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​Kellen Squire announces candidacy for House of Delegates

Democrat is first to challenge incumbent Del. Bell in eight years

<p>Squire&nbsp;is an emergency room nurse and graduated from the University’s School of Nursing in 2011.&nbsp;</p>

Squire is an emergency room nurse and graduated from the University’s School of Nursing in 2011. 

Albemarle County resident Kellen Squire announced his candidacy for the House of Delegates earlier this month. He will be the first Democrat to challenge incumbent Del. Rob Bell (R– Albemarle) since Cynthia Neff in 2009.

Squire will be only the fourth opponent to run against Bell, who was elected to his seat in 2001.

Bell did not return a request for comment.

Squire, who lives in Barboursville, Va. is an emergency room nurse and graduated from the University’s School of Nursing in 2011. He said he believes his experience in the emergency room has prepared him well for the House of Delegates.

“In the emergency room, you need a diversity of opinion and experience to successfully go forward,” Squire said in an interview with The Cavalier Daily Tuesday. “You can’t wait and assume that things are someone else’s problem. We have to make it work no matter what. That flexibility, [that] diversity of opinion and collaboration is the reason we do what we do. I want to bring that into the political realm.”

Squire said he decided to run for office following the highly polarized presidential election this past November.

“I never thought that I would run for office,” Squire said. “But then, after last election season, I sat around wondering what I should do. It felt like things were getting worse and worse.”

Squire can expect to face a difficult election in the conservative 58th district, which includes Greene County and parts of Albemarle, Fluvanna and Rockingham Counties. The district does not include Grounds or the City of Charlottesville.

Squire, however, remains optimistic. He describes his political views as “populist-centrist” and said he decided to run as a Democrat because his opponent Bell is a Republican.

Squire also said he is open to dialogue and having his assumptions challenged by constituents.

“While we might disagree on issues, we hold the same values, as Americans,” Squire said. “We should all be able to work together. I’ve modified my own position before based just on talking to people.”

As a University alumnus, Squire said Thomas Jefferson has served as an inspiration to him.

“Politics has never been a polite affair,” Squire said. “Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not the best of friends, but they were still able to engage in dialogue. Being an alumni of Mr. Jefferson’s University, I felt the obligation. Someone needs to stand up and say this is not acceptable.”

Katie Baker, communications director for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, said in an email to The Cavalier Daily that the caucus supports the campaigns of new Democratic candidates who share the party’s values. She said the increased mobilization of Democrats in state races this year has been notable.

"After Donald Trump's election in November, we've seen an unprecedented number of people stepping up to run against Republican incumbents in every corner of the Commonwealth — including in districts that have previously gone uncontested,” Baker said. “We need more people in the House of Delegates who will fight for Virginia's working families, and we are excited to welcome so many new Democrats who share our core commitment to doing so.”

Primaries for the House of Delegates will take place June 13. Bell and Squire will not have to compete in primaries unless competitors join them within their own parties. 

Correction: The article previously misstated Bell and Baker will not have to compete in primaries unless competitors join them. It is Bell and Squire who will not have to compete in primaries unless competitors join them. 

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