Incumbent Del. Keith Hodges (R-Urbanna) and his Democratic challenger Sheila Crowley of Mathews got their first real chance to face off against one another during a forum Tuesday night at the Gloucester Moose Lodge, sponsored by the Gloucester Democratic Committee and the Severn Republican Women.

The two candidates for the 98th House of Delegates’ District brought differing views to the table on a number of issues facing the state, including economic development, redistricting, Medicaid expansion and the environment.

During opening remarks, Crowley said she appreciated some of the initiatives Hodges introduced during his two terms in the General Assembly. “But I want to do more,” she said, with her top priority being to get the General Assembly to move forward with Medicaid expansion. 

She also said she appreciated Hodges implementing the Opioid Task Force on the Middle Peninsula to try to combat the growing opioid epidemic in the area. “To combat the pr...