Dave LaRock

Dave Alfred LaRock (born May 30, 1956) is an American politician from Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, LaRock is the member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 33rd district.

Political career

LaRock defeated incumbent Delegate Joe T. May in the June 11, 2013 Republican primary. He then defeated Democrat Mary L. Costello Daniel and Libertarian Patrick Hagerty in the November 5, 2013 general election. He was reelected on November 3, 2015, defeating Democrat Chuck Hedges and Libertarian Mark Anderson, winning 60% of the vote, including every precinct in the district. In 2017, he was again reelected, defeating Democrat Tia Walbridge 55%-45%.

LaRock's legislative efforts have focused on Transportation, Educational Choice, Pro-Life, Religious liberty, and 2nd Amendment issues; other successful legislation includes greater accessibility of Naloxone and legislation of local interest.

LaRock voted against a bill to eliminate a law banning sexual intercourse before marriage in the 2020 legislative session. The bill passed 91–5 with bipartisan support in the house.

LaRock voted against Medicaid expansion, HB5001, in the 2018 legislative session. The bill passed 68–30 in the House of Delegates with bipartisan support.

Views on sexual orientation and gender identity

LaRock has come under fire multiple times for anti-LGBT, sexist, and transphobic statements. In a 2018 interview, LaRock called gay conversion therapy programs "beautiful" and refused to use transgender state delegate Danica Roem's pronouns. He has also opposed efforts in Virginia to provide employment and housing protections to LGBT people, saying that the state should not provide special rights or protections for "chosen sexual habits." In another 2018 interview, LaRock said he would find it "very disturbing" if a transgender person was able to teach a kindergarten class, believing that transgender people have a mental disorder and that they should not be put into "role-model positions" in schools.

In 2019, LaRock started a petition to remove gender identity from the proposed changes to the Loudoun County Public Schools Equal Opportunity Policy. Loudoun County School Board's policy states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics. However, LaRock claimed that adding "gender identity" to the list would "endanger our children."

2020–21 United States election protests

LaRock was one of three GOP delegates in Virginia that sent a letter to Vice President Pence asking him to postpone the final counting of electoral votes, which gave Joe Biden the win including Virginia's 13 electoral votes. The letter included two co-signers, Del. Mark Cole (R-Fauquier) and Del. Ronnie Campbell (R-Lexington), requesting “a stay of any designation of Presidential Electors from our state until such time as a comprehensive forensic audit of the November 3, 2020, election has taken place to determine the actual winner.”

In the months after the 2020 Election, LaRock encouraged attendance at various freedom rallies, including one in Washington, D.C. on January 6, and raised concerns about the 2020 presidential election.

January 6th, 2021

LaRock participated in the rally at the White House Ellipse and another "Freedom Rally" on January 6, 2021 calling the protest “an outstanding exercise of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. There was no vandalism, trash was picked up, and many times the masses sang the National Anthem together.”

He condemned the violence, but posted on social media that the Trump-supporting mob had been infiltrated by “paid provocateurs,” and that there was credible doubt around the validity of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Days later, LaRock said, “I think some antifa people were there. It also seems clear that there were people there who were Trump supporters but were behaving in a manner that is unbecoming to the great majority of people who support Donald Trump.”

LaRock faces calls to resign from the Loudoun NAACP, Winchester Area NAACP, fellow lawmakers, and at least two Loudoun County county supervisors. On January 12, 2021, Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D) on stripped LaRock and the two other Republican delegates — Mark Cole and Ronnie Campbell — of one committee assignment each.

Support for constituent charged with criminal conspiracy

LaRock expressed his support for his constituent Thomas Caldwell, who was charged with conspiracy for his role in allegedly conspiring to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol. Prior to learning of Caldwell's arrest, LaRock said, "Tom is a wonderful man. He and Sharon have been very supportive of me. Tom has served our country in a long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. I think very highly of Tom and Sharon."

According to the charges, Caldwell is alleged to have a leadership role within the Oath Keepers, a right wing militia force, and to have sent Facebook messages while storming the capitol such as "Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide. Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosi’s office. A good time" and "We need to do this at the local level. Lets storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!". The charges furthermore state that Caldwell shared a YouTube video in which he motions to the U.S. Capitol Building and shouts "Every single xpletive beeped in originalin there is a traitor. Every single one!" Also in the criminal charges, the FBI quoted a message allegedly sent to Caldwell which read: “All members are in the tunnels under the capital. Seal them in turn on gas.”

Other controversies

Trespassing

A complaint was filed against David LaRock in Loudoun County General District Court on four misdemeanor charges, including trespassing and destroying a posted sign. The offenses occurred between Sept. 8, 2020, and Oct. 12, 2020, on a property in Hamilton, Virginia. A no trespass order was provided on Sept. 4, 2020, according to the complaint. The charges for trespassing and destroying a posted sign were dismissed by the trial judge, who found LaRock guilty on two counts of pulling down a fence. LaRock was ordered to pay a $25 fine for each conviction.

Over the weekend of July 30–31, 2022, LaRock was again accused of damaging that same neighbor's property.

LaRock had previously been charged with trespassing and destruction of property in 2012 related to an illegal sign.

Racist language

LaRock drew condemnations on social media and from local officials for use of the term "colored" in a January 2021 letter on his campaign website. In the letter, LaRock said of Loudoun Supervisors and NAACP leaders that "rather than focusing on the business of Loudoun County and the needs of the colored community, they are wasting their time and taxpayer resources to attack me.” The letter was updated immediately to replace "colored" with minorities. LaRock said he did not realize that using “colored people” was racist until after he issued the statement.

Personal life

LaRock is a general contractor, and resides in Hamilton, Virginia, with his wife Joanne and the youngest three of their seven children.

References

External links

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Campaign Website

Official Profile on Virginia General Assembly website2018 session legislation2017 session legislation2016 session legislation

2015 session legislation

2014 session legislation

{{DEFAULTSORT:LaRock, Dave
Living people
Protesters in or near the January 6 United States Capitol attack
Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
American construction businesspeople
21st-century American politicians
1956 births
People from Hamilton, Virginia