6th

On Monday, Democrat Carole Pratt tossed her hat into the political ring as she announced her plans to run for the 6th District Virginia House of Delegates seat. The announcement came in front of Martin’s Pharmacy in downtown Pulaski, and Pratt was sure to mention the importance of small local businesses in today’s economy.

In fact, Pratt’s primary mantra was about the economy and jobs in her area, and she announced her dismay at the vote by Republicans in the House of Delegates that rejected $125 million in federal economic stimulus money for unemployment. Pratt said such stimulus money was much needed in this area and she would have voted for the acceptance of the money.

Republicans balked at accepting the funding saying it would create a future unfunded mandate for the state to have to pay. But Pratt said that the $125 million would only cost the state a penny per day per worker. Pratt, a retired Pulaski dentist and active community member, handed out pennies to the assembled crowd to illustrate her point and told recipients of the penny to look at the penny occasionally to remember the beginning of her campaign.

Pratt was introduced by Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, who said he fully endorses Pratt in her run against two-term incumbent Republican Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark.