A familiar face in Prince William County is running to lead the Virginia Republican Party.
Anderson’s statement | Today, former Virginia state delegate and retired 30-year Air Force Colonel Richard L. (Rich) Anderson announced that he is a candidate for election as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV). This year, Virginia Republicans will elect a state party chairman for a four-year term at the 2020 RPV Quadrennial State Convention on May 1-2 in Lynchburg.
Anderson’s entry into the race comes after he lost a bid to reclaim his seat in the House of Delegates in November. Anderson held the seat, representing the 51st House District in Prince William County from 2010 to 2017, and was unseated by the current seat holder Democrat Delegate Hyla Ayala.
Anderson’s statement | For 250 years, political life in our country has been a cyclical business that is marked by a political pendulum that swings back and forth between the two major parties. If elected to lead the Republican Party of Virginia, I will focus 16-18 hours every day, seven days a week, on swinging the pendulum as heavily and swiftly as possible back to the party of Lincoln. We will have but one goal: The sure election of Republican candidates and the swift defeat of Democrat candidates.
Anderson will contest current Republican Party Chairman Jack Wison who announced he is seeking reelection to the position.
Wilson’s statement | “Virginia and our nation are at a crossroads, and the year 2020 will be crucial in deciding what route our Commonwealth and our Country take. At this critical time, when our liberties and our Constitution are under assault, we need strong leadership, relevant experience, good judgment and new ideas at the helm of our Party to steer Republicans to victory. And that is why I am running for re-election as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.
In November, the Republicans lost their majority in the House of Delegates and State Senate in Richmond for the first time in nearly three decades. Democrats now hold the Senate by two eight seats, and the House of Delegates by 10.
Locally, House Districts 40 (Fairfax, Prince William) and 28 (Fredericksburg, Stafford) that were held by Republicans Tim Hugo and Bob Thomas, respectively, flipped to the Democrats Dan Helmer and Joshua Cole, respectively.
In the Senate, it was Democrat John Bell’s win in the 13th District in Loudoun and Prince William counites seat that gave Democrats the push they needed to win the majority, taking a seat that had been in Republican control under Senator Richard Black.
The other Senate District to flip was the 10th District seat in Richmond, from Republican Glen Sturtevant to Democrat Ghazala Hashmi. Those losses for the GOP in 2019 came just two years after a blue wave washed out many Republican legislators in Northern Virginia, to include Anderson.
In recent weeks, Democrats in Richmond have introduced bills aimed at limiting the number of guns, and the amount and types of ammunition gun owners may own, and where they can and cannot carry their weapons. It has sparked a wave of Second Amendment supporters to pack houses of local governments across the state demanding they declare their jurisdiction as sanctuaries where gun rights will be upheld.
Prince William and Stafford counties are both sanctuaries, and just last night Virginia Beach officials declared that city a gun-rights sanctuary just seven months after a gunman shot and killed 12 people and injured four others in a mass shooting at Virginia Beach city hall.
Anderson told Potomac Local that he is heartened by the number of 2nd-Amendment supporters who have shown up across the state, and hopes that these residents remain energized to get involved in other important issues and show up at the polls to vote.
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Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting today, Tuesday, February 4, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
Manassas city officials are discussing major redevelopment projects, particularly in Old Town, Mathis Avenue, and Fairview Avenue. According to the city council, these discussions come as multiple developers have expressed interest in city-owned properties, prompting the council to consider issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to attract large-scale investment. A key focus of the meeting was the Old Town Inn site, where city officials debated whether to prioritize a new hotel or a mixed-use project. The lack of parking downtown remains a significant challenge, and council members acknowledged that constructing a 300-space parking deck is critical to enabling future development.
Step back in time and experience history firsthand at Ben Lomond Historic Site in Manassas, VA. Built in 1832, this remarkable home once served as a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of First Manassas. Today, visitors can explore its preserved rooms, complete with Civil War-era graffiti left by Union soldiers, as well as the original slave quarters, smokehouse, and dairy that tell the story of the people who lived and worked here.
Stroll Through History – Don’t miss the fragrant Rose Garden, featuring one of the largest collections of antique roses in the region.
Engaging Tours – Open Friday-Monday, 10 AM-4 PM, with guided tours at 11 AM and 2 PM. Admission: $5 per person, free for children under six.
Accessible Experiences – Enjoy 360° Virtual Tour tablets and foreign language guides in French, Italian, German, Chinese, and Spanish—available at no extra cost!
Volunteer With Us! – Love Civil War history or gardening? Join our team and help preserve this incredible piece of Prince William County’s past.
Visit us at 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 367-7872 | ? [email protected]
Plan your visit today and experience history like never before!
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Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
