Politics & Government

Cook, Parker, Wittman Vie for 1st District Seat

The three candidates are on the Nov. 6 ballot for Virginia's First Congressional District.

Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman, Democratic candidate Adam Cook and Independent candidate Gail Parker are on the November 6 general election ballot for Virginia's First Congressional District, which includes the City of Fredericksburg.

The three candidates were scheduled to debate October 29 at the University of Mary Washington, but the event was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.  They  debated Oct. 9 at Christopher Newport University.  A video of the debate is available on the Hampton Road Daily Press website.

Following, in alphabetical order, is a brief profile of each candidate.  The link at their names takes you to their campaign websites.

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Adam Cook

  • Democrat
  • Lives in Fredericksburg
  • Age 35
  • B.A. University of Pennsylvania
  • J.D. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps prosecutor for six years
  • Transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 2009, while also serving in the Social Security Administration’s Office of the General Counsel
  •  Volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, serving as the Officer in Charge of Investigations and Chief Legal Advisor at the Detention Facility in Parwan
  • Currently in the Air Force Reserve

Gail Parker

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  • Independent Green Candidate
  • Lives in Fairfax County
  • Age 65
  • B.B.A. Central Oklahoma State University 
  • M.B.A. Central Michigan University
  • Retired officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (22 years)
  • Retired civilian employee of the Defense Department (34 years)
  • Is a certified Information System Security Professional
  • Campaign slogan: "More trains, less traffic." Brands herself as Gail "For Rail" Parker.
  • "In seven years she's run seven campaigns for public office. She's run twice for United States Senate, twice for House of Delegates and twice for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors," reports the Hampton Road Daily Press.

Rob Wittman

  • Republican
  • Lives in Montross
  • Age 53
  • B. S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va.
  • M. P. H., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C.
  • Ph. D., Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
  • Shellfish Sanitation; member, Montross, Va., town council, 1986 - 1996
  • Mayor of Montross, Va., 1992 - 1996
  • Westmoreland County, Va., Board of Supervisors, 1996  -2005
  • Chairman, Westmoreland County Va., Board of Supervisors, 2004 - 2005 Delegate, Va., House of Delegates, 2006 - 2007
  • Seeking his third full term in office. He won a special election in 2007 when former Rep. JoAnn Davis died of cancer.

Related stories:

Letter to the Editor: Men Like Adam Cook Make a Real Difference

Wittman Says 'Obamacare' Must Be Repealed

1st District Candidate Suspends Campaign For Military Duty

The Fredericksburg Ballot on Nov. 6

Where to Vote in Fredericksburg

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