Virginia Retail Merchants Association Names Delegate Christopher K. Peace Legislator of the Year

Peace receives second statewide honor this year

CENTRAL VA - The Virginia Retail Merchants Association’s Legislative Committee awarded Delegate Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover) their Association’s 2010 Legislator of the Year on October 1st at the Hilton Hotel in Short Pump.  Delegate Peace represents the Virginia House of Delegates’ 97th District and serves on the prominent Courts of Justice, Health Welfare and Institutions, General Laws and Finance Committees.  Delegate Peace was chosen by the Virginia Retail Merchants Association due to his superior legislative efforts and ongoing support of the retail community throughout this tough year. 

The Virginia Retail Merchants Association was established in 1905.  VRMA is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Laurie Aldrich, President of VRMA, said “This year was a difficult one given the economy…Many legislators assisted us, but no one went to bat for us like Delegate Peace.”  She went on to say “Delegate Peace fought for us in a year when the legislature was a lonely place for the retail community.”

VRMA works with retail merchants in correspondence with legislators to amend and improve the operation of the retail community.  Virginia Retail Merchants Association is the only statewide broad based retail association in Virginia.

Speaking to the honor, Peace stated his privilege to represent the business community which provides his community with thousands of jobs. “As a legislator, I must work to ensure that Virginia maintains a positive climate for business and investment. At this critical time, we must protect our #1 national ranking for business through lower taxes and less burdensome regulation. The private sector is the one which will ultimately stimulate Virginia’s economy and create jobs and not the government. To that end, I am grateful to VMRA for their work and for this recognition.”

Delegate Peace was elected by the people of the 97th in 2006 and currently serves in his third term.  Peace’s leadership skills have been similarly acknowledged by the State Police Association, Virginia Sheriff’s Association (2006), Virginia Assisted Living Association (2007) and Virginia Council for Private Education (2009), and Virginia Housing Coalition (2010) to name a few. 

 Delegate Christopher K. Peace was elected to his third term representing the 97th District of the Virginia House of Delegates. The District includes parts of Hanover, Caroline, King William, King and Queen, Henrico, Spotsylvania Counties and all of New Kent County.