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As Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled his 2024-26 budget proposal Dec. 20, he also paid tribute to a local lawmaker who recently announced his retirement from the state senate.

Youngkin recognized Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarksville, who recently won re-election to another four-year term, but is leaving the legislature to focus on his battle with cancer and his family. The governor’s remarks came in a joint session of the House Finance and Appropriations committees and the state Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

“When I last spoke to this group in August, we had seriously hoped that one of our most valued leaders would return for another four-year term,” Youngkin said. “I’m speaking, of course, about Senator Frank Ruff. While our commonwealth is losing a true, faithful public servant, it’s richer for the fact that he has served, and led, on so many important issues, whether that was pioneering Virginia’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement or establishing the Center for Rural Virginia.”

The Virginia Rural Center is a collaborative partnership of the Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia. The group works with local and state politicians, as well as business owners and other stakeholders from rural Virginia to come up with solutions and expand entrepreneurial opportunities to ensure economic prosperity for all regions in the Commonwealth.

The governor said that as part of his administration’s Unleashing Opportunity Budget that he is proposing an additional $350,000 per year to support the Center for Rural Virginia’s efforts. 

“I’d also ask you to join me in naming this center the ‘Frank Ruff Center for Rural Virginia’ in his name,” Youngkin said. “Sen. Ruff, we thank you.”