Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I consider myself an informed voter. I have researched all three candidates who want to represent the people of Gloucester, and the 1st District, in Congress. My research always includes looking at the candidates’ financial reports—it is helpful to me to see where their donations come from.

Publicly accessible sources, such as the Virginia Public Access Project (www.vpap.org) and the Federal Election Commission (www.fec.gov) show the campaign finance reports for the Democrat candidate and the Republican incumbent, but not for the independent candidate.

The independent candidate ran in 2020 for the 2nd District congressional seat and is now running for the 1st District, but has filed no financial reports. Letters and articles in the Gazette-Journal and elsewhere have referenced that he is “self-funding” his campaign and is below the threshold which would require him to file a public FEC campaign finance report. Even if he is not “required” to file a FEC report, why not file anyway and be totally transparent with the voters ?

Congressman Rob Wittman has my vote—he is well qualified, has a platform I support and his financials are readily available and accessible. I have met him several times at events like the Guinea Jubilee, and he is a genuine, honest conservative who has a proven track record. Make your vote count—vote for Rob Wittman for Congress.

Charles “Chuck” Watson
Gloucester, Va.