Category: Helmer Happenings

When I grew up, my dad couldn’t walk away from a stray dog or cat, and we took care of many growing up. We’ve carried on some of that among my own family, and Karen, Harris, Aaron, and I are excited to adopt our newest addition, Ace, who is a 10 lbs, 10 week old…

There is much to be said about a citizen legislature that gets its work done in under two months. We operate with strict deadlines, which we actually abide by, and the scarcity of time promotes cooperation and a need to work together to help our communities. After hundreds, if not thousands, of individual votes on…

It’s been a cold week, and I hope all are staying safe and warm. I am thinking of friends in Texas and other locales more severely impacted by this cold spell, and I hope that your own friends and family are doing okay. Severe weather, including unusual cold and hot extremes, is a feature of…

Today, many in our district and across the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Ox – a symbol of strength, reliability, and fairness. To all those celebrating, I wish you a new year filled with happiness and good fortune. Events and Meetings Over the weekend, we…

Today, as we passed a repeal of the death penalty out of the House of Delegates, I thought of a passage by J.R.R. Tolkien, “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.” I thought…

Virtual legislating is a challenge. Instead of being able to roam the halls of the Pocahontas Building and Capitol to meet with constituents who visit, fellow legislators, and experts, we’re separated from one another. But just as those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to have the option of virtual workplaces have discovered, there can…

Each day, our team begins our daily meeting with one of us talking about what is motivating us. On Wednesday, that was easy for all of us. And yes, we were inspired by the transition of power between Administrations and the elevation of the first woman to national office — in particular as Vice President…

A week ago we witnessed the culmination of the politics of fear. Instead of governing to unite and build, our President divided, incited, and destroyed. Now, he will be relegated to the dustbin of history. We can focus on the great tasks that confront us. In sharp relief to the insurrection in Washington, on Wednesday…

Last week, my team and I joined Capital Area Food Bank at one of their Fairfax County distribution sites in distributing fresh produce and non-perishable items to local residents. This year in the General Assembly, I’ve been focused on ensuring that no Virginian is evicted because they can’t pay rent during the pandemic and that…

It has been a maddening few weeks. I am worried about the erosion of democratic norms, including here in Virginia, where some have refused to concede to the will of voters and simultaneously stoked baseless accusations of fraud. Democrat, Republican, or Independent, as Americans, we all should accept as a basic tenet that politicians serve…