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VOL. 29 | NUM. 47
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JANUARY 26, 2018
Stafford supervisors to donate land for Germanna Campus
Del. Thomas and the road to the House
TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
A
he Stafford County Board of Supervisors executed a memorandum of agreement Tuesday to convey 25 county-owned acres for a future, permanent Germanna Community College Center. The decision will allow Germanna up to 20 years to build a college center on those 25 acres. The property is located at 143 Jumping Branch Road in the Aquia District and was donated to Stafford by HHHunt for that purpose. The initial plan was to allow up to five years, but the college now has 20 years, according to board background documents. Germanna said in a statement that the approval is a major step forward. “This night was the culmination of so much good will and the extraordinary efforts of so many Germanna supporters,” GCC President Janet Gullickson said. “We are grateful.” In May 2016, the county received the dedication of land from HH Hunt Corporation to be used for the future college center. Gullickson said Germanna will offer cybersecurity and nursing training in Stafford. Separately, a new, expanded but temporary leased Germanna center in Stafford is scheduled to open in May, 2018. It will allow GCC to serve Stafford residents until the completion of and help pave the
Freshman Del. Bob Thomas, R-28th District, applauds a colleague at the closing of the House of Delegates session Jan. 19. LIA TABACKMAN CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
LIA TABACKMAN
Capital News Service
A
t 9 a.m. Jan. 10, Republican Bob Thomas sat in his Richmond office overlooking the Virginia Capitol. With three hours to go until the beginning of the 2018 legislative session, the results of his seeming victory in the 28th District had yet to be confirmed. Thirty minutes later he was told that he had won, and at noon the House of Delegates was gaveled into session. Thomas’ road toward representing the district composed of Stafford County and parts of Fredericksburg was far from cut and dried—it was drawn out and highly
publicized. He won by just 73 votes over Democratic candidate Joshua Cole in an election that came under scrutiny after reports that 147 voters were given the wrong ballots. The morning before the session started, a federal appeals court denied a request for an injunction and new election. After a commanding margin last year, Republicans now narrowly held a 51-49 advantage in the House. To Thomas as well as the district’s voters, the back-and-forth election and legal drama surrounding ballot counts was nothing short of bizarre. After weeks of debate and controversy, Thomas described his taking office as “completely surreal.”
“I called my mom and dad right before I sat down,” Thomas said, adding, “I still kind of tear up about it, although I probably shouldn’t have done that” A self-described introvert, Thomas’ demeanor could be seen as a divergence from textbook politicians. He seems more calm than commandeering, and is an elected official who did not seek out a life of politics but found it by chance. It all started in 2009, when Thomas’ software company, Capriccio Software, had offices on the same floor as the Stafford Republican headquarters. HOUSE
GERMANNA
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Seyed M Hashemi, MD, FACC
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STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
Dr. Hashemi, cardiologist has opened his new office in Stafford on 610! 243 Garrisonville Rd. Suite 101 Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: 540 440 7001 or 703 490 3700
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