Roger Dean Huffstetler (photo credit Roanoke Times)

Democrat to challenge Tom Garrett in the 5th District

written by Jeanine Martin April 20, 2017

Roger Dean Huffstetler, a Charlottesville Democrat, is announcing today that he will run next year in Virginia’s 5th district against Congressman Tom Garrett.

Huffstetler, age 38, is a veteran and entrepreneur. He has a degree from West Georgia and two Master Degrees from Harvard. Huffstetler served as Marine in Iraq and Afganistan and spent several years in Silicon Valley. Huffstetler says he is concerned about the future of the country and wants to “bring people together”.

Huffstetler has a strong dislike for the House Freedom Caucus:

“I think we should be clear that, in the history of the country, there has been no more partisan or reckless group than the House Freedom Caucus,” he said. “They don’t believe in progress, they don’t believe in compromise, and those are going to be two pillars of my campaign.”

No democrat has won the 5th district since Tom Perriello won it in 2008. He served one term and was beaten by Robert Hurt in 2010. Tom Garrett won the seat in 2016 with 58% of the vote. He’ll win again in 2018.

More here.

Jeanine Martin

Also known as Lovettsville Lady, I am a Republican activist in the wilds of western Loudoun County.

Connie S.

Ah well, you got to give the Democrats an “A” for effort. Because here in the 5th District that’s ALL they have! Otherwise it’s bad candidates, bad vision, and a perpetual victimhood mentality.

I do like how every other candidate or so, they trot out a FORMER MILITARY person, albet carpet-bagger, to try and hoodwink us into thinking the Democrat Party doesn’t DESPISE the armed forces.

At least last time, the Democrats ran a gal who had been here a while. Nobody’s every heard of this guy.

Oh and it’s cute the way Mr. Huffstetler has a problem with the Freedom Caucus. Makes sense he/the Democrats HATE the Freedom Caucus – because it stands for limited government – exactly the opposite of bloated, liberty-killing socialiam.

Darn right Tom Garrett will win in 2018 – and by an even BIGGER LANDSLIDE! Meanwhile, he’ll continue his fine job of #MAGA.

Thank you for publishing this illuminating news, Jeanine.
- Jeanine Martin
  
  Well said! Thank you Connie!
Mies Rohe

The 5th is a ridiculous geographic distortion of representative democracy. The mayor of Philadelphia lives closer to Warrenton than did Robert Hurt. It’s a snake drawn for one purpose: Ensuring Republican votes outnumber the more progressive pockets silenced by gerrymandering.
- CVLiberty
  
  A.) The 5th is a R+5 according to Cooks…
  
  B.) As poorly drawn as the 5th may be, here’s the real question….looking at the surrounding areas, how could you possibly redraw the district to be more Dem without producing a district that is just as oddly drawn and gerrymandered?
  
  Every surrounding county of the 5th is red….youd have to really start stretching it 2+ counties northeast to have any impact and would be guilty of just as much gerrymandering in the process from what I can tell.
  - Mies Rohe
    
    Completely uninterested in its political bent, the political result, how it changes the vote, etc. Indeed, the district should be drawn without regard to these factors.
    
    It’s about community of interest. The northern end of the snake has more in common with the 10th, where it belonged for many years under Frank Wolf. Made sense. Lots of federal workers and retirees.
    
    The middle of the snake, Charlottesville, has a community of interest all its own, a university town of great historical draw. In my opinion, the district should radiate from Charlottesville in concentric circles until the numbers fit.
    
    Neither the north nor the middle of the district have much in common with those to the south and there is no reason to cut a swath across the state that divides the community with extreme geographic disparity.
    
    All this having been said, I am a fan of Tom Garrett. He’s honest, hard-working, consistent in his support of freedom. We both want less more-focused government. The candidate mentioned here is attractive and might sway many — even me, let’s see how the issues play out — but the odds are against him.
    
    I will add this: Asking where he’s been and how we haven’t seen him lately is only going to lead to a discussion of his military service abroad, college degrees from Harvard and entrepreneurial experience. Might not be the best discussion thread for those opposing him.
    - CVLiberty
      
      Fair response. With that, I agree regarding comms of interest. I believe Orange, Culpeper, and Louisa would make more sense in the 5th than Fauq, Rappahanock, etc. Lynchburg city may also make more sense given the 29 corridor, Universities, etc. With that being said, any of that would likely make VA5 even more red and inflame the left as a minority even more…for some good reason.
      
