Edorsements

What's an endorsement worth?  Sometimes a lot!  Sometimes . . . not very much. 

Sometimes not endorsing (no endorsement) may also say a lot.  I'm hoping to get Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s endorsement - that would mean a lot.  Perhaps even press worthy. 

But for now - I'm pleased with some "no endorsements" for the incumbent - who is running as the "Republican"  (see below) from Conservative leaders. 

Remember - Election Day is November 8th!  Make sure you come on out and VOTE!

Blessings,

David Ross

====================================================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Thomas, 703-819-0127

Delegates make endorsements in Spotsylvania races

Cole, Farrell back Spotsy candidates

10/4/11

Spotsylvania, VA. Delegate Mark Cole (R-88th), and Delegate-to-be Peter Farrell (R-56th) made select endorsements in Spotsylvania GOP races today.

Cole endorsed Tim McLaughlin for Chancellor Supervisor. "The one thing we have learned during the last decade is how important it is to elect people of character who share our conservative views. Tim McLaughlin is one of those conservatives. Like me, he is a military veteran, someone who knows what it means to serve and live by a code of honor. He is a small government, low tax conservative who will use his experience as a small business owner to bring jobs back to Spotsylvania. He is pro-life and supports the 2nd Amendment; he will take a stand to defend your rights. He is a straightforward, honest conservative, that I am proud to endorse for Chancellor Supervisor".

Cole also endorsed Ann Heidig for Livingston Supervisor, Paul Trampe for Salem Supervisor, Al King for Commissioner of the Revenue, Dawn Shelley for Chancellor School Board, and Kirk Twigg for Livingston Supervisor.

Cole has several precincts in Spotsylvania due to the recent redistricting, including three of the four Chancellor precincts, all three Courtland precincts, and parts of Battlefield as well. He was unopposed in 2009 and has been delegate since 2001, having formerly been a supervisor in Spotsylvania.

Peter Farrell, Republican nominee for delegate in the 56th House district covering southwestern Spotsylvania, also endorsed several Spotsylvania candidates today.

"As a small businessman, I encounter every day the difficulties that government places in the way of job creation- increased taxes and burdensome regulations. The Spotsylvania GOP slate of candidates- Al King, Ann Heidig, Jerry Logan, Tim McLaughlin, and Paul Trampe- also know these obstacles to job creation. They have thought deeply about how to reduce these obstacles, how to create a business friendly environment for all businesses. These leaders are exactly what is needed for these times, and I endorse them for office in Spotsylvania County."

Farrell also endorsed Kirk Twigg for School Board in Livingston. Both of Farrell's Spotsylvania precincts are in Livingston.

"Good schools require leaders with courage and character, leaders who understand the unique needs kids have. Kirk Twigg understands in a way only a father of a special needs child can, and I endorse him for Livingston School Board."

Cole and Farrell are both running unopposed this year.

"Mark Cole and (soon) Peter Farrell are the direct representatives of our county in Richmond. They lead the fight to create a good business environment by lowering taxes and regulations that harm job creation", said Spotsylvania GOP Chairman Steve Thomas. "That they should endorse several Spotsy GOP candidates is indicative of their recognition that Spotsylvania needs to lower taxes and regulation as well. Our candidates are honored by their endorsement. "

===========================================================

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Thomas <sgt1997@gmail.com>
To: Ann Heidig <ann@oakhillgrapes.com>; Tim McLAughlin <mclaughlintj@comcast.net>; Jim and Andrea Joyce <j_ajoyce@comcast.net>; Trampe <pdtrampe@aol.com>; al king <alfredking@erols.com>; Scott Mellott <scottmellott@verizon.net>; Dawn Shelley <gogatorsdawn@aol.com>; Kirk Twigg <kirk.twigg@l-3com.com>; Chris Yakabouski <Cyak1974@aol.com>; Robert Stuber <RobStuber@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 30, 2011 9:34 am
Subject: Big News: Gov endorses you!

See below. He did not endorse the entire slate but he did endorse you. No statement, but go ahead and announce his endorsement!!!

