IOW’s Clark to make bid for House of Delegates

Published 7:50 am Wednesday, March 18, 2009

FRANKLIN—Stan Clark announced his candidacy Tuesday for the House of Delegates.

Clark, a member of the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors representing the Newport District, will run in the Republican primary for District 64.

“I hope to bring a new energy which will ensure solutions for our state and our district,” Clark, 53, said in a written announcement of his candidacy Tuesday. “In a time when thousands are losing their jobs, a major issue in this campaign will center on long-term economic growth and prosperity.”

April 10 is the filing deadline for candidates to qualify for party primaries, which will be held June 9. The general election is Nov. 3.

The incumbent, William Barlow (D-Smithfield), announced last week that he is seeking re-election. Barlow, 73, was first elected to the seat in 1991 and ran unopposed in the 2007 election.

Clark is a trial attorney with an office in Portsmouth and has also been a prosecutor and a police officer. He has been on the Board of Supervisors for 10 years, serving as its chairman for two years.

During a phone interview Tuesday, Clark, who describes himself as a moderate, said, “We’re in a substantial downturn right now. One of my main focuses has been how to create a climate that encourages private industry to invest in this area.”

One example he cited was the proposed intermodal facility in the Windsor area.

“Our board has been instrumental in trying to put some of those properties together to allow for that facility,” Clark said. “That’s a job growth engine that will carry us well into the next 20 or 30 years, as far as job growth is concerned. We’ve got to create an environment that fosters that kind of job growth, and that’s just not been happening.”

District 64 comprises all of Surry County, and most of Isle of Wight County. Small portions of James City County and Southampton County are also in the district, as well as the entire city of Williamsburg and the northwest section of the city of Franklin.

The bulk of Southampton and the remaining parts of Isle of Wight and Franklin are in the 75th District, which is currently represented by Roslyn Tyler, a Democrat.