      As far as asking “where has this guy been?” I also agree. No sense in exposing his lack of roots, voters tend to feel a connection or not, regardless of that narrative.
ameri…canwork

My home is open to Marines this time of year thanks to LU.
Frankly young Marines are the most trustworthy individuals I have ever met, to bad he has chosen a career move backwords.

I am the 5th .
This is the districts of not just Garrett
( army) but of Newman , Byron and many illegal aliens.
http://watchdog.org/202012/subcontractors-shadow-economy
The previous State Senator Garrett now Congressman has stood by and watched us come under attack.
It is time for someone to step up and defend us , if it is a Marine so be it.
- CVLiberty
  
  What?
  - ameri…canwork
    
    Until the local Republicans and the Rep of the 5th can expense the equivalent revenue that was spent years back by Congressman Hurt to fight our prepared meals tax / consumption tax to fight the illegal commerce provided by illegal aliens count me out.
    Then the local Campbell County Mass Meeting some time back, totally unnecessary. Those Republicans just had their Facebook page shut down for grossly falsely misrepresenting the cost per student.
    And this is a Santurary area, others would like to blame the Democrat City Lynchburg bit us residents know they live and work in the Counties Represented by ; Newman , Byron , and The Congressman. If being complicit to illegal employment fraud are Republican principals count me out , I find integrity within our fast growimg Conservative Campbell First party.
    When do you expect these “conservatives” to speak of broadening the base from the tax fraud produced by the illegal employment in the 5th?
    A MARINE will run to the fight. I have to have confidence in MR.Huffstetler to do the same with illegal employment/fraud where as for over a decade these Republicans have only been able to bring home Unlicensed Day care laws.
    CVLiberty that is a effing joke considering we allow unlicensed contracting which has been illegal for my whole career of 32 years.
    Weak , Complicit Republicans slumber in the 5th.
    - Juliane Thurston
      
      What makes you think that a Democrat will break with his own party’s culture of love and support for illegal aliens and their votes?
      
      Just because he is a marine, does not mean that he represents the values that you are willing to stand and fight for.
      
      Unfortunately, not everyone who swore an oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, both foreign and domestic, actually upholds that oath in action outside of military service.
      
      Not sure what proof you have that this is a sanctuary area. The leadership of Campbell county has never been more ultra-conservative. Local governments are the ones who are standing up for federal immigration laws or choosing to stand in opposition of them. To my knowledge, none of the localities surrounding Lynchburg have come out in opposition, but I’m quite ready to read proof to the contrary if you have it. That story is two years old…
      
      Honestly, why don’t *you* run for the office in 2018 and give VA5 another conservative option?
      - ameri…canwork
        
