Editor, Gazette-Journal:

We have, during the past many years, been extremely well represented by the Honorable Herb Bateman, Honorable Jo Ann Davis and our present Congressman, the Honorable Rob Wittman. He is doing an outstanding job and he is well experienced.

For over 20 years, Rob has served in several levels of government, from Town Council to the United States Congress. In the U.S. Congress, Rob quickly earned a reputation for being a District-First congressman and is very engaged in the goings-on in the district. He drives home from Washington to Montross every night to stay in touch with constituents.

As a member of the Republican Study Committee, he is a leader in the fight against massive government spending and has offered numerous amendments to cut spending. One of these amendments to cut the largest of the spending bills was allowed by the Rules Committee to be voted on by the full House.

Rob serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources, where he is well-positioned to represent the needs of Virginia’s 1st District. He has quickly earned a reputation for being an advocate for our men and women in uniform and for being a champion for the Chesapeake Bay.

On the Armed Services Committee, Rob is the top Republican on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and on the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces and Readiness. As co-chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus and a member of the Naval Academy Board of Visitors, he is a staunch advocate for a robust naval fleet and a healthy domestic shipbuilding industry. Rob has also earned a reputation as a strong supporter of our veterans and is fighting in Congress for full concurrent receipt of veterans’ disability and retirement benefits, and against an increase in TRICARE fees.

Rob is also an invaluable member of the Committee on Natural Resources, to which he brings his professional expertise in water quality, environment, fisheries and other natural resources issues. He is a champion of the Chesapeake Bay and has introduced legislation that will increase the accountability and effectiveness of cleaning up the bay.

I encourage all voters in the 1st District to vote for Rob Wittman. Keep America safe and please don’t let America go bankrupt.

John R. Filichko

U.S. Army, ret.

Lanexa, Va.