WFXR: Reid talks with early voters in Roanoke Valley ahead of November election

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Republican Lieutenant Governor nominee John Reid was back in Roanoke talking with voters Tuesday afternoon.

He said he has family ties to the Star City, and he feels like it’s an often-neglected region among politicians.

“I don’t think that’s right,” Reid said. “If you want to run for office and you’re not willing to put in the work, and shake hands with people, and listen to people when you’re running for office, then you won’t do it when you get there.”

Reid said a lot of people told him they were concerned about the economy.

He said he feels like bolstering the economy is one of his strong suits.

“I was the Director of Communication at the United States Chamber of Commerce, which is the largest business federation in the world,” Reid said. “I want to use that experience to try and bring new business to Virginia, and try to bring new jobs to parts of the state where perhaps we haven’t been successful in the past.”

Reid also wants to let voters and the next Governor of Virginia know he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

“I would not be going to Richmond to be a rubber stamp for anybody,” he said. “You’re getting an independent person, who is independent-minded, open-minded, and who’s going to speak up for what I think is right.”

Some of the voters appreciated what Reid had to say.

“He has my full support,” Roanoke voter Annie LeHardy said. “I believe he will defend parents’ rights in the classroom, which is very important to me as a mother.”

Democrat candidate Ghazala Hashmi was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but did provide a written statement on why voters should support her.

“As a leader in the State Senate, an educator for three decades, and a mom of two daughters raised here in Virginia, I am focused on improving the lives of all Virginians and bringing people together to solve the most important issues facing our Commonwealth,” She said in the statement.

“I have secured historic funding for our public schools and wrote the plan to protect Medicaid in Virginia. My opponent, John Reid, wants to close public schools and touts plans to cut public education funding, and he supports the bill that will rip away health care coverage from over 300,000 Virginians and has forced three Virginia health clinics to close.”

The deadline to vote early is November 1st, and Election Day is November 4th.