        Ms Thurston ,
        This is a Santurary employment area. Many support legislation against a City for not notifying ICE when an illegal alien is arrested , this action provides “Santurary”
        No VA. allows illegal aliens to be employeed using the 1099 , bypassing the
        W-2/W-4 wage system that many law abiding employers use. Licensed Building Contractors in Va.
        issue a 1099 to the illegal alien. This action allows you to circumnavigate the VEC audit and in the process the licensed contractor is In violation of Va.laws;
        (Contractor,employment,
        workers compensation and tax).
        The ultra conservative as you speak from the Campbell County Republican party and the BOS are either complicit or clueless, your choice.
        Senator Steve Newman has known for about a decade that contractors in his home town are employing illegal aliens as unlicensed contractors. Newman has known that licensed contractors are conspiring with unlicensed contractors/illegal aliens in the delivery of Contracting services. Many legitimate employers had met with the Senator around 2008 until 2012 about this issue.
        I understand you defense of local Republicans, I once felt that way also.
        The undocumented unskilled migrant farm labor has left the farm to the construction site.
        Now he is documented by VOSHA/DOLI.
        YES Lynchburg ,Forest and Campbell county Contractors are aiding illegal aliens in committing class-6 felonies under Statute 54.1-1100.
        What has Garrett written on the issue while he was State Senator? Was he clueless? Either yes or no is an awfully disgusting answer.
        No I have no desire to run against Garrett , that is a futile effort.
        Now with Delegate Byrons seat a different story.
        For that I just have to give up coaching basketball.
        Do you think the arrest of MS-13 in the Raymond Wood murder is the first detection of them in the area? It is not .
        We have had crews of them from Greensboro and Charlotte in this area performing construction have had Va. violations issued to them for sometime now.
        Now I know you can’t trust any legislator or elected offical in Va and if you use their previous Miltary experience for credibility you will be duped.
        Example ;
        Governor McAuliffe Executive order 24 has VOSHA/DOLI notifying DPOR when the detection of unlicensed subcontractors are used.
        Why did the *Republican* , *retired Navy* , State Senator Bill DeSteph bring forth SB483 two sessions back? This grossly irresponsible bill would have made it illegal for the Dept.of Labor and Industry to notify any other State agency , Dept. or Court of the detection of illegal employment and unlicensed contracting(illegal commerce). At the time the Veteran, the Senator , the Republican introduced this bill he was the Director of the Tidewater Builders Association , hum a seat for Corporations , time for Beltoe to take that seat for DeSteph providing aid and comfort to the enemy.
        If you are local you will remember the unlicensed daycare (home) that burned and children died.
        *Ultra Conservative* Newman and Byron created unlicensed daycare legislation that became law ( good ,but credible ?) . That was 1 instance.
        http://watchdog.org/202012/subcontractors-shadow-economy
        There were 200 fold unlicensed contractors violations to one daycare in the Lynchburg area in 2012
        I do not argue falsehoods you have Democrat Gubernatorial confirmation of my claims with the existence EO 24
        and you have Republican Senatorial confirmation with the DEAD *santurary illegal employment protection bill* SB483.
        We used to laugh on how stupid it was when McDonnell and Cuccinelli did not know they could cross reference the violations issued under their watch by their Commissioners with DPOR , VEC and previous arrest records records ( all states , all counties) now it is just disgusting and negligent.
        Drug dealers, child molesters , kidnappers and all other sorts of unsavory individuals and crews of them.
        How come the *ultra conservatives* did not speak to the community when Campbell County Sheriff Dept. found a crew of illegal aliens with no id’s at all laying block on the Jim Whorley Memorial field house on the campus of Brookville High , Tomahawk Elementry and Brookville Middle?
        If your child/student makes the honor roll at these schools you get a general assembly pencil from Delegate Byron.
        If your child volunteers to the culture shock of enlisting in the USMC your child while in boot camp will receive a hand written letter of thanks and inspiration by a Democrat ,
        Governor McAuliffe.
        No you can’t throw out credibility to an individual just because they are R or D or had previous miltary experience.
        Now MR.Huffstetler should get the benefit of doubt at this point.
        Who knows he may turn out to be as complicit Cuccinelli ,McDonnell Congressman Garrett , Senator Newman , or the seat that I desire Delegate Byron.
        What are you Juilane requesting that your State representatives place in Employee Misclassification legislation to end this?
        Or will you sit by just vote Republican and watch more rape , murder and abductions.
        McDonnell signed voter I’D just to protect their job.
        When will a republican want to ID these illegal aliens through the DOLI or the VEC to protect citizens jobs.
        What does you locality expense in building trades education anually? Do not let your children enroll in building trades , the engineering of failure is provided in the lack of trade enforcement.
        Remember Joe the Plumber questions to Obama about taxes? Obama wanted to spread the wealth / income redistribution, well Va
        Republicans are the stewards of job redistribution to illegal commerce.
        54.1-1100 * YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT ALL SUBCONTRACTORS AND TRADE RELATED INDIVIDUALS HOLD THE APPROPRIATE LICENCE ISSUED BY DPOR*
        
        Hey Steve,
        1.How many of these DOLI violators had VEC accounts for their employees?
        2. How many of their licensed employers had VEC accounts?
        3.What is the outstanding debt to the Commonwealth from these unpaid violations?
        4. What is the average number of employees on site where these violations are issued? 3? ,4?, 5? More?
        
        Tax and insurance fraud all over the *ultra conservative district*
        
        What the hell does CC BOS
        member Zehr ( licensed contractor) and Rousseau ( insurance) know about this .
        The game of blame is not one sided for me for that is just short sided.
        Newman cut that $250.00 check back to the home builders.
        Why did the killers from MD know to flee to our area? The one arrested in the hotel and Raymonds killers? Why did Santos Guzman child molester arrested June 2007 Bedford County knew he could lay brick in Wyndhurst?
      - ameri…canwork
        
        EO 24 IS CURRENT!
        Are you a building contractor?
        Are you an employer?
        You can employ all the illegal aliens you desire in Va. , you don’ t pay cash that is stupid. You write a check , issue a 1099
        As employers know you DO NOT file a copy with Va., stupid loophole.

Democrat to challenge Tom Garrett in the 5th District

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