Dear Editor,

Last fall, I had the honor of opposing Morgan Griffith for the Virginia House of Delegate seat he currently holds. Del. Griffith of Salem (6th Congressional District) is now the Republican candidate opposing Congressman Rick Boucher (9th Congressional District) for the U.S. House of? Representatives. My, how times have changed!

Speaking to a Roanoke Times reporter last fall, Griffith stated that I was less qualified to represent the people of Salem and Roanoke County because I had only recently moved to the district. Despite having grown up in the district and having lived there the previous two years, Griffith claimed I lacked knowledge of the particular needs of the people I’d be representing—knowledge gained only by living and working within the district for many years.

“Being a product of the district,” Griffith told the Times “… helps me understand where constituents will be on an issue. I’ve operated a business here on Main Street for 25 years,” Griffith continued, “[and] that gives me a feel for the community.”

So last fall, Griffith tried to convince voters he was more qualified because he had lived in the 8th House of Delegates District longer than I. Now he is trying to convince voters that his failure to live even a day in the 9th Congressional District is completely irrelevant.

There’s no shortage of blame for our country’s current problems. But if the citizens of Virginia’s 9th knowingly elect a bald-faced and unapologetic hypocrite to Congress, they’ll have only themselves to blame for the problems surely to follow.

Carter Turner
Salem, Virginia