashing” the mailer gave to the other delegates, yet all I have seen on these blogs is bashing of Chris. Why don’t you take the finger you are pointing at Chris and point it are yourself while looking in the mirror. Talking about looking at my own ethics, why not take your own advice?
If you are concerned with what Chris wants to bring to the 91st why not talk to him about it? Why not take the criticism you are bashing him with on the internet and take it to him and explain how you feel? That is unless you really don’t care and you simply enjoy tarnishing a good name?
As for the cemetery signs, just because they are at churches that support him doesn’t make them creepy. Stop misrepresenting the facts in favor for whoever you support. I’m sure the other candidates have them at churches too, but you don’t see anyone else trying to say they are creepy. Those of you who are saying it are the ones who needs to relearn your morals.
Have you been watching channel 13 this evening? They are interviewing your boy about his residence. He was pretty smooth in the interview, just not honest. It will be up again at 6PM. Funny stuff!
hahah funny how Tom Gear did the exact same thing when he ran for the seat. He didn’t live in the district prior to wanting to run for the 91st district. Funny how everyone seems to conveniently forget that. Who is the one being dishonest? Tom Gear certainly isn’t.
@Jo — The election is over and Chris finished where he belonged — last. I didn’t see your last posts until just now but felt you deserve a brief response.
If your argument is that Chris just did what Tom did, you are wrong. Tom physically moved into the house and lived there. Chris had a pretend new house while he remained in his real house with his family. That’s a lie. And it’s NOT what Tom did.
If, on the other hand, you are confirming that Chris had a meets-the-residence-requirement address but [doesn't] have “have long time connections to the 91st [and that] is a good thing” — well, Jo, you are wrong again. It’s actually against the rules. The rules say you must LIVE in the residence you claim on your filing form. I’m a huge fan of NOT having folks elected with ties to the downtown crowd or favors owed to good old boys. But if it means the prospective candidate will intentionally break the rules or lie, I’ll pass on the offer.
As for the URLs, Chris ran for and won an office with a 4-year term. To abandon that job after less than one year to run for this seat is, in my humble estimation, a gross disservice to the citizens who supported him in his quest to represent them in the job of City Councilman. To break rules and to lie in order to do so is a testament to his flawed ethical underpinnings and reveal an opportunistic side which is further validated by his having purchased these “stepping stone” URLs.
Defending these things on his behalf or relegating them to unimportance means that you side with him. It’s understandable (given your admitted long-term friendship/relationship/knowledge of or with him).
Understandable, but still not acceptable.
Your moral compass appears to have been pulled off course by whatever magnetism his persona has with you.
It also seemed that you were pretending that the FFCN PAC literature and Kyle’s ownership of the FFCN PAC and his direct support of Chris’ campaign were somehow not connected — that Chris didn’t know about the flyers or that they were similar to what other campaigns were putting out. All of that is nonsense and you ought to shut-up about it and pray that it goes away. Just like Chris and Kyle have done.
Please be sure that if it ever surfaces again, it will draw the same ire and the same fire as it has this time. It’s not about any specific candidate who I or other voters support — it’s about behaviors which are unacceptable and conduct that is intolerable.
I don’t know Chris other than from listening to him at the forums, reading his campaign literature, and three 1-on-1 conversations with him. My views of him are understandably more objective.
He will need to find a way to absolve himself of some of these things if he ever plans to make meaningful use of the other URLs.
The bad news is that elephants have long memories.
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