-Longtime Senator John Edwards stumps for White-Boyd-
By Shawn Nowlin
All 140 of Virginia’s legislative seats will be decided on the November 7 ballot. There is a better than 99 percent chance that the next State Senator representing District 4, which contains portions of Montgomery, Roanoke County as well as the cities of Salem and Roanoke, will either be Trish White-Boyd or the Republican incumbent, David Suetterlein, who has occupied the seat since 2015.
When State Sen. John Edwards announced his decision to retire on Feb. 27 after nearly three decades in Richmond, White-Boyd felt called upon to enter the race after extensive conversations with her husband, family members and close friends.
In the June Democratic primary, White-Boyd defeated her fellow councilmember Luke Priddy and political newcomer DeAnthony Pierce by garnering 57.3 percent of the vote.
Two years ago, the Virginia Supreme Court established new legislative districts based on the 2020 census. As a result, Edwards and Sutterlein were placed in the same district.
Fervent supporters of White-Boyd include Sen. Edwards, Mayor Sherman Lea, City Treasurer Evelyn Powers, Clerk of Circuit Court Brenda Hamilton, former councilmember Bill Bestpitch, current members Vivian Sanchez-Jones and Peter Volosin and campaign staffer Michelle Hamilton-Terry. Many were present on Oct. 1 when a community reception was hosted for White-Boyd at the Vinton War Memorial.
Jennifer McClellan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia, was scheduled to be present, but couldn’t make it.
In a pre-recorded video message, McClellan said, “As you all know, we’ve had a lot going on in Congress as we barely avoided a government shutdown. We now have about 45 days to pass 12 appropriation bills to fund the federal government. Congressional Republicans proved again and again that when they are in charge, you get chaos and extremism.”
She added, “Democrats have made generational progress on every issue that we care about – worker’s rights, voting rights, reproductive health, the environment, advancing clean energy, you name it. If Republicans win, all that progress will be lost. It’s critically important that we keep the Senate brick wall and expand it. Trish is integral to that. She will work with both sides of the aisle to restore prosperity in southwest Virginia and protect our environment. But she can’t do it without your help.”
Before introducing the State Senate candidate, White-Boyd’s campaign manager, Jimmy Rogers, spoke to what kind of person she is, explaining, “She is one of the most dedicated, hard-working individuals that I have ever met. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk.”
Echoing those sentiments, Sen. Edwards said minutes later, “Trish has done so many things during her time on city council. Important things that people often overlook or take for granted. Once elected, she will represent the district with tremendous integrity and character.”
If White-Boyd wins, she will be the first Black woman to ever represent this district. Early voting has already begun and will continue through Nov 4. On Election Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We went from being one of the worst states to vote in to the top five in terms of voting rights. I know for a fact that I became Vice Mayor because of the push we had for early voting. As Senator Edwards said, we have to do something about I-81. How many of you fear for your loved ones when they are on the road? We could have had that expansion, but my opponent voted against it. We have to maintain that brick wall.”
People are encouraged to visit trishwhite-boyd.com to learn more about the candidate.