See everyone tomorrow for Super Saturday at 9:30 at Bryce's office! Bring your volunteers!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: D.J. Eckert <dj.eckert@bobmcdonnell.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Subject: RE: Spotsy slate endorsement?
To: Steven Thomas <sgt1997@gmail.com>

Hi Steve,

As we discussed earlier this week, the below slate has the endorsement of the Governor:

Ann Heidig for Livingston Supervisor

Tim McLaughlin for Chancellor Supervisor

Paul Trampe for Salem Supervisor

Kirk Twigg for Livingston School Board

Dawn Shelley for Chancellor School Board

Al King for Commissioner of the Revenue

Thank you for your patience, and please let me know if there’s anything more we can do to be helpful.

Best,

D.J.

D.J. Eckert

804.380.8324

Ross For Courtland Update - Key Differences in your choice for Courtland

Wanted to make a quick post and give an update that things couldn't be looking better on the Ross4Courtland campaign trail.  For those of you who have not participated as of yet, let you know of the key differences between the incumbent and myself.

Key differences:  I  have taken a pledge to not raise the tax rate if I'm elected.  I will fight to phase out the BPOL tax.  My opponent was the key swing vote to increase the 2.1 percent gas tax which added just over 7 cents to every gallon you purchase in Spotsy.

I stand for property rights and believe the toll road that the George Washington Toll Road Authority continues to move forward, needs !to look at other less expensive and more practical solutions.  My opponent is a member of the toll road authority and in his response to a Candidate questionnaire - has stated that he is for the toll road. 

For more information on the toll road - see http://www.davidross.weebly.com/ - the far right tab of my website has a "toll road info" tab - which has detailed status of where the toll road progress is at.  Bottom line - $14.5 million dollars was funded two weeks ago for the GWTRA to start a financial analysis, road design (engineering diagrams), Environmental study, and outreach program. 

Another key difference is that I will be proactive in communicating with residents and responsive when addressed by citizens.  Our current supervisor in Courtland was at a meeting held in December 2010 that addressed the toll road and to date, none of the concerns citizens have had were addressed.  Indeed they have more been ignored.  I would be happy to talk with anyone in Courtland about how I would represent them if elected to the Courtland District, Board of Supervisors seat.   My e-mail address is david.ross.7@verizon.net - cell number is 571.594.0814. 

I will be speaking tomorrow at the Fred Patriots meeting at Salem Church Library - please come on out!

David Ross

New Flyer for Courtland Race - Read all about it. - Comments welcome!

ARROGANCE!

IT IS ARROGANCE, WHEN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS IGNORED BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THE POLITICIAN ALSO BREAKS HIS PLEDGE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

IN SPITE OF HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE AGAINST THE PROPOSED TOLL ROAD THAT WILL DEVASTATE THE PRISTINE AREAS OF THE COURTLAND DISTRICT AND COST OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PROCESS WITHOUT SOLVING VEXING ROUTE 3 TRAFFIC CONGESTION, OUR SUPERVISOR VOTED FOR THIS TRANSPORTATION NIGHTMARE. 

ON NOVEMBER 8^TH, 2011, VOTE  DAVID ROSS  FOR COURTLAND SUPERVISOR TO DEFEAT THE TOLL ROAD AND PUT CRONYISM IN SPOTSYLVANIA ON NOTICE.

Paid for by David Ross for Spotsy BOS – COURTLAND

                                      http://www.davidross.weebly.com/

New Website - thanks to my daughter

Thanks to my daughter's guidance, I now have a website that I was able to set up on my own and . . . is free!  Please take a look if you haven't already.

www.DavidRoss.weebly.com

Also - if you have not signed up for my weekly e-mail update - please do so as soon as possible - send e-mail to

david.ross.7@verizon.net

with "add to distro" in subject line

I won't share your e-mail address with anyone and it's a great way to stay informed of what's going on in Courtland . . . and I'll even remind you to vote on November 8th!  :-) 

As always, Thank you, and hope you all have some great family time over the Labor Day weekend,

David Ross

Can anyone tell me what District I'm in?

