WASHINGTON — As Virginia lawmakers prepare to distribute more than $4 billion in relief money from the American Rescue Plan, HD-83 Republican candidate Tim Anderson came out against federal aid for Virginians, even though his businesses have already taken in more than $700,000 in federal relief. After Anderson’s law firm received this taxpayer money, it paid for his campaign’s social media and radio ads, as well as video production costs.
“Tim Anderson’s stance on COVID relief for Virginians is the height of hypocrisy,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Jessica Post. “He got his federal relief money, but he’s opposed to aid for hardworking Virginians. This is yet another example of how Virginia Republicans are completely out of touch with the struggles of their would-be constituents. On the other hand, Democrats in the General Assembly are working hard to ensure their communities receive the relief they need.”
The Virginian-Pilot: Virginia Beach delegate candidate Tim Anderson campaigned against COVID relief funds, but received nearly $750K for his businesses
During his campaign to be a state delegate, Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson recently said federal COVID-19 relief funding given to Virginia is unnecessary and should be returned.
“We should give it back,” Anderson wrote on his campaign Facebook page on July 4, referring to more than $4 billion from the American Rescue Plan that state lawmakers hope to use to help businesses and localities recover from the economic blow of the pandemic. “We don’t need it.”
Since April 2020, however, his businesses have taken in over $742,000 in federal COVID relief money, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Anderson, 46, is a criminal defense attorney and gun store owner who lives in Virginia Beach and is the Republican nominee to represent the 83rd District, which spans from Ocean View in Norfolk to northwestern Virginia Beach. His nomination in the June primary was an upset when he beat out former Del. Chris Stolle by two dozen votes. He’ll face Democratic Del. Nancy Guy in November’s election.
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Since March, more than $11,000 went from Anderson’s law firm to his campaign committee, according to state campaign finance filings — months after it received more than $100,000 in PPP loans.
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