The next election for the 19th District State Senate seat now held by Republican Ralph Smith isn’t until November of 2015, but Democrat hopeful Michael Hamlar has announced his run early. Outside the Roanoke County library in South County, the funeral home director and college professor (American National University in Salem) was recently endorsed by Roanoke delegate Sam Rasoul as well.
Hamlar, a county resident and one-time Cave Spring High School football star, declared his support for Medicaid expansion in Virginia – the issue that has stalemated the General Assembly and has blocked passage of state budget. That in turn has left many localities in limbo as they prepare budgets for the next fiscal year that starts in July – since they count on funds from the Commonwealth as part of the process.
Hamlar does hope that the Medicaid issue is decided long before the 2015 election – assuming he secures the nomination from his party to run against Smith, or another GOP candidate if the former Roanoke City mayor does not run again.
Supporters of Medicaid expansion say it would offer health care coverage to more lower-income Virginians while bringing federal tax dollars back into the state; opponents, primarily on the Republican side, say it’s a burden that would fall on the state at some point since the federal government would only pay for 100% of any expansion for just three years.
“The facts speak for themselves,” said Hamlar, who added that he had received “guidance” on the issue from State Senator John Edwards in the neighboring Roanoke City-based district. Hamlar said he would have to become more well-versed on the details.
He also announced support for education issues, even for those that opt to learn a trade and not attend college. “You can still earn a very good living in the state of Virginia,” he noted. Hamlar is now a principle with the family-owned Hamlar-Curtis funeral home in Northwest Roanoke City.
It’s best to get started early, getting to know voters well ahead of time: “I’m taking it very seriously. It’s a very large district,” said Hamlar after meeting well-wishers and party supporters. The district skews Republican but Hamlar vowed to “put the partisan politics aside. Hopefully voters will vote based on the issues.”
Roanoke County Democrat party chairman Carter Turner was on hand as Hamlar made his declaration, along with a handful of other long time party operatives and family members.
Smith is known as a fiscal conservative and appeared at a recent news conference, once again stating his opposition to Medicaid expansion. He said that Medicaid payments some claim would not be going to hospitals – to replace funds lost under the Affordable Care Act – wouldn’t be a good idea if that health care system wasn’t well run. He pointed to a 20 million dollar profit recently announced by Carilion Clinic as evidence that hospitals could make money without those federal funds that would come from Medicaid expansion.
Running for public office is something that’s been on Hamlar’s radar screen for a while. “Now is the time. I have enough experience, I have enough education and I have enough gumption to move forward. I don’t want to waste time.”
He has plenty of that before the November 2015 election, assuming he secures the Democrat nomination.
By Gene Marrano
