Political Notes: Town Halls Planned, Torian Likes Revitalization, NRA Honors Lingamfelter

Connolly plans 17th tele-town hall

Congressman Gerry Connolly will hold his 17th telephone town hall on Tuesday, February 5th at 8:05 pm for residents of Virginia’s 11th Congressional District residing in Fairfax and Prince William Counties and the City of Fairfax.

Tens of thousands of constituents will be called at that time and invited to stay on the call and attend. Those who want to guarantee they get a call and are able to participate in the telephone town hall may sign up on Connolly website – https://connolly.house.gov/sign-up-for-a-telephone-town-hall/ .

Since Connolly started the telephone town halls shortly after he took office in January 2009, more than 200,000 11th CD residents have participated in at least one call with the congressman. During one of the telephone town meetings in 2010, more than 30,000 people joined a single call.

Constituents will be called shortly before the meeting begins at 8:05 pm. Connolly will give a brief rundown of the top issues in Congress and issues he is working on and will then open it up to constituent questions. Any constituents who do not get the opportunity to personally ask a question of Connolly have the option of leaving a voice mail question and they will subsequently receive a written response from the Congressman.

Congressman Connolly’s telephone town halls supplement regular town meetings and hundreds of meetings he has held with residents across the 11th CD’s two counties.

WHAT: Connolly Telephone Town Hall

WHEN: Tuesday, February 5th at 8:05 pm

WHERE: Constituents will be called in the minutes leading up to the meeting inviting them to participate & can also sign up at online.

WHO: Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

11th CD Residents

Anderson plans 2 town halls

Del. Richard L. Anderson will host two community town halls for residents of Virginia’s 51st House District this coming Saturday, February 2nd, at two separate locations in Prince William County. All members of the community are invited to attend the event closest to their home.

The first town hall will take place for mid-county residents and will be from 10am to 12pm at the Oak Hill General Store, 12203 Kahns Road, Manassas, VA (corner of Purcell Road and Kahns Road, off Hoadly Road).

The second town hall will take place for west-county residents and will be from 1-3pm at the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department, 12826 Marsteller Drive, Nokesville, VA.

The mid- and west-county town halls follow a similar town hall that was conducted for east-county residents on January 12th. The topic of all three town halls will be bills and other matters being considered by the Virginia General Assembly during its 2013 legislative session now underway at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. The session began on January 9th and ends on February 23rd.

For more information, residents of the 51st House District can contact Del. Anderson’s Richmond office between now and 5pm on Friday at 804-698-1051, or email Del. Anderson’s legislative assistant, Mr. Ryan M. Galloway, at RGalloway[at]house.virginia.gov.

Torian encourages revitalizing buildings rather than tearing down

Delegate Luke Torian announced his support of Senator Bill Stanley’s (R-Franklin) bill that encourages businesses to renovate, and revitalize structures, rather than tearing down or expanding into traditionally rural areas.

“We are trying to preserve communities and create jobs” Torian said during the Finance Subcommittee meeting.

Torian went on to describe the specific challenges vacant buildings pose in Prince William County, and the opportunities for development that they represent.

“My bill allows new businesses to receive a small tax credit for moving into a community and refitting an existing vacant commercial or industrial property” Torian said. “Although my bill was supported by both the Virginia Chamber and the League of Conservation voters, members of the House of Delegates subcommittee voted down the bill.

Torian remained optimistic that he could help pass legislation that addresses the vacant buildings in Prince William County. “I have joined Senator Stanley and am co-patroning legislation that will accomplish many of the same goals.”

Stanley’s bill, the Building Revitalization Act (SB 748) has already passed Senate Committee unanimously.

Delegate Torian: “I am pleased that Senator Stanley’s legislation was considered favorably in the Senate today. I am thankful that the legislative process allows for my colleagues to continue to work on these economic redevelopment issues. … I would also like to thank the business community and the League of Conservation Voters for coming together and supporting this legislative effort.”

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Cole plans President’s Day open house in Richmond

I would like to invite you, your family and your neighbors to spend the day with us at the General Assembly for our “Richmond Open House” on Monday, February 18th (President’s Day). There will be coffee and doughnuts in the morning along with an explanation of how the General Assembly works. Depending on your schedule, you are welcome to sit in on committee meetings and attend Session. We will be gathering from 9:30am to 11:00am in 8th Floor West Conference Room of the General Assembly Building, which is located at the corner of 9th and Broad Streets in Richmond. If you will be attending, please call my office at (804) 698-1088 or reply to this email.

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If you have any questions or concerns about issues before the General Assembly, please do not hesitate contacting me.

Lingamfelter honored by NRA

The National Rifle Association’s Civil Rights Defense Fund is pleased to announce that Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter of Virginia will receive the Harlon B. Carter-George S. Knight Freedom Fund Award at a ceremony this March at NRA headquarters in Fairfax.

First elected to the House of Delegates in 2001, Lingamfelter was Chief Patron of the 2012 legislation that repealed Virginia’s gun rationing (one-gun-a-month) law. As Chairman of the Committee on Militia, Police & Public Safety, he consistently works to enhance public safety by assuring law-abiding citizens ability to acquire, possess and carry arms. He is also the founder and Co-Chair of the (joint) Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, which focuses on hunting, fishing and shooting sports concerns.

A 28-year veteran of the United States Army, Lingamfelter served in several theaters and received numerous commendations including, but not limited to, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three battle stars.

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