Gary West

Joining a broad bipartisan group of elected officials and candidates, Gary West calls for Delegate Phil Hamilton to step down amidst revelations of corruption.

Newport News, VA, August 26, 2009 – Tired of the way Richmond wastes taxpayer money, Gary West launched his campaign for the House of Delegates to bring responsible leadership to the legislature. West has railed against legislators who, like his opponent, refused help for unemployed workers and voted to cut $500 million from Virginia schools, while approving $100 million in spending to renovate the State Capitol.

Making skewed priorities a common theme of his door-to-door campaign, West is outraged that Delegate Phil Hamilton lined his own pockets with taxpayer dollars appropriated for education. “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.

Calling on Oder to put the public trust ahead of political and personal allegiance, 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.”

With a strong record of community leadership, Gary West is running for the District 94 House of Delegates seat. Gary West will face Republican incumbent Glenn Oder in a general election matchup November 3rd.