Dave LaRock

Dave Alfred LaRock (born May 30, 1956) is an American politician from Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, LaRock is the member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 33rd district.[1]

Dave LaRock
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 33rd district
Assumed office
January 8, 2014
Preceded byJoe T. May
Personal details
Born
David Alfred LaRock

(1956-05-30) May 30, 1956
Oswego, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Joanne Leslie Gilbert
ResidenceHamilton, Virginia
Alma materSUNY Canton (dropped out)
Websitehttps://www.votelarock.us

Political career

LaRock defeated incumbent Delegate Joe T. May in the June 11, 2013 Republican primary.[2] He then defeated Democrat Mary L. Costello Daniel and Libertarian Patrick Hagerty in the November 5, 2013 general election.[3] He was reelected on November 3, 2015, defeating Democrat Chuck Hedges and Libertarian Mark Anderson, winning 60% of the vote, including every precinct in the district.[4] In 2017, he was again reelected, defeating Democrat Tia Walbridge 55%-45%.[5]

LaRock voted against a bill to eliminate a law banning sexual intercourse before marriage in the 2020 legislative session. The bill passed 91-5 with bipartisan support in the house.[6]

LaRock voted against Medicaid expansion, HB5001, in the 2018 legislative session. The bill passed 68-30 in the House of Delegates with bipartisan support.[7]

Views on sexual orientation and gender identity

LaRock has come under fire multiple times for anti-LGBT, sexist, and transphobic statements. In a 2018 interview, LaRock called gay conversion therapy programs "beautiful" and refused to use the proper pronouns when referring to transgender Delegate Danica Roem.[8] He has also opposed efforts in Virginia to provide employment and housing protections to LGBT people, saying that the state should not provide special rights or protections for "chosen sexual habits."[9] In another 2018 interview, LaRock said he would find it "very disturbing" if a transgender person was able to teach a kindergarten class, believing that transgender people have a mental disorder and that they should not be put into "role-model positions" in schools.[10]

In 2019, LaRock started a petition to remove gender identity from the proposed changes to the Loudoun County Public Schools Equal Opportunity Policy. Loudoun County School Board's policy states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics. However, LaRock claimed that adding "gender identity" to the list would "endanger our children."[11]

2020–21 United States election protests
Main article: 2020–21 United States election protests

LaRock was one of three GOP delegates in Virginia that sent a letter to Vice President Pence asking him to throw out the state's election results, which gave Joe Biden the win including Virginia's 13 electoral votes.[12] The letter included two co-signers, Del. Mark Cole (R-Fauquier) and Del. Ronnie Campbell (R-Lexington), requesting “a stay of any designation of Presidential Electors from our state until such time as a comprehensive forensic audit of the November 3, 2020, election has taken place to determine the actual winner.”[13]

In the lead up to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, LaRock encouraged attendance and spread more conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.[14] He has declined to answer whether he entered the Capitol building during the protest. [15]

LaRock participated in the "Stop the Steal" rally and protest on January 6, 2021 calling the protest “an outstanding exercise of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. There was no vandalism, trash was picked up, and many times the masses sang the National Anthem together.”[16] He condemned the violence, but continued to post conspiracy theories on social media including that the Trump-supporting mob had been infiltrated by “paid provocateurs,” and that there was credible doubt around the validity of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.[16] Days later, Larock said, “I think some antifa people were there. It also seems clear that there were people there who were Trump supporters but were behaving in a manner that is unbecoming to the great majority of people who support Donald Trump.”[17]

LaRock faces calls to resign from the Loudoun NAACP, Winchester Area NAACP, fellow lawmakers, and at least two Loudoun County county supervisors.[18][19][14] Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D) on Wednesday stripped Del. Dave LaRock and the two other Republican delegates — Mark Cole and Ronnie Campbell — of one committee assignment each.[20]

Support for constituent charged with criminal conspiracy

LaRock expressed his strong support for his constituent Thomas Caldwell, who was charged for conspiracy for his role in allegedly conspiring to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol. According to LaRock, "Tom is a wonderful man. He and Sharon have been very supportive of me. Tom has served our country in a long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. I think very highly of Tom and Sharon." [21][22] According to the charges filed against Caldwell, Caldwell is alleged to have a leadership role within the Oath Keepers, and sent Facebook messages while storming the capitol such as "Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide. Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosi’s office. A good time" and "We need to do this at the local level. Lets storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!". The charges furthermore state that Caldwell shared a YouTube video in which he motions to the U.S. Capitol Building and shouts "Every single [expletive beeped in original] in there is a traitor. Every single one!"[23] Reporting on the topic further noted that the FBI quoted a message allegedly sent to Caldwell in the criminal charges: “All members are in the tunnels under the capital. Seal them in turn on gas.” [24]

