BLUE RIDGE – When a young Sam Rasoul’s family ran a convenient store in this small community, he learned some big life lessons, mainly treating people with respect.
Now, decades later, the 39-year-old Democrat is running for lieutenant governor and using those life lessons as the cornerstone of his campaign.
“Growing up, helping in that store, I learned the value of relationships,” he said. “That’s what my campaign is about, relationships and putting the needs of the people first and foremost.”
With that in mind, Rasoul said his campaign would focus on his family values of always telling the truth, always being kind, and never giving up. In other words: truth, love, and grit. He outlined this further in his candidacy announcement:
TRUTH – “I have learned that the best ideas come from the people. Throughout the campaign, I want to hear your ideas, and work together to build the People’s Platform.”
LOVE – “We launched the Democratic Promise Initiative in 2017 to help people that need it. Volunteers can call directly into their communities to see if their neighbors need help.”
GRIT – “Over the course of this campaign, we will be traveling to every city and county to hear from you, and elevate the stories of everyday Virginians working to make their hometowns better.”
To buttress his people first campaign, Rasoul pledged not to accept special interest Political Action Committees (PACs) money.
“When I made that commitment to not take any PAC money, some people thought it was because I wasn’t in a primary,” Rasoul said. “This race for lieutenant governor is extremely competitive. I’m committed to only accept cash contributions from individual donors because I believe it’s the only way we can create a truly transparent government that is responsive to the needs of working Virginians.”
Virginia, which has some of the nation’s most lax campaign finance laws, doesn’t have a limit on how much money an individual can donate to a campaign. In 2015 Rasoul submitted a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, and has been outspoken about the need for getting big money out of Virginia politics since he was first elected to the House of Delegates representing the 11th District in 2014.
“People want to be able to vote for leaders who aren’t beholden to special interests,” Rasoul said. “If a politician is taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from fossil fuel industry groups or pharmaceutical companies, it’s hard to believe they are actually going to represent my interests. We’re taking all the special interest money out of the equation. No PACs, only people.”
The lack of PAC money doesn’t seem to worry Rasoul, who said he has faith in his supporters. “It’s an ambitious goal, but I’m putting my faith in the people because they have put their faith in me.” Rasoul said. “I’m running to represent the interests of everyday Virginians, not corporations. Our campaign funding should reflect that.”
LBHS alum
Rasoul’s name was called during Lord Botetourt High School’s commencement ceremonies in 1998. For many years, Rasoul attended Botetourt County schools and still holds teachers in high regard, especially those who pushed a somewhat blasé student.
It started early at Colonial Elementary with a fourth-grade teacher named Ms. Ballard. He described her as stern, and knew he was capable of more than he was giving in class. Rasoul, who some educators thought had a learning disability, still remembers working with her daily. “She saw something that other [teachers] didn’t. By the end of fourth grade, they put me in the gifted class,” he said, adding that Ms. Ballard knew he was gifted so she taught him Algebra.
An 11th grade teacher, Ms. Shafer, taught him the importance of public speaking. A Ms. Callahan inspired him to write and Ms. Franklin, who taught math, piqued his interest in business. Rasoul is now a healthcare consultant.
The teachers in Botetourt County, he said, came across as caring, wanting the best for their students, even those a self-described “busy body.”
“I received a great education in Botetourt County. I always felt the teachers were excellent, engaging the students,” he said.
Politics
Rasoul is at least the 10th person who is currently running for the part-time $36,000 a year position. The job of lieutenant governor has only two responsibilities: preside over the state Senate and move into the governor’s mansion if the governor dies or leaves office.
If elected, Rasoul said he’ll use the position to elevate issues he and others care about and advance a different political agenda, focusing on his campaign values of love, grit and truth.
The lieutenant governor has become a high-profile position in recent years, often seen as a stepping stone to the governorship. When asked if his next run is for the governorship during an interview with The Fincastle Herald recently, he sided stepped the issue. “I think it can be a stepping stone for the governorship,” he said.
Rasoul gained national attention after the 2016 presidential election when he castigated fellow Democrats for mocking President Donald Trump’s supporters, saying the party lost touch with his supporters, mainly white, rural and working class. Rasoul called for a “massive overhaul” of the Democratic Party and resigned from a leadership position.
First elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, Rasoul became the first Muslim to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates. Can a Muslim gain support in rural Virginia? Rasoul thinks he can by sticking with his campaign mantra: truth, love and grit.
“As we heal from a 2020 that threw everything at us, it will be critical that we build a movement together that uplifts all Virginians,” Rasoul said in announcing his run for the No. 2 position in the state.
Virginia’s Primary Election is June 8.