Spotyslvania County is composed of 7 Districts.  Each District elects one person to serve as their representative on the Board of Supervisors. 

Due to the 2010 census, some of the Districts were adjusted.  This adjustment was finalized by the DOJ on 22 July 2011.   

The seven districts are:
Chancellor, Courtland, Salem, Battlefield, Lee Hill, Berkeley, and Livingston



Seven districts of Spotsy

 

On November 8th, the seats for Chancellor, Courtland, Salem, and Livingston Districts are up for reelection.  In each of these districts, the challengers, Tim McLaughlin (Chancellor), Paul Trampe (Salem), Ann Heidig (Livingston), and myself, David Ross (Courtland) are running for increased Spotsylvania County resident's property rights.  I believe this is a first. 


If you would like me to e-mail you a full map picture that will be easier to read, or a close up of your District, please e-mail me at david.ross.7@verizon.net - I'd be happy to electronically send you picture.

The Courtland District is subdivided into three Precincts.  Hazel Run (green), Plank Road (orange), and Riverbend (yellow) on map below.

Courtland District of Spotsylvania County

Below, are posted a close up picture of each of the Precincts.  Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at david.ross.7@verizon.net if you would like a detailed photo of any of the below to clarify if you are in the Courtland District or not.  

Courtland District - Riverbend Precinct

Courtland District - Plank Road Precinct

Courtland District - Hazel Run Precinct

As always - thanks for taking the time to stay informed.  If you haven't signed up for my e-mail distribution list - please do so today.  Send me an e-mail to david.ross.7@verizon.net with "distro" in subject line.

Take care,
David Ross

Blitz died yesterday / Property Rights Threatened . . . the I95 Toll Road through Spotsy is not dead

I just walked about two hundred yards barefoot, down to the end of my driveway and back to put some mail my mailbox.  On the walk, I could hear crickets and birds making serene forest sounds.  I was very happy about the peacefulness of the rural setting I live in.   My home – a place I’ve grown accustomed to.  A place where memories of raising our children will last in my mind until I die.  A place I chose with my wife to live in and have made many financial sacrifices to have and to own.  In the Courtland District of Spotsylvania, I know my feelings of enjoying our rural setting and surrounding are not alone.   

Make no mistake about it, property, liberty, and freedom go hand in hand.  In the 1700’s, the word liberty was often used in the same manner as the word property is used today. 

Yesterday was not a good day for our family.  Our back door was accidentally left open and our outside dog, Ranger got into the house alone.  Ranger, a bird dog, went straight to Blitz’s cage and Blitz did not fare well in the confrontation.  Blitz is my daughter's parakeet . . . He’s dead, and the cage is ruined. 

My heart went out to my daughter as I told her the news and comforted her.  As any parent knows, when a child suffers, the parent’s heart breaks as well.  She cried for a very long time, and all I could do was hold her and attempt to feel the pain she was feeling to somehow make it better, but I couldn’t make it better.  It has occurred to me, that this same feeling of loss that my daughter was feeling is what a property owner must feel like when he/she looses property against his/her will.

When my daughter left for school yesterday morning – she had no reason to worry about her property, Blitz the parakeet.  But the pain of loss was more than she could bear.  I believe this same feeling / anxiety is produced when the government exercises one of its most powerful anti-liberty powers, Eminent Domain – taking private citizen’s property.  I belive Eminent Domain shoud be used only as a very last resort for the common good, not as the first choice.   In the case of the toll road that is proposed to run through the Courtland and Chancellor Districts of Spotsy, property owners physical property will be taken but also the property rights the the peace of our rural setting provides, will be taken for many more who do not actually lose physical property.  I personally will consider moving, which as a Marine no longer in uniform, I’ve had enough moving in my life already.    



This is not potential any longer - but is indeed going forward TODAY - see news articles below



  I spent several hours on August 29^th and 30^th 2011 with both the Spotsylvania County Advanced Planning section, Mr. Jacob Pastwik and the George Washington Regional Commission, Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) Mr. Lloyd Robinson and staff.  I spent this time researching the proposed toll road from I95, through Celebrate Virginia South, to Gordon Road on Rt 3. 

