“People ask me about if, being a Republican, you guys want to cut everything and stop everything and not help people. I find that patently false.” – Senator Tim Scott

I’ve been hearing this recently because of our successful fight against the Largest Tax Increase in Stafford History. And not to say that Senator Scott didn’t go far enough, but I think that is a blatant and willful lie. You can see more details below, but the Republican plan (which passed 5-2) provided a $16.2 million increase to the Schools Budget – the single largest increase in Stafford history. This is the 3rd year in a row that the Republican plan gave the largest increase in Stafford history to the schools – with our schools getting ever larger increases each year.

Don’t believe the lies that Republicans don’t care about schools, or children, or teachers. You can believe what you want about Democrat plans that just might bankrupt a significant percentage of neighbors, families, and friends.

You cannot tax your way to prosperity – unless you are the king. And we threw off royalty in 1776. The Supervisors are exploring new ways to generate revenue without just piling it up on the backs of property owners, but they are severely hampered by the state legislature about what they can do. They are have been working with Governor Youngkin and our local legislators to find solutions.

Which brings me nicely into our Candidate Forum on Monday. Instead of our regularly scheduled May meeting, we will have a Candidate Forum with those seeking the Republican nominations for Stafford Treasurer, for the 27th Senate district, for the 29th Senate district, and for the 65th Delegate district. More details are below, and I hope to see you there.

NEXT STAFFORD GOP MEETING

We will not hold an official meeting in May. Stay tuned for details about June.

CANDIDATE FORUM
We have invited all of our candidates in contested primaries to participate in the Stafford GOP Candidate Forum on Monday, May 8 at 6:30pm at the Falmouth Fire Station at 250 Butler Rd in Southern Stafford. The forum is being co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg City GOP, the Prince William County GOP, and the Spotsylvania County GOP. Come out to hear our candidates, what they stand for, and how they plan to represent you!

• Tara Durant – State Senate District 27
• Matt Strickland – State Senate District 27
• Nikki Baldwin– State Senate District 29
• Maria Martin – State Senate District 29
• Lee Peters – House of Delegates District 65
• Michael Kasey – House of Delegates District 65
• Heather Mitchell – Stafford County Treasurer
• Mike Sienkowski – Stafford County Treasurer

STAFFORD COUNTY BUDGET
The following is the message that was sent out by Stafford County about the FY2024 Budget, tax rates, and CIP:
 Stafford’s Board of Supervisors adopted its Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and
Fiscal Year 2024–33 Capital Improvement Program. The FY2024 Budget
takes effect on July 1, 2023, and includes a real estate tax rate of $0.93 and
a motor vehicles personal property tax rate of $5.49 ($2.745 effective rate).
Before this meeting, the Board of Supervisors did vote to advertise the real
estate tax rate at $1.145.

The Board of Supervisors provided a $16.2 million increase to the School
budget, the largest increase in history. The increase includes a 5% percent
pay raise for all school employees. The Budget also includes several
enhancements to public safety, such as one new fire crew, six new deputies
for the Sheriff’s Office, 11 school protection officers and a Homeland Security
investigator.

The FY24 Budget goes into effect on July 1, 2023. The new tax rates are
based on a calendar year and will be in effect starting with the June 2023
payments. New Utilities fees also go into effect beginning July 1, 2023.

All information on the FY2024 Budget may be found at
www.staffordcountyva.gov/budget. The Adopted Budget will be published
before July 1, 2023.

2023 ELECTIONS

The county is looking for more poll workers (Election Officials). With the increased number of precincts, and a county-wide primary, they need our help. The best way to ensure election integrity is by having Republicans in every precinct actually running the elections. If you’d like to sign up, or for more information, go here. If you can’t commit all day, then make sure you sign up with the party to help in a poll greeter role.

SPEAKER SERIES

This month, our Speaker Series welcomes Maureen Siegmund who represents Garrisonville on the School Board. The event is, as always, on the 4th Monday of the month, May 22 at 6:30pm at the Porter Library, 2001 Parkway Boulevard. More information below or at this link.

