From Troy Farlow:
I commend Delegate Rapp on her years of public service in the House of Delegates. Although Delegate Rapp and I disagreed on several issues, I appreciate her dedication to serving the public and constituents. I share Delegate Rapp’s passion for the common good, and that’s why I’m running for the House of Delegates. We need a strong advocate for us in Richmond to fix transportation, stop the sky-rocketing cost of healthcare, and provide tax relief for working people. I pledge that I will be that kind of Delegate.
This is a great opportunity to let the people of the 96th District know that I want to work to represent the interests of each and everyone of us. These are challenging times with challenging issues in front of us. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to get things done. To meet our needs and goals, we don’t need more politics; we need more citizens who put the needs of their neighbors over the needs of a lobbyist. I will work to move Virginia forward, not backward, when it comes to transportation, education, public safety and health care.
Technorati Tags: Troy Farlow, Melanie Rapp
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Troy didn’t strike me as a very likely politician when I first met him, but there’s no disputing that he’s a good and decent man. The way he structured that statement also shows he’s apparently politically smarter than most people give him credit for–including, perhaps, me. Pretty classy. Pretty smart.
That is a tough district. My mind is a complete blank right now but there was a GREAT candidate who ran against her in ’97? and I think he ran against her again. Sharp as a tack, knew his issues, was an attorney @ Alan Diamonstein’s firm…and I cannot remember his name…ARGH!!!!!! Ahhh…Patrick Pettit I think was it..
What would be nice, is if Carter Phillips from Hampton could move to the 96th. SUPER guy, smart as can be, a born leader who knows the issues, and could fight harder than anyone I know. Plus, he’s just a super guy and a good blue dog Democrat…(he’s probably gonna kick my butt for even mentioning this)
I’d love to see that seat get back in the “D” column. I don’t think it has been since Shirley Cooper lost in the early ’90s.
Wow..I cant believe how hard it is to remember all of the 😀
Shirley Cooper lost the seat to JoAnn Davis in 1997. Rapp beat Patrick Pettit and Phil Forgit (another quality candidate) by 8-9 points each in 2001 and 2003. It’s hard to believe we controlled that seat only a decade ago, as solidly Republican as it seems.
Please, I urge the citizens of the 96th District to ask questions and dig deeper into Troy Farlow’s past. He offers no solutions just talking points.
There is a reason why Troy and his wife moved from the ES. I will let Troy spin those facts for you.
The $70,000 he raised, more than 50% was from him self, family and very close friends. So lets just say he raised $35,000
Troy has zero experience in Education (no children and went to a private high school), Healthcare (hired part time employment for his painting business to avoid providing them with healthcare, the healthcare issue was a non issue for his “successful” business), Transportation (never lived in Hampton Roads until this last year, so I don’t think he fully understands the Transportation issue in his district) Anyone can say there is a problem with something, but do they have legitimate solutions to those problems or will they use the old “I will work with both parties” speech and “this is not about politics” jumbo.
Lets just state some facts:
1) Troy Farlow was never a successful business man on the shore, I don’t think it even lasted a year, during the height of the building boom on the shore. Ask him how long his painting business was in business and how successful, you will be surprised to know it was poorly run, that is why he stopped.
2) Troy considers himself wall street banker. He spent 5 months in NYC, the first 2 volunteering by getting coffee and the next 3 in aquistions and mergers. I don’t think 3 months on the job qualifies as wall street experience. Troy will tell you he was a successfull Wall Street banker, that is simply not true, call the company he worked for and they will tell you how long he worked for them, it is public knowledge.
3) Troy was never a community leader on the shore. Never held any office or did any community volunteerism, except help L. Lewis with his campaign. I think you will be hard pressed to see Lewis endorse him for the 96th District. Lewis did not formally endorse Troy when he tried to run for the 2nd District. Troy never held any type of community leadership post on the ES, he was viewed as someone that could not hold on to a job.
3) Troy claims he went to Duke Grad School. He obvisiously was only there for a short time because according to an AP story he was laid off from PriceWater in the spring of 2001. And we all know he left to go to Wall Street after 9/11/01. So he could have only been enrolled in the summer or got accepted in the fall and then never went because he went to go work on Wall Street for 5 months after 9/11/01. According to a book written in 2003, Troy states he drove overnight to Duke to meet with the head of the business school and she extended the enrollment by 15 days just for Troy with, by his own admission, a 2.4 gpa from Elon and he had not even taken the entrance exams. Come On! As competitive as Duke is they let in Troy Farlow with a 2.4 gpa and no entrance exam. What about all of the people who filed properly with a 3.0 or better and acceptleable entrance exams and did not get in. And they accepted Troy Farlow!I urge you to ask for documentation of his enrollment to Duke. Folks, I think Troy maybe applied and got denied. Troy is good at exaggerating the facts. This speaks for itself.
Many people even candidates have two residences. He’s lived in Wmsbg far longer than what you’ve stated theap. If all the GOP has to offer is negativity, then Troy has a good shot at this race.
Wow Randy- better memory than me and I LIVED over there…Can’t believe I forgot about JoAnn Davis.
I’d love to see that seat go back to the “D” column…but it seems unlikely.
Sigh….
Maria
asmith – just like a typical dem, categorizing facts as negativity. OK so Troy has lived in Williamsburg for 11/2 years. shouldn’t a candidate be judged on his qualifications. Prove to me he has those qualifications. Prove to me that he was a successful business man. Prove to me he was a Wall Street Banker. Prove to me he went to Duke. Prove to me he has the qualifications to speak about public education, healthcare, environment, transportation, etc.
