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State Senator Frank Wagner Announces Retirement After 28 Years In Virginia Legislature

Becoming the third Republican State Senator to retire this year, Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2019. The Naval Academy graduate has served in the General Assembly’s upper chamber since 2002, being a staunch proponent of improving transportation infrastructure in Hampton Roads, supporting veterans care, and aiding in deregulatory measures to promote business growth.

“It has been one of the highest honors of my life to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth. I want to thank the citizens of Virginia Beach and Norfolk for giving me that privilege of serving them in Virginia legislature,” the 63-year-old said in a statement.

“Virginia is a great state, which is why we choose to live here. I just hope that I have left our state a little better off for me having served. However, the time has come to turn my seat over to the next generation to continue to make Virginia a better place for all of us to live and raise our families,” he added.

Wagner began his 28-year legislative career in the House of Delegates, serving as the 21st House District’s representative from 1992 to 2001. Apart from being a member of the State Senate for the past 17 years, Wagner ran unsuccessfully to become the Republican Party’s nominee for governor in 2017 with a campaign slogan of, “One veteran, one businessman, one Virginian, one choice.”

During the 2019 legislative session in Richmond, Wagner’s legislation regarding coal ash ponds was passed by the General Assembly. S.B. 1355 requires coal ash ponds to be closed by moving coal ash to lined landfills on site or recycled. According to the bill, approximately 27 million tons of coal ash across the Commonwealth will be secured in a safe manner.

S.B. 1746, which was also passed, directs the Department of Education to encourage school boards that have a significant number of enrolled military-connected students to partner with the National Math and Science Initiative to provide such students with the tools and resources necessary to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, job creation, and career readiness.

Wagner also helped lead the charge to ban people from holding a cell phone while driving a to mitigate distracted driving injuries and fatalities in the Commonwealth, but the bill failed to become law.

Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R-James City) said of Wagner’s retirement, “Having worked closely with Frank for many years, he has become a great and close friend.”

“With nearly three decades serving the people of Virginia in the General Assembly, and his earlier service to our nation in the Navy, I know Frank will continue to find ways to contribute to Virginia, America, and, of course, Hampton Roads,” he added in a statement.

Senators Richard “Dick” Black (R-Loudoun) and Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) also announced their plans not to run for reelection this November. Currently, the GOP is holding onto a slim 21-19 majority in the upper chamber, with Democrats already eyeing the 7th State Senate District that encompasses Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk.

State Senator Bill Carrico Announces Retirement, Two Republicans Vie For Seat

State Senator Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) announced Tuesday afternoon that he will not seek reelection this November as all 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly will be on the ballot. Carrico finishes his legislative career after 10 years in the House of Delegates and eight years in the State Senate.

The retired state trooper and Marion native has represented Lee, Scott, Grayson, and Washington counties, parts of Smyth, Wise, and Wythe counties, as well as the city of Bristol the southwestern part of the Commonwealth. The legislator explained that he had “served long enough” in Richmond’s statehouse, and would like to spend more time with his family.

“I don’t think our founders intended for this to be long term, so while they didn’t set term limits, they did expect it to be a sacrifice and not something to make careers out of,” Carrico said in a report from The Roanoke Times. “Serving in the General Assembly, being from Southwest Virginia, is a real sacrifice.”

“I feel like I’ve done my very best. I haven’t been perfect by any means, but I tried to help everybody that asked for my help, regardless of their party or if they voted for me or not,” he added. “That’s what I want to leave on, that fact I’m just one of the people, and I served them honorably, and when I see them, I don’t have to bow my head in any way. I’ve been thankful to serve them.”

During the 2019 legislative session, Carrico introduced and passed S.B. 1512, which would allow the Virginia State Police to operate handheld speed monitoring devices in highway work zones to protect the workforce.

Aimed at restoring Christian values, he also patroned S.B. 1502 to require local school boards to offer an accredited course on the “Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible or a combined course on both. The bill, however, was left in the House Appropriations Committee.

Carrico also worked to provide solutions to improve infrastructure on Interstate 81 during this year’s 46-day session.

To replace Carrico in the reliably Republican 40th State Senate District, two GOP candidate have announced their intentions.

Delegate Todd Pillion (R-Washington) and Marion Community and Economic Development Director Ken Heath are the only candidates that have announced thus far. Nevertheless, Carrico endorsed Pillion just after he relayed his retirement to his constituents.

On April 25, Republicans will convene at the Scott County Career and Technical Center at 150 Broadwater Avenue in Gate City for a mass meeting to choose between Pillion and Heath. Prospective Republican candidates have until March 25 to file paperwork with the legislative district committee, with open an primary being the way they will choose a Republican nominee for the 4th House District.