This week’s updates from around the district:
Visit the 11th District’s website at 11cdgop.org for all information updates.
NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT REMINDER: If you’d like to have an announcement in the newsletter, please email Mike Ginsberg at mikeforscc@gmail.com. The 11CD Newsletter goes out on Tuesday mornings, so please try to have your announcement requests in by Monday at 12 noon.
The Casino Bill is Dead – at least in 2025!
Approval for a casino in Tysons Corner during this session of the General Assembly was the #1 goal of Majority Senate Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), who sponsored Senate Bill 982. Last Wednesday, February 12th, the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources voted to “Pass the Bill By for the Day.” At the conclusion of the meeting, Committee Chairman David Bulova of Fairfax City, announced that the meeting was the last of this legislative session, which meant the Casino Bill did not pass out of committee and essentially ended its run for 2025.
Here’s a summary: Tysons Casino Bill is Stopped in 2024 Legislative Session.
At a town hall in Mt. Vernon on February 1, Sen. Surovell admitted that all of his revenue projections were based on data provided by the proposed Casino Developer – Comstock Companies. (See Revenue estimates came from Casino Developer.) He didn’t bother to get independent estimates. What could possibly go wrong?
(Democrats would have you believe they are the party of the little guy standing up against big business. Sen. Surovell–hip-deep in the pockets of developers– proved how great a lie that is.)
In last week’s hearing of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sen. Jennifer Boysko testified apologetically against fellow Democrat Surovell’s Casino Bill, but had to admit she was representing her 200,000+ constituents. The following day, Thursday, February 13, Boysko lost her Chairmanship of the Transportation Committee and was completely removed from the Rules Committee. More details here: Senator Boysko Removed from Committee Assignments.
What are the lessons here? First, Democrats who dare to step out of line risk getting axed. That’s why, for example, when the Democrat leadership in the U.S. Senate decided to oppose certain Cabinet positions nominated by President Trump, such as Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, or RFK Jr., the Democrats voted as a bloc against them. Not a single Democrat cast a vote for any of these nominees.
Second, when Democrats step out of line because they are faithfully representing the will of their constituents, the Democratic Party doesn’t care. Democrats will ruthlessly steamroll anyone who gets in the way of their priorities-especially when those priorities involve the possibility of getting more money for their ideological hobbyhorses.
Regarding this year’s effort to defeat the Casino Bill, we want to acknowledge the incredible work of the No Casino Coalition (nocasino coalition.org), which spearheaded the opposition, as well as numerous HOAs and organizations across Fairfax County that stepped into the fight. We appreciate Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who took the lead for the last two years in Richmond in opposition to the Casino, as well as numerous other elected officials, who consistently and vocally opposed the Casino. Thank you also to the Fairfax GOP for taking a strong stand on this issue.
Rest assured the bill will resurface again next year, and we will have to fight just as hard to defeat this monstrous attempt to destroy our communities. We won a battle this year, but the war is far from over. We live to fight another day!
Rosie Oakley
11th District Chairman
Come meet John Reid, one of the GOP candidates for Lieutenant Governor, tonight, Tuesday, February 18, from 6:30-8:30pm at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, 697 Spring Street, Herndon 20170. RSVP to jspivey136@gmail.com. The event is free and all are welcome to attend and get to know John!
After four months of little federal support following Hurricane Helene, President Trump’s visit to western NC five days after his inauguration finally brought federal attention to the region. However, clearing debris and restoring roads and bridges only solved part of the problem. Victims of Hurricane Helene are still struggling to recover from devastating losses, and some people continue to live in tents on their property in the middle of the winter. Their greatest needs are non-perishable food items; Food Lion gift cards; and basic necessities from an Amazon wish list (here). Please help the Republican Women of Clifton gather much-needed supplies by dropping off donations between now and March 4 at the Fairfax GOP headquarters, 4246 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax 22030. See details in the graphic pictured.
The next City of Fairfax GOP Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, February 20, at 7:00pm. The social period begins at 7:00pm and the business meeting will begin at 7:30pm. Guest speaker will be RPV Chairman Rich Anderson. This special meeting will be at a private home in the City of Fairfax. RSVP to FairfaxCityGOP@gmail.com for address and planning purposes. Please Venmo contributions to cover food and wine to @Anahita-Renner or bring cash.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 12:30pm: Republican Women of Clifton meeting. At the Clifton Town Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Guest speaker will be Nancy Linton of the Family Foundation.