What about his PAC, it was clearly a front to setup his campaign. Troy cares about Troy. Always has always will. I am going to vote for someone that has proven and credible leadership, has committed time and experience to his community and has the professional work experience. Someone like Ralph Northam would be a perfect example. I am a republican, however I believe Northam has the qualifications and credibility to be a great Senator. Troy has none of that. What has he done in the district other than politic.
theap – I have no idea whether your “facts” are accurate. I do think you might be off-base, though, with your opening statements. First, early money almost always comes from family and friends for new candidates. Who else believes in the candidacy? That’s not a knock. One does not have to attend public schools to understand the issue of education. I attended public schools, but that was a long time ago and things have changed. I don’t have kids. But I certainly have an opinion on education and what needs to be done.
One does not have to provide health insurance to employees to understand the issue of healthcare. Pick up any newspaper on any given day and the issue is covered. I’m probably more familiar with this issue than most simply because I run a small business and advise small businesses on issues like this.
And one does not have to live in Hampton Roads to understand the issue of transportation. Troy has spent a lot of time in Hampton Roads over the last few years – I know because I have seen him at various events, even before he decided to run in the 2nd CD.
I would like to know how your “facts” address any of these issues.
vjp-your response clearly makes my points.
OK he raised $40,000, because $30,000 came from himself.
1) You attended public school – Troy attended private school. In my opinion you would have more to say on the public education issue than Mr. Farlow. I would have more to say with regards to public education, because I attended public schools.
2) You again would have more to say about the healthcare issue because of your experience in advising small business on issues such as healthcare. Mr. Farlow experience is limited at best.
3) You again have lived and worked (I am assuming) in Hampton Roads for many years, your credibility far outscores Mr. Farlow in this area as well. My family has visited me approximately, on average, about 10 times a year to the Hampton Roads area, for the last few years. This doesn’t make them experts on Hampton Roads Transportation.
Sounds like you need to move to the 96th District and run for HOD, you clearly have more qualifications and credibility than Mr. Farlow does.
All I am asking for people of the 96th District to do is ask questions of Mr. Farlow. His qualifications and credibility are lacking based on the info he is providing.
Can you prove to me he ran a successful business on the ES? Can you prove to me he was a Wall Street Banker with significance? Can you prove to me he attended Duke? Can you prove to me that Mr. Farlow was a community leader on the ES or on the Peninsula for that matter? Attending political events doesn’t count in my book. If you are questioning whether my “facts” are accurate, wouldn’t you want to know? Or are you making assumptions on face value?
I know Mr. Farlow started the Peninsula PAC, it was only running for a couple of months before he decided to run for HOD. Wouldn’t it be wise to invest himself in that cause for sometime to establish some credibility in the District? I think so.
Troy is all about Troy. His remarks and comments are typical political speak and talking points. If Troy wins this District, it is because Rapp has decided to retire. Troy has an advantage, because the people of the 96th District don’t know who he is and 99% of the people won’t question his qualifications or credibilty.
Poor Troy, no can defend his credibility and qualifications. It happens all the time. What a horrific turn of events if Troy gets voted in because Rapp retires and no one verifies his background.
-theap
I was wondering what was your past relationship to Mr. Farlow? It appears that you know him very well and I feel it would make your statements more powerful if you would explain how you have come to know these things. In this anonymous world of blogging it also seems fair to ask these things. Did you grow up with Mr. Farlow on the Eastern Shore? You wrote “wouldn’t you want to know?” concerning your points against him. Well yes, I think if you could prove these statements or at the least tell us how you know “Troy is all about Troy” then your purpose would hold more weight.
I have known Troy for many years. you clearly don’t understand my “wouldn’t you want to know?” question. As I have repeatedly stated over and over, I am urging the people of the 96th District to ask these questions. In my opinion Troy is interviewing for a job to represent the people of the 96th District. Shouldn’t Troy show proof that he was a successful businessman on the ES if he and others are claiming such? Shouldn’t Troy show proof that he was enrolled at Duke Grad school if he and others are claiming such? Shouldn’t Troy show proof that he was a Wall Street Banker with significance if he and others are claiming? What about the Farlow Group LLC, “a professional services company”, who were his clients? shouldn’t he show proof? Wouldn’t you want to see details of his past leadership and committment to a community? Something other than political events!
I would agree that in some cases it is advantageous to “exaggerate” your “resume”, however when you decide to run for public office you should provide accurate information and expect to be questioned if you are seeking votes. If you were only a “Wall Street Banker” for less than 6 mos, that may be something you leave off your public office “resume”. If you were indeed enrolled in Duke Grad School but only for less than a semester, that may be something you leave off your public office “resume”. If you consider yourself a successful businessman by running a short lived poorly run painting business, that may be something you leave off your public office “resume”. If you were a successful management consultant, provide details.
In this age of technology and the internet it is very easy to do research. I shouldn’t have to prove these statements, I am asking the people to dig down deep and don’t be afraid to question Mr. Farlow. He should be answering these questions, not me or anyone else. I have not labeled him a successful anything, Troy and his campaign people have.
There are a lot of people in the 96th District, they should be entitled to know his background in detail instead of just taking it for face value. I am not the one seeking to represent people, Troy is.
I think it would be beneficial to the people of the 96th District if Troy made a statement or updated his website to explain in detail his background. “I ran xxx company on the ES and experienced xxx growth each year during the building boom of the early 2000s, my tax records will show the increase in my gross receipts each year”
“I was enrolled at Duke University from the period of XX to XX, Dr. XX can speak of my committment to the program”
“I was employed as a wall street banker from the time of XX to XX in NYC and XX can attest to my desire to be a successful professional”
I know he won’t, he will be counting on people to not research him and take him at face value, many will, especially now that Rapp has retired. As I have admitted in an earlier rant, Troy will probably win the 96th District, however, it will be because Rapp has retired.
troy is a FOOL