Danica Roem defeated incumbent Bob Marshall in the 13th District House race.
The victory makes the Democrat Virginia’s first transgender delegate in Richmond.
Roem, a former reporter at the Gainesville Times, ran on a platform of fixing Route 28 for commuters who live in Prince William County and work in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
She referred to her opponent — who had 25 years experience in the legislature — as “bigot Bob.”
More in a press release;
Virginia House of Delegates candidate Danica Roem will become the first out transgender person to win and serve in a state legislature – and the only out trans state legislator in the entire United States. Her historic victory at the polls Tuesday night is imbued with symbolism, as she defeated 25-year incumbent “Bigot Bob” Marshall, one of the most anti-LGBTQ state legislators in the nation and the author of the anti-trans bathroom bill. Victory Fund invested heavily in her race – raising more than $200 thousand for her campaign, running get out the vote efforts during her primary and on election day, and helping raise her profile to a national audience.
Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Fund, released the following statement when her victory was announced:
“Tonight voters chose a smart, solutions-oriented trans leader over a divisive anti-LGBTQ demagogue – sending a powerful message to anti-trans legislators all across the nation. Danica defeated ‘Bigot Bob’ Marshall not because she is transgender, but because she presented a positive vision for her constituents that will improve their lives. We are determined to replicate this race nationwide – using constituent-focused LGBTQ candidates to takedown elected officials who use their positions to target our community. Tonight was the opening salvo.
“Danica’s victory is a historic milestone in our continued march toward equality – becoming the first out trans person to ever win and serve in a state legislature. Her campaign was hard-fought – she shared her personal story with her constituents and braved constant, dehumanizing anti-trans attacks from her opponent – but that is the burden trailblazers often face. Danica has inspired trans leaders across the country, and it is inevitable more will follow in her footsteps and become powerful voices for our community.
“2017 will be remembered as the year of the trans candidate – and Danica’s heroic run for office the centerpiece of that national movement. Victory Fund was among Danica’s first endorsements because of her ambitious but realistic campaign plan and her dedication to knocking on doors and talking about the issues that matter. We believed in her – bundling more than $200,000 on her behalf, sending dozens of staff and volunteers to get out the vote for her in the primary and general election, and helping her secure the national media platform necessary to raise additional contributions. Trans elected leaders like Danica are the antidote to the anti-trans efforts we see across the nation, so Victory Fund will continue working tirelessly to elect more of them.”
QUANTICO — A man who was reported missing over the weekend was found dead at Quantico.
Kevin Tscherch, 48, was found on the Marine Corps Base, according to a Prince William County Police Department spokesman.
Tscherch went missing at noon on Sunday from his home on Savannah Court in Stafford County. It’s unclear what led to his death.
Prince William police say the NCIS is investigating his death.
On Sunday, police said Tscherch might be in the area of Quantico Marine Corps Base. They added he might be in need of assistance, which would qualify him as a missing endangered person.
We’ll update this post with new information once we have it.
Republican Ed Gillespie took questions from the press and posed for photos with voters outside Montclair Elementary School.
The candidate arrived at the polling place just after 1 p.m. and was greeted by smiles from voters, many telling them “I hope you win.”
The rain that had persisted for much of the morning and early afternoon stopped briefly while Gillespie answered our questions about job growth, attracting new business, appealing to voters in heavily Democratic Northern Virginia, and his one-time Primary Election opponent, and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman, At-large Corey Stewart. Read More
What does a Lt. Governor do? “Unlike in other states, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor in Virginia run separately, not as a team.” [Washington Post]
What was old is once again new as many stores are deciding to once again close on Thanksgiving. Here’s a list of stores in our region that will close on turkey day. [WTTG-TV]
The Capital Weather Gang’s winter outlook: “More winter than last year but nothing extreme.” The forecasters give their predictions on the winter that is knocking on our doorsteps. [Washington Post]
A jury rejected an insanity defense Monday and recommended two life sentences for a man who brutally killed his mother in late 2015 at their home in southern Stafford County. [Free Lance-Star]
Some Metro cars are getting makeovers: “Metro is hoping that with some dressing up, you might almost forget you’re riding in an old 3000- or 6000-series rail car.” [Washington Post]
[poller_master poll_id=”11″ extra_class=””]
Election Day has arrived in Virginia.
Those who haven’t already voted early will head to the polls on November 7, 2017 to cast their votes and choose who will be state’s next governor, as well as select local offices such as State Delegate seats, and constitutional offices in Manassas and Manassas Park to include Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer.
