Bill Howell races out of the campaign gate

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Virginia’s House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell has never been one to shy away from a challenge so when he heard he had tea party opposition for the upcoming Republican primary, he hit the ground running. After the General Assembly was finished, of course.

His opponent, Susan Stimpson, was a knife in his back, someone he had mentored over the years and someone who would have been on track to take on the mantle when Howell retired. But a funny thing happened along the way when Stimpson decided to buck her old friend, side with the opposition, and run against him. It is not uncommon in politics but always a sad commentary on the betrayer (see Stimpson violated the first rule of politics).

Howell has an active  team around him and is working hard (see Bill Howell officially files for reelection):

Howell’s campaign submitted signatures from more than 1,500 qualified voters to the 28th Legislative District Committee, exceeding the 125 signatures House candidates are required to submit in order to be placed on the ballot, according to a news release. Howell was the first candidate to file paperwork and will be listed on the ballot first.

Speaker Howell is taking nothing for granted (see Howell does mic drop on Stimpson, submits 1,500 signatures, is first on ballot).