The news that Delegate Les Adams abruptly resigned from his position as our representative in the Virginia General Assembly, where he had served for ten years, came as a complete and total shock to the majority of us in these parts last week. Just one month before to his departure, Delegate Adams had been re-elected in the 48th House District. He had campaigned without any opposition and received 8,680 votes, which is a resounding affirmation for any politician. Moreover, he was resigning before taking office at this point. How did things turn out? Is there a scandal in the works? What is the most serious medical issue? A tragedy that befell the family?

It is none of the above. His letter of resignation indicated that he was leaving “so that I may make myself available for another position of service.” Adams’s resignation was effective immediately. This indicated to the majority of onlookers that Adams, a lawyer, was under the impression that he was on the verge of obtaining a judgeship, which was a high-paying “position of service” that he had been pursuing for several years in the General Assembly.

On the other hand, was it not a hazardous move for Delegate Adams to leave the halls of the General Assembly before he had his new “position of service” completely nailed down? Possibly not, provided that a stand-in who is completely devoted to the cause might be dispatched to take his place at the General Assembly. However, how would one go about accomplishing that?

Immediately following Adams’s announcement of his retirement, the governor, under the several statutes of the state, the 9th of January will be the day of the special election. Within a short period, two Republican candidates, Will Pace of Chatham and Eric Phillips of Martinsville, made public their intention to run for the special election that will be held to replace Delegate Adams.

If the preceding sequence is not enough to make one’s head spin, an instant “mass meeting” was called for the Republican party to allow them to vote and determine which of the two candidates would be included on the ballot for the special election. Will Pace, under the obscure regulations of the Republican Party, arranged for the meeting to take place in Chatham. This provided him with a significant tactical advantage, as Phillips supporters would have to drive from Martinsville during the workday.