The Caroline Progress: Republican Chris Peace

Republican Chris Peace will run for the House of Delegates 97th District seat in a special election when Del. Ryan McDougle wins his bid for the Senate 4th District vacated by Lt. Gov.-elect Bill Bolling. “I’m committed to serving the people of the 97th District,” Peace said. “I have been asked to run for my friend Ryan McDougle’s soon-to-be vacated seat when he moves to the Senate. I want to follow in the conservative footsteps of Bill Bolling, Frank Hargrove and Ryan McDougle.”

McDougle’s special election is Jan. 3, 2006. Democrat Roger Cavendish officially announced his candidacy for the 4th Senate District seat in a ceremony on the Caroline County courthouse lawn on Dec. 14.

With a McDougle victory, Peace’s special election will likely fall in January or February, which is during the middle of the General Assembly session.

“I have a vision for lower taxes, improved health care for seniors, better schools, especially in rural areas, and protecting the environment,” Peace said. “I’ll stand up for commonsense conservative values.”

A native of Hanover, Peace lives in Mechanicsville with his wife Ashley, who is also from Hanover and graduated from Hanover public schools. Peace graduated from Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Richmond’s Law School, and the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

Peace is currently employed by McGuire Woods Consulting, where he has led efforts to repeal the death tax, improve health benefits for retired educators, and protect children using the internet. Peace has a history of standing up and defeating taxes, including Virginia’s death tax and local food taxes. He believes in healthy families, having worked for pro-family groups like The Family Foundation of Virginia, among others.

Peace worked for Eric Cantor when Cantor was in the General Assembly. He was also a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Council on Human Rights.

“I look forward to using my legislative experience and involvement in the community to help the people in the 97th District,” Peace said. “I plan to hit the ground running without the need for on-the-job training. I look forward to working with my friends in the legislature in this new capacity.”

In addition to founding a local citizens’ political action committee, One Hanover, Peace’s community work includes leadership roles in the Heritage & History of Hanover County, Hanover Association of Businesses/Chamber of Commerce, and Hanover Safe Place, which is the local domestic violence task force.