I will write more about what I’ve found out in my next post, but would encourage you to take the time to read the Freelance Star Articles below.  Before you start reading, I’d like to bring two things to your attention 1), the initial Michael Baker Jr. Incorporate Study, which started in 2008 and was completed in October of 2010 and became the Interstate Justification Report (IJR) cost $600,000 (FAMPO interview with me on 30 August 2011).  $200,000 of this amount was funded by Celebrate Virginia Development Authority (Silver Cos). and 2) A Harrison Road exit / on ramp off of I95 was never considered or modeled by FAMPO.  They have stated that the Michael Baker Jr. study’s purpose was not just to relieve route 3 traffic but also to tie commercial properties together (page 60 of report) (please think about properties this ties together and commercial properties in Spotsy it avoids as you read). 

Stay informed – I’ve tried to consolidate my research below to make it easy for you to read – please take the time to read articles below.  An informed resident is a key to moving forward in the right direction.  Don’t you agree? 

Thanks – David Ross

December 12^th, 2010 – “Spotsy paving way for tolls?”  Announcing 13 December meeting at Mount Hope Baptist Church

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/122010/12122010/593233

Announcing 13 December meeting at Mount Hope Baptist Church.  Although holiday season with many gone, 50-60 people showed up at this who had a clear majority that were against the toll road.  A petition of over 300 Courtland and Chancellor resident’s  of Spotsylvania County against toll road was presented to County. The County’s minutes of this meeting are still in draft format as of 29 August 2011. 

January 30^th, 2011, - “Interchange and Parkway Ahead,

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/012011/01302011/603107

Quote from article above, “But Beard and some of his neighbors disagree, and intend to make their objections known when the project is discussed at a public hearing before the Spotsylvania Planning Commission this spring. A date has not been announced. (My note (David), this meeting never occurred)
An informational meeting on the project held Dec. 13 by Spotsylvania drew 50 to 60 people, according to Kathy Smith, county spokeswoman. County officials are working to answer questions residents asked at the meeting and post them on the county website, she said. The commission will hear comments on whether to add the interchange and parkway project to the county's Comprehensive Plan”

April 22^nd, 2011 – “Celebrate Va. Hits hard times – The Silver Cos. And its investment partners owe about $5 million in back taxes and special assessment payments in Fredericksburg and Stafford County”

http://fredericksburg.com/News/Web/2011/042011/celebrate-virginia

May 3^rd, 2011 – “New Interchange clears hurdle”  http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/052011/05032011/1304440197fls

This article was a surprise to Spotsy County Planning when it came out.  They were still under the impression the Comprehensive Plan needed to be amended, per the 12 December 2010 article above.

May 4^th, 2011 – “Parkway project finally moving – George Washington Toll Road Authority notified it is in line to get $15 million to further study potential Interstate 95 interchange”

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/052011/05042011/623873

June 8th, 2011 – “I-95 Interchange proposal takes another step”

 http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/transportation/2011/06/08/i-95-interchange-proposal-takes-another-step

June 9^th, 2011  – “Toll-road study plan OK’d by area panel.  GWTRA puts out bids for proposed $300 million Interstate 95 rest area exit.” 

 http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/072011/07172011/638944

The October 22^nd, 2010 FAMPO Michael Baker Jr. Inc Study ($200,000 funded by Celebrate Virginia, Silver Cos) that has become the Interstate Justification Report (IJR) that was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on 28 April 2011 per the article dated May 3^rd, 2011 above may be found at

http://www.fampo.gwregion.org/pdf/I-95%20Access%20Study/FINAL_IJR/I-95%20Access%20Study%20-%20FINAL%2010-22-10.pdf

 It's one 155 pages long but includes detailed maps of project. 

Letter to Free Lance-Star Editior update / recap

I want to briefly recap a series of letters to the Free Lance-Star (FLS) in one post to help you know where I stand on Debt. 

