Democrat Senator John Bell (Loudoun and PW) will not seek re-election. He recently announced he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although his prognosis is good, Bell wants to focus on his health, his business and his family.
“Serving in the General Assembly has been a great honor and a privilege that I will always cherish,” Bell said in his statement. “I come from a humble background, and it still amazes me that I have had the opportunity to serve in the same body as great Americans like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and so many others.”
After serving 32 years, Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston) has announced she will not run again.
“My focus has always been on education, from preschool through graduate school, and on helping our neighbors in need. We have made great progress yet much more must be done,” Howell said.
Republican delegate Rob Bell (parts of Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, and Rockingham) announced at the end of the General Assembly session that he will not seek reelection.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the House of Delegates. I want to thank the voters who allowed me to represent them in Richmond for the last 22 years,” said Bell. “Once the elections were over, they shared their ideas with me and came to the Capitol to testify for the bills we came up with. With their advocacy and hard work, we’ve been able to pass laws on issues like domestic violence, drunk driving and bullying in schools. These successes would not have been possible without them.”
Delegate Wendy Gooditis of Loudoun County will also not seek reelection. She is a Democrat whose district has been re-drawn and is now largely Republican.
“House District 31 was well-drawn,” Gooditis said in a statement. “It is compact, it keeps communities of interest together, and it uses the natural boundaries of the mountains.”
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