In Stafford County, voters will have to also choose members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board.
You can find out what offices, and who is on your ballot.
For today’s poll, we want to know who Potomac Local readers want to see replace Terry McAuliffe as the state’s next Governor. Vote in the poll above, please.
Then, go to your polling place and cast your vote.
DALE CITY — The Prince William County Police Department today announced it would hold a faith-based training program for area churches.
The training will be held on Nov. 21 at the Western District Station at 8900 Freedom Center Boulevard near Manassas. The announcement comes after a man walked into a Texas church on Sunday and shot and killed 26 people.
Churches in our area have not had to deal with a shooter situation, but they are aware it can happen.
“The most common crimes reported by places of worship are property crimes which would include vandalism and burglaries, but thankfully they aren’t too common in Prince William County,” said police spokesman Nathan Probus. “The presentation usually includes the “Run. Hide. Fight” video which discusses active shooter situations.”
Churches are open places of worship where people — anyone — can come and go. Fostering a sense of openness is what many churches do well.
“We’re taught the Catholic faith to love and trust everyone, but we cannot trust everyone,” said Daisy Ramos, who is a member of Holy Family Catholic Chruch in Dale City.
Earlier this year, Ramos attended a safety training at the Arch Diocese of Arlington. While there, she heard from a psychologist, and from an FBI agent about what to watch for when it comes to church safety.
“It taught me what to look for,” she said.
For example, if someone walks up to you in church, and they look like they are going to shake your hand, but they don’t extend their had as far as they can, trainers told Ramos that person could be holding a gun.
“But we can’t be paranoid, either,” she said. “That person may also have a medical condition and can’t extend their hand.”
Other churches in the area have also made security a priority. A security officer at Christ Chapel in Woodbridge who did not want his name published said church leaders there are aware of faith-based training programs offered by organizations like Prince William police, and attend them regularly.
At First Mount Zion Baptist Church near Dumfries, getting to know the parishioners who come on a weekly basis is an important first line of defense.
” Growing up I was never concerned about public safety during worship. But these days with our gun laws, and the accessibility of guns it has to change the worship environment,” said Dr. Luke Torian, pastor of First Mount Zion Baptist Church near Dumfries.
Overall, protecting those who attend worship services, or other church functions can be a challenge.
“Nowadays you really don’t know. You can be sitting next to someone who can do anything,” said Ramos. “You just have to keep your eyes open.”
Near the base of the Bull Run Mountain, a favorite retreat for wounded warriors is expanding.
A $300,000 donation from the Pen Fed Foundation will allow the charity “Serve Our Willing Warriors” to build a second, cottage-style home on the 37-acre property in Haymarket called the Bull Run Warrior Retreat.
Construction on the new structure will begin next month and should be complete by next summer.
It will sit next to a massive 11,000 square foot, single family home where each week a wounded military serviceman or woman, their families, or friends, come to stay or escape from the doldrums of a life in the recovery wards at Walter Reed or Fort Belvoir hospitals.
The new home will accommodate up to 10 people and is one of three new cottages planned on the property. The charity was founded in 2012 and is now feeling growing pains, and is in desperate need of people to volunteer to care for those suffering from PTSD, and from the loss of limbs.
“This house does not drive itself. I need people to cut grass. I need people to volunteer. I need people to be ambassadors,” said Serve Our Willing Warriors Executive Director Jeffery Sapp.
Many suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts
The charity invited business owners, and government employees for the tour of the facility on Nov. 2. They got an earful about what the organization does to serve the military members on and their families who come here.
All combat veterans, many suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts. Others have returned home to find their marriages on the edge of ruin and then decided to come to the retreat.
“When they come here that gives them a chance to do normal things,” said Sapp.
Those ordinary things can be something as simple as cooking a meal or eat together as a family. Spend time outdoors on a walking path, or sit together on a leather sectional sofa to watch a movie.
“We can get them on to their lives, and to the lives, they want to live and stop thinking dark thoughts, and we do it in six days,” added Sapp, who credited the retreat for helping to save the marriages of at least eight service members on their spouses.
A massive retreat
The warriors check on Friday morning, where they find a freshly clean and sterilized house fit for any family. There’s a large kitchen and dining area upstairs, complete with master bedrooms, and smaller children rooms.
The downstairs has a library, game room, and family room complete with entertainment center and a small kitchen. The warrior’s favorite dessert is waiting for them when they arrive, and an executive chef comes on Sunday nights to prepare a culinary delight for the visiting family.
