Rep. Goodlatte opens Verona campaign office

An enthusiastic crowd of approximately 50 people attended the Saturday opening of Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s campaign office, located at 465 Lee Jackson Highway in Verona.
Dels. Chris Saxman and Steve Landes, along with Goodlatte, addressed supporters of McCain for president, Gilmore for Senate and Goodlatte for Congress.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a time when leadership is needed now more than ever in the United States Congress and in the White House,” Saxman said. “It’s about being decisive; it’s about being right; it’s about being experienced. And we have that candidate in John McCain. The Republican Party has selected the perfect person to lead the nation in these troubling times.”
Saxman also championed Goodlatte, now in his eighth term in the U.S. Congress. Saxman said that Goodlatte was instrumental in his own career in politics, having served as a volunteer for his 1992 congressional campaign.
“I think every day since, we have had no finer representative in the 6th District of the House of Representatives than Bob Goodlatte,” Saxman said. “Bob Goodlatte is not someone who forgets about us … [he is] a man of integrity who we can work with to get things done, to get things moving forward.”
Goodlatte’s turn at the podium was accompanied with vehement cheers as he asked the crowd if each would vote for the three Republican candidates in turn.
He asserted that the Republican delegation represents the “values of limited government and individual responsibility and free enterprise and a strong national defense, strong families, securing our borders, standing for lower taxes and less government regulation.”
Those participating voiced their own reasons for supporting the Republican ticket.
“I’m a conservative and I believe in their values and principles,” said Sandra Engle, 66, of Mount Jackson. “I particularly support Goodlatte because I think he has done a good job for his district and I’m very proud of him.”
David Rapp, 82, of Weyers Cave, is voting Republican due to the inexperience of the Democratic candidates.
“McCain and Goodlatte have proven to be fine, solid people,” said Rapp. “The other two, Obama and Rasoul, are unproven and I am going along with the proven conservative.”