Stewart running for governor, taking cues from Trump

Corey Stewart is running for governor in 2017.

He’s positioning himself as a Donald Trump-like candidate who will say whatever he wants, who means what he says, and, if elected, does what he means. Stewart since December has led the effort in Virginia to get Trump elected, serving as his statewide campaign coordinator — crisscrossing the state campaigning for the billionaire.

Many have said Stewart aligned himself with Trump to be a better-looking candidate, as the ideal conservative for an eventual run for the state’s highest office. They were correct.

“It’s absolutely going to make me look better if I can help Trump win the nomination,” said Stewart. “That’s my job.”

He came out of the gate swinging, calling two other Republicans also seeking to be the next Virginia Governor — Congressman Rob Wittman and Ed Gillespie who in 2014 unsuccessfully tried to replace Senator Mark Warner — as tired, establishment Republicans.

“It’s May, and have either of them yet said who they support for president?” asked Stewart.

Gillespie or Wittman could not be reached for comment. Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli who unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 2013 said he will not run again next year.

Stewart said he didn’t plan to make the announcement this early and that his focus remains on getting Trump elected president. A headed an interaction with Cuccinelli over the weekend at a state Republican convention held ahead of the national GOP convention this summer forced his hand.

Recently, Stewart fought Dominion Virginia Power’s plan to treat toxic coal ash water and release it into the Potomac River near Dumfries and Quantico. Leaders, including Stewart, reached a deal with Dominion that allows it to proceed with the discharge in exchange for higher monitoring standards

Early on in his political career on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, he fought to curb illegal immigration. Under his direction, the Board passed one of the stringent resolutions in Prince William County’s history by requiring police officers to check the legal presence of everyone who is arrested. Today, that program has been scaled back and the immigration status of suspects is checked at the county jail and not on the streets.

Stewart has also found himself at odds with Republicans, too. He lost a 2013 bid for Lt. Governor at a party convention in Richmond. The following year, he supported building Colgan High School — one of the most expensive high schools in the state — to attract more affluent residents to the county. This year, as he has in year’s past, is expected to increase property tax bills in Prince William County while keeping the tax rate flat to support more government services in the growing county.

The issues for the 2017 Virginia Governor campaign — whatever they turn out to be as it’s still early — don’t matter much to Stewart.

“Look at the presidential race… it’s not about issues; it’s about character,” said Stewart. “What they in Trump is a guy who is wiling to shatter the status quo by taking on the establishment, and has earned millions of followers because of it.”

“I’m going to be the blunt-spoken, no filter, Stewart.” he added. “I’m going to speak my mind whether they like it or not, and that’s why they are going to get?”

*This story has been corrected.  An an earlier version incorrectly stated Stewart would increase the tax rate.