Controversies

Trespassing

A complaint was filed against David LaRock in Loudoun County General District Court on four misdemeanor charges, including trespassing and destroying a posted sign. The offenses occurred between Sept. 8, 2020, and Oct. 12, 2020, on a property in Hamilton, Virginia.[25] A no trespass order was provided on Sept. 4, 2020, according to the complaint.[26] This is the second time that LaRock has been charged with trespassing. He was also charged with trespassing and destruction of property in 2012. [27]

Racist language

LaRock drew condemnations on social media and from local officials for use of the term "colored" in a January 2021 letter on his campaign website.[28] In the letter, LaRock said "rather than focusing on the business of Loudoun County and the needs of the colored community, they are wasting their time and taxpayer resources to attack me.”[29] The letter was later updated to replace "colored" with minorities.[30] LaRock said he did not realize that using “colored people” was racist until after he issued the statement.[31]

Personal life

LaRock is a general contractor,[1] and resides in Hamilton, Virginia, with his wife Joanne and the youngest three of their seven children.

References
  1. Nadler, Danielle (November 6, 2013). "LaRock Defeats Daniel In 33rd". Leesburg Today. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. Pershing, Ben and Errin Whack (2013-06-11). "Democrats give nod to Northam, Herring in statewide races". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
  3. "Virginia Elections Database » 2013 House of Delegates General Election District 33". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  4. "Virginia Elections Database » 2015 House of Delegates General Election District 33". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  5. "Virginia Elections Database » 2017 House of Delegates General Election District 33". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  6. "HB0425". LIS Virginia. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  7. "HB5001". LIS Virginia. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  8. "Talking to My Delegate: Dave LaRock". Thunderdome Politics. August 27, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  9. Janney, Josh (2019-08-16). "Frederick supervisors rescind LGBT protections for staff". The Winchester Star. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  10. Janney, Josh (2018-02-18). "LGBT Virginians dealt major setback as bills die in House". The Winchester Star. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  11. Loudoun County School Board (2019). Policy 1040: Equal opportunity for equitable, safe, and inclusive environment.
  12. O'Brien, Cortney. "Virginia Delegates Explain Why They're Asking Pence to Nullify State's Certified Election Results". Townhall. Retrieved Jan 12, 2021.
  13. "Three Virginia GOP delegates sign letter asking VP Pence to nullify the state's certified election results". Jan 6, 2021. Retrieved Jan 12, 2021.
  14. Dil | AP, Cuneyt. "Over a dozen lawmakers joined crowds on day of Capitol riot". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  15. Janney, Josh (2021-01-20). "Gooditis calls for LaRock to resign". The Winchester Star. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  16. Greene, Renss (2021-01-11). "LaRock Faces Calls for Resignation after Capitol Riot". Loudoun Now. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  17. Times-Mirror, Elizabeth Stinnette, Special to the. "Del. LaRock stripped of committee, realizes 'error' of using 'colored community'". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  18. Greene, Renss (Jan 11, 2021). "LaRock Faces Calls for Resignation after Capitol Riot". Retrieved Jan 12, 2021.
  19. Janney, Josh (2021-01-20). "Gooditis calls for LaRock to resign". The Winchester Star. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  20. Times-Mirror, Elizabeth Stinnette, Special to the. "Del. LaRock stripped of committee, realizes 'error' of using 'colored community'". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  21. https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/insurrectionist-suspect-active-in-local-politics/article_d375bcd1-0184-58c8-ab48-dcc30a0633b6.html
  22. https://www.loudountimes.com/news/del-larock-describes-insurrectionist-suspect-from-clarke-county-as-wonderful-man/article_b314c974-5b43-11eb-8982-abaa4a24a230.html
  23. https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/u-s-v-thomas-edward-caldwell-donovan-ray-crowl-and-jessica-marie-watkins/d3e8cbfe-dad5-4286-91f6-6461638e1fc9/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2
  24. https://richmond.com/news/local/simply-dangerous-house-committee-slams-gop-delegate-for-pushing-vaccine-misinformation/article_92f50f6c-1296-5d3d-ba54-d817e023a120.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest
  25. CLINE, NATHANIEL. "Del. LaRock slated to appear in Loudoun court on trespassing charges". The Winchester Star. Retrieved Jan 12, 2021.
  26. [email protected], Nathaniel Cline. "Del. LaRock faces 4 misdemeanor charges in Loudoun court". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  27. "LaRock Arrest Raises Questions". patch.com. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  28. [email protected], Nathaniel Cline. "Del. LaRock lashes out at critics amid growing calls to resign". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  29. "Dems Want Me Out – NAACP Says RESIGN! What Say You?". www.votelarock.us. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  30. Times-Mirror, Elizabeth Stinnette, Special to the. "Del. LaRock stripped of committee, realizes 'error' of using 'colored community'". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  31. Times-Mirror, Elizabeth Stinnette, Special to the. "Del. LaRock stripped of committee, realizes 'error' of using 'colored community'". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
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