LTE: LaRock Says He Felt Unwelcome at May Office

Dear Editor,

I am writing this in response to Mr. Andrew Mowry’s letter. As I understand it, Mr. Mowry is a paid staffer working with the May campaign.

Memorial Day was a great opportunity to meet the voters of the 33^rd District in person. My wife Joanne, my son John and daughter Abby and I have been very involved in the campaign, working together, learning together about how to speak with people and about the whole the campaign process. I hope John and Abby will consider being candidates themselves someday.

John, 12, has been disturbed by the mail that has been coming to our home, knowing it goes far and wide making claims he knows are not true. On Memorial Day we were waiting at the Purcellville Plaza to meet some volunteers for door knocking. It occurred to me that John Conradi, Joe May’s campaign manager, has been very cordial to me, as we have spoken at various events. I thought it would be good for John to say hello to Mr. Conradi with me and to see that even though we disagree with some things the May campaign says, we don’t need to be angry with each other. Political opponents can be friends, I thought.

John, my son, found out that this was not true with the folks at the May office. We were not mistreated at all, but as we entered, John Conradi pulled out his phone, I guessed to record or videotape us. Mr. Conradi was less friendly than he usually is. In hindsight it was naïve to think I could teach my 12-year-old how to be civil even in a political contest through a friendly meeting.

My son John and I both learned an important lesson.

Dave LaRock
Hamilton, VA