I am always amazed at the ease with which people tell lies, or convince themselves of things which aren’t true. People get ideas into their heads and refuse to let them go. Research shows that people, when shown evidence that contradicts their beliefs, will become more entrenched rather than reconsider. I think this is doubly true when we look at the media, most of our universities, our entrenched “elites” who run most of our institutions. Public trust of our institutions is at historic lows. And for good reason. They blatantly tell lies, then when caught tell you the next lie – that they said the truth all along. We have much hard work as we seek to unspool their lies and take back our society. But there’s nobody I would rather be on this journey with than all of you.

In Freedom,

Tony DeTora
Chairman

Let’s make this direct – You’ve checked out the information on our website so you’re ready to go to the public hearing at the Board of Supervisors chamber on April 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. to fight the Largest Proposed Tax Increase in Stafford History. If you cannot attend, or cannot get up to speak, you’ve provided input electronically by visiting www.staffordcountyva.gov/publichearing. And you can hear Crystal Vanuch being interviewed by WMAL at 745a on Tuesday about this fiscally irresponsible move by the Democrats. If you haven’t done these things – we need your help. Act now!

We will hold our next meeting on Monday, April 10 at 7pm at the Falmouth Fire Station at 250 Butler Rd in Southern Stafford. The official call is below. If you have not yet paid dues for the year, you will be considered as a lapsed member. If you wish to pay your dues, become a member, or renew a lapsed membership, you can enter your information and pay the dues here.

The RPV Advance is coming up April 20-23. For more information, or to buy tickets, go here: https://virginia.gop/advance23/ If you are interested in carpooling or room sharing, let me know and I will try to connect you with others doing the same.

If you are filing to be a candidate in one of the Republican primaies this year, time is running out for you to submit your paperwork. Check our 2023 Elections web page for information on how to file for the various positions. As always, candidate events we know about will be posted our Events web page. And coming up in May, we’re planning to put together candidate forums for any contested primaries to give you a better chance to hear from your candidates..

In Freedom,

Tony DeTora

Chairman

“True republicanism is the sovereignty of the people. There are natural and imprescriptible rights which an entire nation has no right to violate.”

Some people understand how critical America is, and has been, in recognizing, embracing, and defending the “natural and imprescriptible rights” of all people. For Lafayette, he embraced the American experiment and helped the founders achieve victory because he believed that our principles were right and they would spread to his French homeland. It is amazing to me that what was so clear to an 18th century French aristocrat is so elusive to millions of actual Americans today. We see and hear calls for eliminating the natural rights of people throughout our society. Can’t speak the truth without being called a liar. Can’t stand up for equality without being called a bigot. Can’t stand up for women without being called a misogynist. Everything seems turned upside down and twisted. It’s like the truth doesn’t even matter any more in the news, or in our schools, or in our policy making. But we are the people. We are sovereign. We are the ones who decide – if we have the strength of our convictions. If we are willing to suffer the slings and arrows of those who would see us trampled under their boots. If we are willing to say family matters, faith matters, truth matters. This is how we win – by joining together and fighting. By telling the truth. By ceaselessly pointing out the lies. By exposing their smoke and mirrors. And by never giving up.

We will hold our next meeting on Monday, March 13 at 7pm at the Falmouth Fire Station at 250 Butler Rd in Southern Stafford. The official call is below. Dues are due for the year, and if you have not paid you may be considered as a lapsed member. If you wish to pay your dues, become a member, or renew a lapsed membership, you can enter your information and pay the dues here.

The Leadership Institute will be holding a Candidate Development Workshop on March 18, 2023. The Candidate Development Workshop is designed to teach current and prospective candidates, and their teams the steps needed to run a successful campaign. Full details and registration are available here.

2023 is a big year in Stafford County elections. We have elections in November for five county-wide Constitutional offices, three Supervisors, three School Board members, two State Senators, three Delegates, and two Soil & Water Commissioners. Nominations will take place in June for all of the partisan positions, and we will be updating our 2023 Elections web page with information on how to file for the various positions. We will keep the site updated as we move through the process. In addition, candidates will have various events, and we will post those we know about on our Events web page.

