After nearly two decades in the General Assembly, another Republican is stepping down and leaving some uncertainty behind him.
Senator Bill Carrico announced his retirement Tuesday, the same day as the filing deadline for any Republican wishing to replace him.
Then, Carrico’s goal for the future was revealed.
In a rush of activity, Senator Bill Carrico of Southwest Virginia announced his retirement and Delegate Todd Pillion declared his run for the seat less than two hours after the filing deadline passed to seek the Republican nomination.1
After holding a seat in the House of Delegates for a decade, Carrico was elected to the State Senate in 2011.
Announcing his retirement, Carrico stated he had held a place in the General Assembly long enough, and that he wished to spend more time with his family.
One hour exactly after this announcement Delegate Pillion declared that he would be running to take Carrico’s now open Senate position.
Ken Heath, Marion’s director of community and economic development, will also seek the Republican nomination for Carrico’s seat.
Heath and Pillion will face off at a Republican mass meeting to be held April 25th in Scott County.
“Any Republican voter living in the Senate district can participate in the mass meeting at the Scott County Career and Technical Center at 150 Broadwater Ave. in Gate City” The Roanoke Times reports.1
The winner will earn the Republican nomination for the seat, almost certainly guaranteeing their election in the deep-red 40th Senate District.
Pillion is the better-known candidate, in part due to his notoriety for voting to expand Obamacare in Virginia last year.
The same vote has him under fire from the pro-life community for sending over two million taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood.
Whether Pillion or Heath wins the nomination, the district will likely stay in GOP hands as Democrats look to make senate pick-ups in more competitive districts.
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