HALIFAX – 60th District House of Delegates member James E. Edmunds II has announced his reelection bid for a third term.

The 42-year old delegate represents all of Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Halifax Counties and part of Campbell, and was first elected four years ago.

“I am guided by the principles of being forthright, honest and respectful with people, whether they are constituents or fellow legislators, and have relied on those guidelines while representing you in Richmond,” the father of two said in a press release announcing his hopes reelection in November.

“I believe that I have earned the respect of my colleagues from both parties, which contributed to keeping the ban on uranium mining this session. I pledge to continue that effort,” the delegate vowed.

“It has never been as important to forge relationships with my urban colleagues as it is now,” the former Halifax County board of supervisors member continued. “This cooperation will help us immensely as rural Virginia continues to lose population. Only by building seniority and alliances will our voices be heard.”

During the General Assembly's reconvened session last month, however, the delegate felt compelled to reverse his previous support of a state transportation bill because, upon reflection, he felt it would do little or nothing for rural Virginia.

“After hearing from many of my constituents, today I voted against the Transportation Bill,” Edmunds said in an email sent following the April 3 one-day reconvened session that found the General Assembly considering bill amendments.

“This bill was rushed through the General Assembly in February and I was a little misinformed about how this money would be secured for transportation. Not to mention there are fees that unfairly target buyers of new vehicles and hybrid vehicle owners, among others,” the delegate said.

“Transportation must be addressed but I believe that a bill that only benefits a small segment of Virginia's population is not the answer. While most of Virginia's transportation needs are in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads,” Edmunds continued, “rural Virginia has maintenance needs and bridges that cannot be ignored and none of these were addressed in the bill. Not to mention there is no guarantee that the money generated will actually go to transportation. For these reasons and others, today I opposed the Transportation Bill.”

The full-time farmer had said in his reelection bid announcement that, “I know I can't be everything to everyone but I will continue to be guided by my Christian principles that shape my decisions. We have the best quality of life that can be found anywhere right here in the 60th district and I hope you will allow me to serve you for another term in the House of Delegates. I humbly ask for your vote in November.”

Edmunds served a decade on the Halifax County board of supervisors before his successful 2009 inaugural run for the House of Delegates following the decision by then-incumbent Clarke Hogan not to run for reelection.

The former Izaak Walton League's Conservationist of the Year and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, a son and a daughter.

Edmunds serves on the House of Delegates' Counties, Cities and Towns, Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, and Militia Police and Public Safety committees, in addition to their subcommittees.