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WINCHESTER Chuck Smith, a Virginia Beach attorney seeking the GOP nomination for state attorney general, spoke to about 30 people at a meeting of the Apple Valley Tea Party on Thursday.

We need an American attorney general, Smith said, touting his service in the Marine Corps infantryman during the War in Vietnam and, later, his career as a military attorney. We need an attorney general who stands up for Virginia.

Smith, 64, is running against Richmond-based attorney John Adams for the party nomination; they are currently the only two candidates, as Del. Rob B. Bell, R-Albemarle, unexpectedly dropped out of the race in November.

The attorney general post is now held by Democrat Mark Herring who plans to run for re-election this year.

Smith told the group, meeting at the Frederick County Sheriffs Office that he is the most qualified person to ever run for attorney general, citing his 37 years practicing law and his experience heading various groups, including the Virginia Beach Republican committee.

We are 0-7, he said of the state GOP, referring to the fact that Republicans have not won a statewide election since 2009. Weve got to stop voting for money.

According to a November report from the Washington Post, Smith trailed GOP primary contender and Richmond-based attorney John Adams $4,000 to $432,000 in fundraising. Smith said the party consistently chooses the candidate with the most money, which leads to losses.

As a black conservative, hell bring diversity to the ticket, he said. A lack of diversity among statewide candidates could cost Republicans to lose future elections.

We want to win again, Smith said. We dont want to be 0-8.

He said the party has to get God back in the classroom and that 13 million illegal immigrants can be deported from the United States. He said hell protect the state from federal settling of refugees and from Muslim radical terrorists running around our country.

He spoke about the 10th amendment and fighting federal overreach.

The role of an attorney general is not to legislate, he said, citing Herrings refusal to enforce the state marriage law as being between a man and a woman.

Several times Smith mentioned transgender men using female restrooms.

Smith receded from some attendee questions regarding education and protests.

Where in the Constitution does it say education? one person asked.

Nowhere, Smith said, adding that he feels the Department of Education should be abolished but as state attorney general he wouldnt have anything to do with that.

I didnt see one broken head ... lots of broken windows, said another person, apparently referencing civil unrest at the University of California, Berkeley, earlier this week. Would the Marines have let them break windows without breaking a head?

At that Smith segued into a speech about patriotism, military service and defending the laws that are already on the books.

I didnt use a script, he said of his speech, which lasted about 45 minutes. You dont need a script if you believe what you say.

Smith handed out signature sheets after the meeting. He needs at least 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot and a minimum of 500 from each congressional district.

Before Smiths speech, the meeting discussed various issues, including Frederick Countys debt and the concern that new housing developments are not paying for themselves.

Jeff Isaak, a state GOP field operative, spoke briefly about Denver Riggleman, a former USAF Intelligence Officer and co-owner of Silverback Distillery. He lives in Afton and is seeking the GOP nomination for governor in the November election. Riggelman also circulated signature sheets.

Link:
Smith addresses Apple Valley Tea Party - The Winchester Star