On July 17^th, 2011, Richard Amrhine wrote a very one sided view on our National debt at the time Congress was trying to deal with the debt ceiling titled, “Will the GOP let us crash and burn?”.  It may be found here.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/072011/07172011/638944

I responded to this article with a letter to the editor titled, “America is the largest debtor nation in the world” that was published in the FLS on July 24^th, 2011.  It may be found at the link below.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/072011/07242011/639949 

The letter I wrote was then responded to in a letter to the editor titled, “The GOP conveniently forgets our debt history” by a resident from Bumpass on August 15^th.  His letter may be found at the link below.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08152011/644205

Today, on August 25^th, my response to the above titled, “We’re in this together” was published in the FLS and may be found at the link below.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08252011/646559 

Please read the above letters to the editor and let me know what you think.  I welcome and encourage your feedback!

Also – Please get the word out about my campaign.  I’m running as an Independent candidate for the Courtland Board of Supervisors because the Republican primaries for Spotsy were held in June at the mass meeting and I made the personal decision to run after this date.  The Courtland district is composed of about 80 percent Republicans.  Why is it important to do this?

Honestly – if I were to vote without knowing about both candidates / and did not research the Independent Candidate – I’d vote the Republican ticket – this is my biggest challenge – GETTING the word out that I am the more socially and fiscally conservative candidate in this Courtland BOS race.  This challenge is multiplied by the decision I have made (and will stand by) to not accept campaign donations. 

You can help by following this blog, sending me an e-mail (david.ross.7@verizon.net) and requesting to be added to my e-mail distribution list, and telling others to do the same.   In the subject line put “distro information” or “distro help” or “both” depending on if you would just like information as we move forward or if you would be able to help. 

There are many ways to help that range from very small time commitments (putting a bumper sticker on your car) to large ones.  Please tell others about this blog and e-mail distribution lists as well.  This keeps costs low and it’s just information – on what one of your candidate’s stand for.  I firmly believe researching candidates prior to a vote is a civic duty and if you are reading this – I’m willing to bet that you do too!

My thanks in advance.

David Ross

Fiscal Conservative

Bottom line - I am for lower taxes and feel we are indeed, taxed enough already.  I would use my vote on the Board of Supervisors to spend every dollar as if it were my own. 

Our government at the national level, under both party’s leadership (or lack of leadership) has gotten out country into a terrible debt crisis.  I wrote a letter to the FLS editor that was published on July 24^th, 2011 addressing my thoughts on our debt crisis.  You can view the letter here

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/072011/07242011/639949

The letter above has received two very liberal responses, one of which can be found at

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08152011/644205

I’ve written a response to the letter above reminding the writer about the “Power of the Purse” that Congress holds, but as of today, my response has not been published.

Living in Spotsylvania County while I transitioned from being an active duty Marine to a civilian was a great experience, with the exception of learning about just how high our personal property taxes are.  In 2009 I bought a Chevy Suburban because we had another child (our sixth).  I had saved earnestly to make a nice down payment on this car, and in the end – my personal property taxes per month were greater than my car payment.  Ouch!!!

Like most readers, I have also experienced, as a resident of Spotsylvania, my home’s assessed value go up at the exact time the housing market continued to go down.  I contested the amount with our County and actually did get a reduction in assessed value – to which I feel is still a price I could not sell my home for.   

I write this to let you know that I have personally felt the sting of high taxes and over assessment and can’t believe that every time I fill up car with gas, I’m paying 7 cents a gallon for a VRE station that I would guess near 5 percent of the Courtland district residents will ever see (anyone near route 3 won’t use it).   

If elected to represent you on the board of supervisors, I would:

-          Pledge to never raise your property or personal property taxes (no-tax pledge).  A pledge the Courtland District incumbent was not willing to take in 2006

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/042006/04102006/180617 and has shown us why with his voting record on tax increases since then. 

-          Pledge to never vote for any other type of tax increase such as the gas tax that is associated with the Spotsy VRE station.   In the case of the VRE vote, I would have pushed to at least give the citizens a vote on it which apparently was attempted by Gary Jackson with Del Mark Cole’s assistance – but died on a 5-2 vote.  See http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/082009/08192009/487717

-          I would do my very best to look for ways to streamline Spotsylvania’s county government.  I would look for efficiencies and economies of scale. 

