A Virginia lawmaker supportive of permitting residents in Fairfax County to contemplate a business on line casino improvement has a prolonged relationship with an space actual property developer who has expressed curiosity in constructing such a Las Vegas-style resort.
Comstock Corporations CEO Chris Clemente poses with a challenge mannequin. Clemente and his son, Nick Clemente, have reportedly been associates with the state lawmaker who’s looking for to permit a on line casino challenge in Fairfax County. (Picture: Virginia Enterprise)
Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart) in January launched a invoice to the Virginia Basic Meeting that sought to qualify Fairfax County as a permissible on line casino host.
If the invoice had handed the legislature and had been signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors would have been approved to area on line casino proposals and put a challenge referendum earlier than voters.
The laws, together with an similar invoice within the Senate launched by Sen. David Marsden (D-Burke), was rescinded only a week after being launched. Williams and Marsden later reasoned the gaming laws could be given extra acceptable consideration throughout the 2024 session.
Williams and Developer Go Manner Again
Patch, a hyperlocal information media platform, reviews this week that Williams and the household that owns Comstock Corporations, a regional actual property developer that has expressed curiosity in constructing a on line casino resort in Fairfax, have lengthy ties. Michael O’Connell, the sector editor for Patch in Northern Virginia, reviews that Comstock Corporations CEO Chris Clemente contributed $12,500 to Williams’ 2023 marketing campaign.
Williams, 34 years previous and a local of Stuart, primarily gained the ninth district seat when he upset seven-term Republican Charles Poindexter within the Republican major in June 2021. He simply gained that yr’s November election and assumed workplace in January 2022.
Williams’ 2023 marketing campaign contributions included a $500 donation from the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, a contribution that, Patch reviews, was approved by Clemente’s son, Nick Clemente. The youthful Clemente is a lobbyist engaged on behalf of the North Virginia Chamber who has monetary administrative energy over the group’s political lobbying actions.
Ties Don’t Finish There
Patch provides that Williams helped Nick Clemente throughout his 2021 marketing campaign for state workplace. Clemente challenged Democratic incumbent Del. Wendy Gooditis within the tenth district, which incorporates parts of Clarke, Frederick, and Loudoun counties.
Williams campaigned for Clemente and sang his praises on X.
It was enjoyable knocking on doorways yesterday within the stunning fall climate for Nick Clemente in Northern Virginia,” Williams tweeted. “We had nice conversations with many citizens who hadn’t been following the election and weren’t going to vote or who really feel forgotten by the Democrat get together and at the moment are contemplating supporting the Republican ticket.”
Williams continued {that a} vote for Clemente is a vote towards CRT (crucial race principle) in public colleges. Clemente misplaced to Gooditis by lower than 1,000 votes.
Comstock Corporations
Comstock Corporations dates again to 1985 and right now payments itself because the main actual property developer within the Dulles Hall. The corporate says it has $1.5 billion and 4 million sq. toes of working belongings beneath administration, and $3.2 billion in initiatives in improvement.
Comstock’s retail initiatives embody Reston Station, Loudoun Station, Rockville Station, and The Hartford at Clarendon Station. The mixed-use developments embody residential, workplace, retail, and eating house.
Comstock additionally developed the JW Marriott that overlooks Reston Row on the Silver Line Metro.
