Mechanicsville, Virginia, June 10, 2011: With over 150 supporters in attendance, Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover) announced he will seek reelection to the Virginia Senate in the 4th District. Senator McDougle was first elected to the seat in 2006.

 “It is an honor to serve the citizens of the 4th District, and I want to continue working for them in the Senate of Virginia,” declared McDougle. “Over the last 3 years, our families have experienced extremely challenging economic times, and I have continued to vote for legislation that would provide a better environment for businesses and uphold the freedoms individual citizens enjoy.”

 McDougle was elected to the House of Delegates in 2001, representing the 97th District. He won a special election to the Senate in January 2006, filling a vacancy created by the election of  Lt. Governor William T. “Bill” Bolling.

Senator McDougle's record of successfully shepherding legislation to reduce waste, curb spending, and increase the efficiency of government was recognized by Governor McDonnell, who tapped the Senator to be one of a handful of legislators to serve on the Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring. McDougle has also championed legislation to improve public safety, sponsoring and winning passage for a bill requiring those arrested for violent felonies to provide a DNA sample. The measure has resulted in thousands of crimes being solved by Virginia's law enforcement professionals. A consistent supporter of tax relief, Senator McDougle won passage of Virginia's Back to School Sales Tax Holiday law in 2006. The measure continues to provide needed tax relief to families as they prepare to send students back to school every fall. This year, the holiday will be held August 5 -7, 2011.

 “First in the House and now in the Senate, I have served my constituents with principled conservative leadership, working with citizens, businesses, and community leaders to achieve solutions to our challenges,” noted McDougle. “Together, we are making a difference.

“As the Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore, I have worked tirelessly to unify our caucus and focus our legislative efforts on a commonsense conservative agenda in the General Assembly. Our Caucus agenda this year included measures to increase transparency and strengthen accountability in Virginia’s budget process, to oppose tax increases, to combat illegal immigration, to reduce unnecessary state regulations and boards, and to protect Virginia’s status as a Right-to-Work state.

“I have consistently supported measures that ensure fiscal responsibility without requiring tax increases. Government must live within its means, and provide taxpayers value for every dollar they give us.

“Redistricting has changed the boundaries of the 4th District, and I will now be honored to represent communities on the Northern Neck. I have already begun to visit community members in the new areas of my district, and recently spoke to citizens in Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties. I remain committed to providing the entire district the same level of service citizens deserve and expect.”

Senator Ryan T. McDougle is the Senate Republican Pro Tempore and a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Courts of Justice, Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Transportation. Under the redistricting plan approved by the Virginia Senate, the 4th District is comprised of Caroline, Essex, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northumberland, and Richmond Counties, and portions of Hanover, King George, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland Counties.