-          I would look at our school system’s administrative salaries.  I was surprised when the FLS published our county’s Superintendent’s salary and that it was higher than the Secretary of Defense for our Nation! 

-          I would press for a general property tax cut below the equalization rate which has not occurred since 1975.  All of us need tax relief, not additional taxes.  I personally feel our taxation rates would make our Founding Fathers extremely displeased. 

-          I have the knowledge, education, and experience to make this happen.  While I served in the Marine Corps, I managed a 60 million dollar reenlistment bonus program and was recognized by the Senate Armed Forces Committee for efficiently running this program while the same committee criticized the Army and Navy’s programs for running inefficiently. 

-          I would listen to Courtland residents and build a team to make only the soundest financial decisions.  I personally, with the exception of my home mortgage, manage a debt free family. 

-          I would be transparent in all Spotsylvania County proceedings.

I hope you all got through the earth quake with little or no damage to your property.  I intend on writing about property rights in my next blog.  In the meantime – I could use help in getting the word out. 

Please e-mail me at david.ross.7@verizon.net and let me know if you’d like to A:  be added to my information distribution list (weekly e-mail that keeps you up to date on the Courtland campaign and progress) or B:  be added to a help distribution list – (weekly e-mail that will have information on how you can help me with the Campaign).

 I’ve made a firm pledge to not accept any campaign donations – so I need word of mouth to get my message out.   I am challenged, in a Republican District to get information out that I am the Candidate that will represent Courtland in the most socially and fiscally conservative manner.  Thank you.

David Ross

Big Government – I'm not a fan

I recently watched the movie, “The Soloist” which was a good reminder for me of the state of our nation’s homeless and I truly sympathize with anyone who is or has been homeless.  But for the Grace of God, there go I. 

Today I read an opinion article on Fox News titled “Could L.A.’s Jay Goldinger Hold the Key to Defeating Homelessness?”

You can find this article at  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/20/could-las-jay-goldinger-hold-key-to-defeating-homelessness/?test=faces

A few stand out quotes from the article that I am like minded with . . .

-       Indeed, British Prime Minister David Cameron summed up the fears and frustrations of many when he asked; "Do we have the determination to confront the slow-motion moral collapse that has taken place in parts of our country these past few generations? Irresponsibility. Selfishness. Behaving as if your choices have no consequences... Reward without effort.”

-       To date, Food-on-Foot boasts an 89% success rate; roughly the reverse percentage of success enjoyed by government-funded programs. Oh, and did I mention that from Day 1 Jay has refused any and all government funding?

-       These simple acts challenge people clinging to the lowest rung of society to validate their self-worth and to realize that victimhood isn’t a coat that protects you from the elements but a straitjacket that locks you in to a cycle of misery.

-       His tough-love approach is one that works to motivate people to take responsibility for their actions. Participants start by sweeping the streets.

-       Jay told us that when a new group of workers sign up, he provides each with a mirror and offers this admonition: "Take a good in the mirror. You are looking at the enemy; the only person holding you back from a bright future.”

Like bullet two above -  I believe our government programs are far less efficient than many of our community programs.  As your Board of Supervisors representative, I would strive to reduce government social programs while teaming with and increasing the community programs we have.  I would encourage and cooperate with local volunteer organizations to care for our down and out for a win – win outcome. 

David Ross – your best choice for Courtland Board of Supervisors

Social Issues – Where I stand = Social Conservative

I realize the Courtland BOS position for Spotsylvania County is a local position and how I stand on many of the social issues below may not impact our County – but I also believe the character of the person you vote for is important.  You never know in this day and age when any social issue will be at your very own back door. 

So . . . FOR THE RECORD, in black and white  – below is how I stand, and what I would support whole heartedly in regard to social issues in Spotsylvania.

Pro-LIFE – I believe life starts at conception.

Taxpayer’s money should never be used to support even a single abortion.

