Thursday, June 11, 2009
Democrat emerges to challenge House Majority Leader Griffith
Ginny Weisz, a political newcomer who teaches nursing at Radford University, has launched a last-minute bid for the House of Delegates.
The Roanoke County Democrat will challenge House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, in the 8th District, which includes Salem and part of Roanoke County.
"We believe it’s time for a change," said Weisz, who has worked on Democratic campaigns at the local and national levels. "The status quo is not being accepted as it used to be."
Weisz said health care and employment will be two of her priorities, and she tressed a desire to build consensus in Richmond.
And in an opening salvo, she criticized Griffith for opposing in April an injection of $125 million in federal stimulus money that would have been used to expand state unemployment benefits.
"I work with the inner-city poor, and I see how people are struggling," she said. "I just think it’s a shame to return stimulus money."
Weisz is a career health-care worker and assistant professor of nursing at Radford who also works in holistic medicine. She is the mother of three grown daughters and lives in Bent Mountain.
Weisz’s announcement follows speculation that a challenger might emerge for Griffith, who has represented the district since 1994.
"I look forward to a debate on the issues," Griffith said Thursday, en route to a state legislators conference on the West Coast. "It’s going to give me an opportunity to let everybody know the hard work I’ve been doing for the region."
Weisz is only the fourth opponent Griffith has faced for a seat he has always handily defended. His strongest opposition came from college administrator Mark Emick in 2003. Emick took 38 percent of the vote.
A challenge at home may keep Griffith from stumping for statewide Republicans, as he has done in past elections. "I’ll still do some things around the state," he said, but added that a local opponent "may make me more active locally."
The Roanoke County Democrat will challenge House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, in the 8th District, which includes Salem and part of Roanoke County.
"We believe it’s time for a change," said Weisz, who has worked on Democratic campaigns at the local and national levels. "The status quo is not being accepted as it used to be."
Weisz said health care and employment will be two of her priorities, and she tressed a desire to build consensus in Richmond.
And in an opening salvo, she criticized Griffith for opposing in April an injection of $125 million in federal stimulus money that would have been used to expand state unemployment benefits.
"I work with the inner-city poor, and I see how people are struggling," she said. "I just think it’s a shame to return stimulus money."
Weisz is a career health-care worker and assistant professor of nursing at Radford who also works in holistic medicine. She is the mother of three grown daughters and lives in Bent Mountain.
Weisz’s announcement follows speculation that a challenger might emerge for Griffith, who has represented the district since 1994.
"I look forward to a debate on the issues," Griffith said Thursday, en route to a state legislators conference on the West Coast. "It’s going to give me an opportunity to let everybody know the hard work I’ve been doing for the region."
Weisz is only the fourth opponent Griffith has faced for a seat he has always handily defended. His strongest opposition came from college administrator Mark Emick in 2003. Emick took 38 percent of the vote.
A challenge at home may keep Griffith from stumping for statewide Republicans, as he has done in past elections. "I’ll still do some things around the state," he said, but added that a local opponent "may make me more active locally."
