Home Background Testimonials Student Programs Adult Programs Video Clips Recent Clients In The News On The Farm Contact Information	Lohr Launches Bid For Second Term April 27, 2007 - Daily News Record HARRISONBURG — Del. Matt Lohr, R-Broadway, officially announced his candidacy for re-election Thursday. In a prepared statement, Lohr said he is seeking a second two-year term in the 26th House District, which comprises Harrisonburg and a portion of Rockingham County. The re-election bid got off to a bumpy start, however, when his planned formal announcement came into conflict with last week’s shootings at Virginia Tech that claimed the lives of 33 students and faculty, including the gunman. Plans Delayed The tragedy forced Lohr to postpone his announcement plans for a week. But a letter to supporters announcing his candidacy and asking for political contributions had already been mailed. “The letter was clearly mailed before we knew about the events that were going on at Blacksburg, or we would have not dropped it into the mail,” Lohr said Wednesday. Lohr acted immediately. His campaign sent out a card to the thousands of people on the mailing list. The card explained that Lohr had postponed his re-election announcement because of what happened at Virginia Tech, the candidate’s alma mater. “We made every effort that we could to make people realize that we would not have mailed those [letters] if we had known what was going on in Blacksburg,” Lohr said. Issue Leadership In the letter, Lohr encouraged supporters to contribute to his re-election to help him defend “Shenandoah Valley values.” “Democrats,” he said in the letter, “are very eager to remove conservatives such as myself from office.” In the letter, he went on to say: “They know I champion bills that protect citizens against violence, fight to control illegal immigration, provide parental involvement in our children’s education, protect private property, strengthen our agricultural economy, and promote the Valley values that are so important to us.” Some Democrats, Lohr said, might agree with him on these issues. But Lohr added that Republicans clearly took the lead on those topics in the General Assembly. Possible Challenger With all 140 General Assembly seats up for grabs in the Nov. 6 election, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, has made it clear he would work to help his party regain control of the legislature. But Rockingham County Democratic Chairman Don Roderick said it appears unlikely his party will mount a challenge to Lohr for his House seat. While Democrats might sit out the election, independent Harrisonburg City Councilwoman Carolyn Frank is still considering challenging Lohr. On Thursday, Frank said she is leaning toward running. The deadline for candidates to file for the fall ballot is in June. Frank was elected to a four-year council term last year. Earlier, she served on the council from 2000 to 2004. From 2000 to 2002, Frank served as the city’s first woman mayor. While she received the most votes in last year’s council race, Frank would face voters in a portion of heavily Republican Rockingham County. Areas of the county in the 26th District include Broadway, Timberville, Lacey Spring, Keezletown and Dayton. Daily News Record