We will hold our next SCRC Speaker Series event with Treasurer Laura Rudy on Monday, March 27 at 6:30pm at the Porter Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA 22554. Join us! We simply cannot let the liars, and the fools, and the bigots, and the tyrants beat us. We must work to support our candidates. We must work to help our elected officials – by showing up to support them, by writing, by posting, by talking to our friends and families and neighbors. We must stand up for our principles – every time they are threatened or under attack. We must stop the first attack with such dominance that they scurry away and never return. That is how you defend liberty. That is how you ensure true republicanism. That is how we win.

In Freedom,

Tony DeTora

Chairman

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.”
– Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States

NEXT STAFFORD GOP MEETING

We will hold our next meeting on Monday, February 13 at 7pm at the Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant, 752 Warrenton Rd. Fredericksburg. The official call is below. If you wish to become a member, or renew a lapsed membership, you can enter your information and pay the dues here. We’re asking everyone to try to sit by Magisterial District – we’ll need to do some things by district in the meeting, so it will be easier if they’re already together. Come Early – Order Food and Drinks – Support Our Local Businesses

STUDENTS FOR LIFE ACTION 

Thank you to Les Gabriel who forwarded me information about Students for Life Action targeting Representative Abigail Spanberger because of her vote against the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26). They are asking for small donations to help support these students who are engaged in this campaign. Donations can be made here: https://studentsforlifeaction.givingfuel.com/sflactionpizza?registrants.source=hf&registrants.messageid=230202

17 ELECTIONS IN 2023

We will have 17 elected offices to fill in Stafford County this coming November. Many of our incumbents are running for re-election. We have some new names and faces putting themselves out there. And we’re still seeking individuals who may want to be Republican candidates in upcoming elections. If you or someone you know may be interested in running for office, please reply to this email so we can set up a time to talk. An up-to-date list of this year’s elections can be found at our website: https://staffordgop.com/2023-elections/  We will update this page regularly with new information about the process and candidates.

SPEAKER SERIES

We will hold our next SCRC Speaker Series event on Monday, February 27 at 6:30pm at the Porter Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA 22554.

IMPORTANT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

At our meeting on Monday, we will choose the method of nomination for eight of the upcoming elections, we will consider our annual budget, and start preparing to fully support our Republican candidates to secure victories in November. More information on these items will be sent to our Members’ distribution list. If you are a current member and haven’t been receiving our Members’ distribution emails, please reply to this message and let me know. We’ll get it sorted out.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

“Let the light of millions of candles in American homes give notice that the light of freedom is not going to be extinguished. We are blessed with a freedom and abundance denied to so many. Let those candles remind us that these blessings bring with them a solid obligation, an obligation to the God who guides us, an obligation to the heritage of liberty and dignity handed down to us by our forefathers and an obligation to the children of the world, whose future will be shaped by the way we live our lives today. ” ―Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, in his 1981 Christmas Address to the nation

 

As you know, we did not win the 7th Congressional District. Yesli did carry Stafford County – so our RED LINE held. But it was not enough to overcome the numbers out of Prince William County. When I spoke with Yesli, she said how grateful she was to everyone in Stafford who worked so hard over the past few months. She said we should proud of our work, and keep up our determination in the future.

We must persist – we must redouble our efforts and continue to charge into the fray. As we look at next year, there will be 17 elections in all or part of Stafford County. Most candidates will announce their intentions in January. All of them will need our help. And we will need our friends, our family, our neighbors, and anyone else we can find to help us. We must show persistence and determination in carrying out the RPV Creed, getting our candidates elected, and ensuring that Stafford and Virginia move in a more conservative direction.

SCRC SPEAKER SERIES
We will hold our next Speaker Series event this Saturday, November 19 at 9:30a at Porter Library, 2001 Parkway Blvd. Our speaker this month with be Aquia Supervisor Monica Gary. Join us as we engage with one of our local supervisors!!GET INVOLVED
How can you get more involved? How can you donate to the Stafford GOP? How do you know what events are coming up? Head to our website at StaffordGOP.com and follow the links at the top of the page.Persistence. Determination. These are our words. Stand strong. Face the right direction and move forward. Hold the line. Extend the line.

 

As we come down the final stretch, we needed to order more signs, and we are having the sample ballots printed. We’ve had some generous donations, but we could use more funding to ensure we have our supplies for Election Day. Every dollar helps!!! Please go here and contribute what you can: https://staffordgop.com/donate/