Gary West
For Virginia House of Delegates, District 94
Blog
Hamilton - ODU: Gary West calls for Hamilton to resign - links to Oder...
The Shad Plank
by: Kimball Payne
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Democrat candidate Gary West is the latest to call for Del. Phil Hamilton's political head, aiming a bank shot at his Republican opponent Del. G. Glenn Oder for staying mum on the Hamilton flap.
West is a first time candidate for the House running against Oder, a Republican incumbent who represents the 94th District - which is basically the western half of Newport News. Five of the six statewide candidates from both political parties have called for Hamilton to step aside, and now West is adding a local voice to the chorus.
Hamilton is under a House ethics investigation because he was already seeking a job at Old Dominion University before he helped the school secure $500,00 in annual funding for an educational center. Hamilton was hired on as a $40,000-a-year part-time director of the center, but resigned last week after details of his links to ODU started to surface.
West previously served in on the Newport News Planning Commission so he has some name recognition on the Peninsula, but he isn't exactly a household name - so joining the call for Hamilton's to step away is a logical move. West also makes sure to link his opponent - Oder - to Hamilton, an easy connection to make because the two have close ties and a good relationship.
Here's a snippet from West, needless to say this is unlikely to change Hamilton's mind.
“Enough is enough,” West said. “Hamilton has breached the public trust and should own up to his misconduct and resign.”
While Democrats and Republicans at the highest levels have joined forces to call for Hamilton’s resignation, West’s opponent has remained silent. Delegate Glenn Oder has taken no steps to distance himself from Hamilton and has yet to rebuke his colleague and friend. The two Newport News legislators are slated to appear together at a joint office opening event over Labor Day holiday.
West expressed his belief that “citizens of Newport News deserve representatives who value public service over personal gain”. West continued, “I respectfully ask Glenn Oder to put friendship and partisanship aside and do the right thing for the people by joining me in asking Phil Hamilton to resign.”