For weeks leading up to the visit, the charity’s staff work with their soon-to-be guests to find out about their interests, and about what activities they want to do when they arrive. For many, it’s to sit and enjoy peace quietly.
The bathrooms are all handicapped accessible, and the showers large. Outdoors, the large firepit, patio, and deck are all surrounded by woodland views and Bull Run Mountain.
‘It wasn’t as easy as that’
It takes about 20 people to run the warrior retreat, to serve the current guests, and on Thursdays prepare the house for new visitors. There’s a waiting list of about 100 people who wish to someday visit the retreat.
All visitors must be cleared by their doctor to leave Walter Reed or Fort Belvoir to make the trip to Haymarket. This usually means having the right medications prepared, and any necessary medical equipment packed and ready to go with them.
Over the years, the center’s staff had to learn who was eligible to visit the retreat and who wasn’t. As it turns out, federal regulations allow a combat wounded veteran can accept nearly any form of charity, but it’s not the same for those who weren’t injured in war.
“When we started, we had the mentality that “if you build it they will come.” It wasn’t as easy as that,” said Larry Zillox, who sits on the charity’s Board of Directors.
Serve Our Willing Warriors, like any other business or organization, had to put in years to build relationships with the military, and medical providers to convince them of the healing powers of the retreat. Today, those visitors are the greatest advertising for the retreat.
“When they get back to the hospital, they’re telling everyone about us,’ said Sapp.
The charity was founded in 2006 over the course of 40 days when members began visiting wounded warriors in hospitals with the hopes of brightening their days. After 40 days, they kept doing it.
The warrior retreat is valued at nearly $1 million and was purchased by the charity in 2013. More than $1.2 million in donated materials and labor helped to turn the dilapidated, 40-year-old home that today, really is a shining at the base of a mountain.
Transurban, the operators of the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes, report toll revenues are up about 17 percent over the previous quarter. A former Stafford commuter does the math and says it would cost him nearly $15,000 a year to use the lanes if he still commuted. [Free Lance-Star]
Propelled by demographic changes that are turning Virginia into an increasingly blue state and a liberal base energized by the convulsive Trump presidency, Democrats have long been favored to retain the governorship here when the state goes to the polls on Tuesday. [New York Times]
Repeal of Outer Banks plastic bag ban: Locals are seeking ways to voluntarily limit the use of the non-biodegradable, one-use sacks after North Carolina lawmakers last month affirmed their repeal of the ban on plastic bag use on the Outer Banks. [Virginian Pilot]
Greater Washington is experiencing a medical construction boom. The reason: Many hospitals are housed in facilities built 40 or 50 years ago and need to be modernized. [Washington Business Journal]
Hylton High School won the 6A cheerleading state title Saturday in Richmond. It was the Bulldogs first state title in cheerleading since 1998. [Insidenova.com]
HAYMARKET — It all started about 10 p.m. Sunday with a ruptured water main.
“It looked like a geyser,” said Haymarket Police Chief Kevin Lands.
The water main break shut off water to homes and businesses at the center of town, at the intersection of Washington and Jefferson streets in Haymarket.
A crew from the Prince William Service Authority arrived about 11 p.m. Sunday to start repairs, according to Lands.
But then, as water crews were making repairs they struck a gas line.
“It’s started whistling, and everybody took off running,” said Lands. “It whistled like that for about five hours.”
Crews from Columbia Gas were called into fix the new leak, and they were able to shut off the leaking gas line about 7:30 a.m. Monday, said Lands.
Now crews are working to repair both the water and gas lines. A total of 134 homes and businesses are affected by the utility line breaks.
Lands told us that every structure south of the intersection of Jefferson Street and Washington Street is without water and natural gas.
It’s been a messy morning in Haymarket.
Town Police Chief Kevin Lanes told us a crew from the Prince Willia Service Authority was working to fix a water line when it accidentally struck a gas main. Businesses along Washington Street, between the intersection of Jefferson Street and Route 15 are also without service.
The gas company is now going house to house, and business to business to shut off the gas meters at the affected properties. Afterward, they can go and complete the gas line repairs.
Afterward, the representatives from the gas company must go back to the affected homes and businesses to re-light the pilot lights at the affected properties.
The repair process could last into the afternoon, and the affected intersection will be closed all day long.
“It could be three or four o’clock before all this is fixed,” said Lands.
Updated
The water and gas main line repair is complete.
The water and gas main repair on Washington St. in Haymarket is finished. All lanes are now open to traffic. Thank you for your patience.
— Service Authority (@PWCSA) November 7, 2017
