Susan Stimpson takes a step back into politics

With Speaker Bill Howell retiring there has been speculation that Susan Stimpson might step in to replace him in the 28th district of the House of Delegates.  Today that possibility was confirmed when Stimpson sent an email to supporters asking them to “save the date” of the primary and to save her a place on the ballot.

I just wanted to send you an email asking you to possibly “save me a spot” on the ballot for this June’s Republican primary to select the Republican nominee for the House of Delegates if you’re in this district or, if you aren’t and are willing, save the possibility to help me reach victory if I do decide to run for the open seat.  It’s important to elect conservative leaders in state government and we seem to have a shortage of that in Virginia.

For those of you who may not know, one year ago life was a little difficult in the Stimpson household. It’s like that song  “I get knocked down but I get up again!”  I’m much stronger and grateful for the empathy I now have for those who have faced the same struggles.

If you’d like to know more, here’s the story in today’s paper.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/stimpson-says-diet-drug-led-to-bizarre-behavior-is-considering/article_6afe26ce-43d4-5d36-8f50-df23a6adb4fa.html

So save the date — Tuesday, June 13th, the Republican Primary — and hopefully, you’ll save a spot for me if I decide to run for the House of Delegates.  If I do, I want to represent my neighborhood and tell your story.

According to the story in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, last year Stimpson was taking a powerful diet medication, phentermine, and the side effects of the drug caused her bizarre behavior resulting in an arrest in Wegmans when she refused to leave and an arrest at JFK international airport when she inadvertently walked through an emergency exit door.  (Who knew that was worthy of an arrest?) From the Free Lance-Star: 

“I wish that my family hadn’t gone through so much pain, but I wouldn’t trade the experience, and I don’t want it to be wasted,” said Stimpson, 46, wearing a purple suit jacket with a pin commemorating Stafford’s 350th anniversary. “I want to take the experience and use it for good.”

Taking the drug was not a “moral failure on my part, it was a human frailty,” Stimpson said. “But I do take responsibility for taking a shortcut … when I could’ve just maintained a healthy lifestyle,” she said, stressing that she does not fault the doctor who prescribed the medicine.

Stimpson is now living a healthier lifestyle and has eliminated coffee and alcohol from her diet.

Something else happened today that very few in Virginia politics would have ever thought possible, Shaun Kenney has written an article in support of Stimpson.  Not an endorsement, as he said several times, but he finds her “courageous.”  Amazing, after his many years of animosity toward her. He closes his piece with this:

Stimpson has yet to make her decision known publicly yet, but you have to admire the fact that she is willing to endure a public exposition of her own faults… and yes, her own virtues as well.

I consider that courageous.  The whole story is courageous.  Should she choose to throw in, Stimpson deserves consideration as a viable and strong candidate for HOD-28.

Republicans are big on forgiveness, redemption and second chances.  That’s what Stimpson is asking for and it should be granted to her.  She would make an excellent candidate for the nomination because she knows the district so well and has so much support throughout it.  She will also make a great representative for the people of the 28th district because she cares so much about them.