Landes announces re-election run

Outlining his campaign focus on the economy, health care and education, Del. Steve Landes announced Saturday he will run for an eighth term as 25th House District representative.

He will face Democratic opposition for the first time since 1995 in the district, which includes Waynesboro and portions of Albemarle, Rockingham and Augusta counties.

“With the economy the way it is ... it has gotten me more and more motivated,” Landes said to a dozen supporters at the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, one of his three stops Saturday.

The museum, along with King Family Vineyard, where Landes began his day, are among the area’s tourist attractions, he said.

Amid rough economic waters, Landes put his support behind business owners and entrepreneurs — those who create jobs — he said.

“Some candidates seem to believe government can create jobs and that’s just not the case,” Landes said, adding later: “Government can provide assistance, but we can’t run a business.”

Acknowledging the unemployment rate in Waynesboro, which hit 11.1 percent in March, Landes said the city needs to protect what it has, then grow.

“Waynesboro is attractive for industry,” he said. “It has the workforce and mindset ... but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Closely tied to his economic remarks were Landes’ thoughts on education. He often returned to the idea of retraining the workforce, as is happening at institutions such as Blue Ridge Community College.

“We can’t rest on our laurels,” he said.

Even the representative’s discussion of health care returned to employment, as he described his work with some of the region’s largest employers, such as Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville.

Landes will learn who his Democratic opponent will be after the June primary. Either Jim Noel or Greg Marrow will garner the nomination, and Landes said he looks forward to honest debate.

“When you run unopposed, groups don’t even invite you to express your views,” he said.