Just a couple of days after Walter Stosch decided to hang up his spurs [1] as Senator for Virginia’s 12th district, a familiar face has come forward seeking the GOP nomination to replace him: former Del. Bill Janis [2]…
The next Senator from the 12th District must be ready to say “no” to Obamacare expansion in Virginia, “no” to further encroachments on our fundamental rights, “no” to the inexorable growth of government.
The next Senator must be ready, willing and able to fight on behalf of the people of Hanover and Henrico for “a wise and frugal government” which will preserve our liberty, defend our rights, and “will not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
Because we need a Senator who will say “yes” to economic growth, better jobs, and higher take home pay for Virginians; and
Because we need a Senator who will say “yes” to less government spending and “yes” to less government regulation and red tape; and
Because we need a Senator who will put the people first and will stand firm against the special interests and reckless government expansion;
For all of these reasons, I am announcing today that I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to be the next Senator from the 12th Senate District of Virginia.
Janis was an active and outspoken member of the House, who left his seat to make a late and unsuccessful run, as an independent, for Henrico Commonwealth Attorney. The entire episode reeked of Keystone Kops, and in hindsight was an early indication of trouble for former Rep. Eric Cantor.
That was then. Something that was also then, and should be recalled today, is that when Stosch was challenged strongly from the right in 2007, Janis backed the challenger, Joe Blackburn. Should Janis manage to win the nomination, and the general, it would signal a profound ideological shift in the district — something that will please a lot of folks, and bring to fruition what was first attempted eight years ago.