2017 General Election Withdrew
Here is another candidate working to turn Virginia bluer by turning the Virginia House of Delegates Democratic. Virginia has a Democratic Governor, Lt. Governor, and two Democratic US Senators. The state Senate is only one seat short of being evenly divided (Democratic, therefore, if the Lt Gov position remains Democratic in 2017). The House of Delegates, though, is heavily Republican.
Virginia has its elections in odd numbered years. Governor, Lt. Governor, and other statewide offices are up for election in 2017. The state Senate is not. Its election is in 2019. The House of Delegates is up for election in 2017. Democrats need to win seventeen seats now held by Republicans to gain control. Coincidentally, Hillary Clinton carried seventeen Republican held House of Delegate districts in Virginia.
I have been reviewing Democratic candidates from those districts where there are no primaries, where resources provided now would be important is making the Virginia House of Delegates Democratic. This is the sixth Virginia delegate candidate I have written about.
Zak Wittkamphttps://www.votewittkamp.com/is an ambitious 40 year old businessman. He see himself as an entrepreneur and an innovator. He owned a running supply store. He is a partner in a small, craft brewery — Tradition Brewing Company. He has been in charge of Tradition’s finances and growth initiatives. Now he is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the Newport News based House of Delegates 94th district. Hillary Clinton carried this district. Senator Warner got half the votes in this district.
Zack Wittkamp is a 1999 graduate of Randolph-Macon College. He is married with a five year old daughter. His wife Alli is market engagement director for the local TowneBank, Zack has been a member of the Newport News Planning Commission. He points out that Newport News is a Democratic leaning district that has been represented by a Republican since 2011.
He attributes his ambition and his commitment to his father. We can see that Zack Wittkamp is one more Virginia candidate with, in this case a kind of, military connection. He writes that his father was a civil engineer for 35 years at Langley Air Force Base — a job that made a huge difference to the community — dealing, for instance, with oil or fuel spills that had to be contained. Wittkamp recalls going with his dad and seeing firsthand this work as public service — containing spills and keeping the Chesapeake clean.
Zack Wittkamp sees himself as a problem solver rather than as a partisan. How will that work for him as a member of the House of Delegates? His career in brewing may be a clue. He took a risk and joined Tradition Brewing through personal connections even though he had no particular interest in brewing. He brought financial expertise and an outsider’s eye to the company.
Zack Wittkamp will not be a conventional Democrat. I don’t know where Wittkamp will surprise his supporters, but he will, almost certainly, take some risks that a Democratic delegate is not likely to take. Let’s welcome his commitment to solving problems.
Zak Wittkamphttps://www.votewittkamp.com/is an important part of the effort to make Virginia Democratic. This Newport News district is one where Democrats have a real chance of victory. Look more closely at him. You can learn more about him at his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/zack.wittkampc
He is worth your support.