I would like to see Roe V. Wade reversed in the future.

Planned Parenthood should be defunded in Virginia.  If you have not watched Lila Rose’s Live Action videos of our very own State of Virginia’s Planned Parenthood – please take a look at http://liveaction.org/traffick it truly is shocking for anyone, especially parents to watch.

I am for individual citizen’s property rights.  Eminent domain (the governments taking of personal property) should be a last resort to a problem, never a first and never taken lightly.  I do not understand the majority in the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling, Kelo v. new London (2005) http://civilliberty.about.com/od/freetradeopenmarkets/p/kelovlondon.htm  in which it was ruled that the Government could use Eminent Domain for “Commercial” reasons.  I would NEVER support this on the SPOTSY BOS! 

For Parental rights – it is completely outrageous that I must sign a permission form at the high school my children attend for them to take over the counter drugs and have a Doctor sign the same form – but my daughter may obtain an abortion without my knowledge if the correct paperwork is filed.  Crazy. 

I support the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which our President has informed the Department of Justice not to enforce.  I’m not sure how someone sworn to protect and defend the Constitution can decide what laws to enforce and that our Nation does not have to enforce all laws, but I digress. 

I believe marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman only.  I believe families are the core building block to a strong Nation, State, and County.

I believe our tax laws should incentivize marriage, not be a disincentive to marriage.   Hypothetically, a married couple who had 2 children and divorced on paper and gave each other one child’s custody rights and nothing else changed, they could both file as head of household and pay less taxes than if they filed “married filing jointly” as a married couple at certain income levels. 

I believe in the right to bear arms as given in the second amendment to the Constitution.  I am a member of the NRA and personally have a concealed carry permit.

I believe there should be Campaign Finance Reform in our Country at all levels.  This is why I am running my campaign on a low budget and am not collecting donations for my campaign.

I believe in the death penalty for murderous crimes.

I am against our current “no fault divorce” laws. 

I am for tax reform – but will address that in fiscal blog.

Urban Sprawl – against it. 

I am in agreement with 100 percent of the Family Research Council, Concerned Woman of America, Wall Builders, Heritage Institute Ministries, and the American Heritage Foundation.  I also am inspired by our state elected officials – Bob Marshall, Mark Cole, and Ken Cuccinelli on social issues.

If I’ve missed an issue that is important to you and you would like to know where I stand on such issue, send me an email at david.ross.7@verizon.net and I’ll respond in kind and add to this blog.

David Ross

Ross4Courtland - post number uno

Hi, my name is David Ross and I'd like to represent the Citizen's of the Courtland District of Spotsylvania County by serving on the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors.  I have never run for a political office before - and believe me - It was with much hesitation that I have done this and has been a great experience to date.  I have had the privilege of doing something I was very uncomfortable with - going door to door to gather signatures in order to be placed on the ballot for the 8 November election. 

Going outside my comfort level however, helped me meet people, neighbors that I would never have met before.  People I've lived next to for years that I now had a "reason" to meet.  I should have done that a long time ago. 

I'm a dad of six children and happily married to a Jennifer - a Johns Hopkins medical school graduate who practices medicine in Fredericksburg and went to middle and high school here in Spotsylvania.  I'm originally from Iowa, served over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and worked as a Program Manager at Quantico for the past 3 1/2 years. I've lived in Virginia over a decade and in the Courtland District of Spotsy for 5 years. 

My goal as your representative on the BOS is to be both Reachable and Responsible to you and no one else.  I am not collecting contributions as I don't want even the perception of owing a person, organization, or business something after the election.  I truly care about our community and want our neighborhoods to be a place where we enjoy living.  I am concerned about the direction our Government is going and feel that it all starts in our local community, and for me, that's here - in Spotsy!!!  Please sign up on the right to be e-mailed future blog posts.  In the future, I will be identifying issues in our County and how I intend on addressing them.  This is a very grass roots campaign I’m running – so please pass this site info on to others when you can.  Thanks!

Recent photo of David at Officers Christian Fellowship retreat with family