WASHINGTON – Lawmakers in Virginia and throughout the nation are mourning the lack of longtime Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died Wednesday after a battle with most cancers.
Connolly, a fixture in Virginia politics for many years, served in Congress since 2009. Earlier than his tenure in Washington, he was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995 and later turned its chairman in 2003.
Earlier in his profession, Connolly labored as a staffer for the U.S. Senate Committee on International Relations within the Eighties.
His passing has drawn tributes from colleagues who praised his dedication to public service and his deep dedication to the folks of Virginia.
READ MORE: Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75
Leaders keep in mind Rep. Gerry Connolly
What they’re saying:
Rep. Glenn Ivey praised Connolly’s power and charm in battling most cancers, reflecting on their shared expertise as survivors.
“As a fellow most cancers survivor, I perceive the power it takes to combat that battle, and Gerry confronted it with resolve and charm,” he mentioned. “His legacy of public service, from defending civil servants to pushing for a extra simply immigration system, will proceed to encourage us. My ideas are along with his household, buddies, and all who’re grieving this profound loss.”
“My buddy Gerry Connolly was a one in all a form public servant who by no means shied away from combating for Northern Virginia and our nation,” mentioned U.S. Senator Tim Kaine in an announcement launched Wednesday. “His legacy will dwell on by means of all that he achieved all through his a long time of public service and the numerous folks he impressed alongside the best way.”
Sen. Mark Warner mourned the passing of Connolly, calling him a devoted public servant and longtime buddy. “I’m heartbroken over the lack of my pricey buddy Gerry Connolly,” he mentioned. “Gerry was a fighter. His sharp thoughts, boundless vitality, and deep dedication to the folks of Northern Virginia made him a pressure to be reckoned with, whether or not on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors or in Congress. He met each problem with tenacity and function, together with his remaining battle with most cancers, which he confronted with braveness, grace, and quiet dignity.”
“Gerry was a fighter like none different — whether or not it was championing Northern Virginia’s households to his latest combat with most cancers, there was nobody more durable than Gerry,” mentioned Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman. “I thank him for his years of service. Might your reminiscence be a blessing, my buddy.”
“I’m heartbroken to listen to concerning the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly,” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam posted to X. “Gerry was a colleague, a mentor, and above all, my buddy. His humor, his toughness, and his love for his neighborhood and nation made him one of the crucial efficient members of Congress.”
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The Supply: Info on this article comes from the household of Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, The Related Press, and former FOX 5 reporting.