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:00pm: Liberty Republican Women’s Club meeting. Virtual meeting. Guest speaker is Pastor Will Archer, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce, as the Chairman of Faith in Virginia PAC, and as the Police Chaplain for the Town of Dumfries Police Department. He will be speaking on “The Fierce Urgency of Now” – The Current State of Politics and Its Dynamics. Contact club president Srilekha Palle here for meeting login information.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 11:00am: Monticello Council of Republican Women meeting. At Glory Days Grill, 6341 Columbia Pike, Falls Church 22041. RSVP to Kathleen Kaspar-Paty at 703-848-5941 or by email.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 1:00-3:00pm: Hunter Mill Republican Women’s Club meeting. At North County Government Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston 20190. Come celebrate George Washington’s birthday! The guest speaker will be Ned Ryun, the Founder and CEO of American Majority. He will discuss relevant political topics and his recent book, American Leviathan: The Birth of the Administrative State and Progressive Authoritarianism. RSVP to attend the meeting online here.
Thursday, Feb. 27, 6:00pm: Colonial Mt. Vernon Republican Women’s Club meeting. At ServiceMaster, 7551 Fordson Rd., Alexandria 22306. The guest speaker will be Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director and Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage Foundation’s Simon Center for American Studies.
The Braddock and Springfield District GOPs invite you to an event Saturday, March 1 from 10:00am-12 noon featuring Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor and candidate for LG; Arthur Purves, President of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance; and Katie Gorka, Fairfax GOP Chairman. It will be held at the Braddock District Supervisor’s Office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, in Fairfax (same building as the Kings Park Library). The event is free and all are invited!
The Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee (FLECAC), appointed by the Fairfax County School Board, is planning to meet Wednesday, March 12, from 7:00-9:00pm, at the FCPS Administration Building, 1st floor cafeteria, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church. FLECAC rescheduled the meeting from last week due to snow.
The discussion will center around a proposal to introduce the topic of gender ideology in the first grade. Currently, Family Life Education (sex ed) starts discussing gender ideology in the 7th grade in FCPS.
The front door of the building will be locked. Access to the building will only be through the parking garage, at the rear of the building. To access the garage, go past the sign for the front entry, and drive to the back of the building. After parking, take the elevator to the first floor.
Reminder: Help Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares, and All Our GOP Candidates Get on the November Ballot
Just a quick reminder: you can still get a copy of the signature petitions for candidates and collect signatures! Please let District Chair Rosie Oakley know if you are willing to circulate petitions for any of our great candidates among your neighbors and friends, and she will send you petitions for any and all of these candidates. Email Chair@11cdgop.org.
Campaigns and candidates: if you would like, you can provide copies of your petitions to the 11th District Committee here. We will be glad to send copies to anyone in the district interested in circulating them on your behalf.
The Greater McLean Republican Women’s Club (GMRWC) awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a graduating high school senior who resides in Fairfax County, VA. The student must be planning to attend an accredited college, technical or vocational school. The award is based on the student’s involvement in Republican activities as well as, academic and other achievements.
The scholarship is named after Betty Greer, a life member and past president of the GMRWC. Betty also served in many capacities on the Virginia Federation of Republican Women Board of Directors and was the winner of a National Federation of Republican Women “Tribute to Women” award. She was an enthusiastic volunteer for Republican politics at the local, state and federal levels. She also helped her community by volunteering at her church, her children’s schools and various charities.
You can download the application form here. Please share with any graduating seniors you know!
Application Deadline is May 1, 2025. The winner will be notified within two weeks and will be invited along with parents to attend the GMRWC spring event as esteemed guests.
Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor and candidate for Lieutenant Governor, invites you to join him for his annual St. Patrick’s Day Party on Sun. March 16 at the Springfield Country Club, 8301 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Come enjoy Irish beer, Irish music, traditional Irish food favorites, and special guest speakers (to be announced soon)! It’s always a great time and a great place to meet and chat with fellow Republicans.
Tickets available now online here.
WMAL Radio is once again hosting its legendary Free Speech Forum at The Birchmere in Alexandria on Sunday, April 27, at 7:00pm.
Join Chris Plante, Larry O’Connor, and Vince Coglianese as they share the stage celebrate the First 100 Days of the new administration, while taking your questions… and holding nothing back! Enjoy a night of laughs, behind the scenes stories, and unfiltered conversations with like-minded WMAL listeners.
Doors will open at 5:00pm and show begins at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale today–you can get yours now online here.
