Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
Last week, Councilmember Jordan Labiosa stated, “Delegate Habeeb has served the 8th District of Virginia with integrity and conviction. Greg’s extensive knowledge of criminal justice and the public education system allowed him to lead on these issues in Richmond. Throughout his service in Richmond, Greg selflessly acted in the interest of his constituents and stayed true to his values. “
Habeeb, a Republican from Salem, will step down from the 8th District House of Delegates seat on August 31.
Greg also serves on the Courts of Justice, Commerce and Labor and Rules and Transportation committees and has been an advocate of reforming the process by which felons regain the right to vote and carry firearms
In expressing his thanks, he wrote: “On January 11, 2011, many of you stood in the snow alongside Christy, the kids and me as I offered myself as a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates. Eight years later and it still feels like yesterday. The kids are bigger – and I’m balder – but through it all, you stood beside me. You stood beside me through five elections where we led our ticket every time. You stood beside me through the highs and lows of life and politics. Every step of the way, you stood beside me.
“Through it all, we accomplished great things. We reached across the aisle to reform education by reducing standardized testing, increasing teacher pay and modernizing the way we teach. We reached across the aisle to make our government more efficient and more transparent and to see that our Court system sought justice above all else. We reached across the aisle to improve Virginia’s economy by reducing regulations, investing in higher education and keeping taxes low.
“I am humbled that you have given me the honor of being your voice in Richmond for eight years. It has been my honor to serve you, but I passionately believe in our Founders’ vision of a citizen legislature where regular people step up, take their turn at bat and then step aside to let the next person step forward. With that philosophy in mind, it is time for me to step aside and let a new person, with new passions and new ideas, step forward to serve our community.
“Throughout my time in the House of Delegates, my amazing wife and kids, along with my law partners and co-workers at Gentry Locke, have sacrificed to let me serve. They never complained when I missed a family meal or a kid’s basketball game. They never complained when they had to cover a deposition or hearing because I was stuck in Richmond. It’s time for me to pay them back by returning to being a full-time dad and a full-time law partner at Gentry Locke.
“Over the last few years, I’ve begun to take on a more significant role at Gentry Locke, culminating with me becoming an owner this year. Looking forward, there are some fascinating professional opportunities for my firm and me on the horizon. Those new responsibilities, along with the ever-growing responsibilities of being a dad to my amazing kids and a husband to my incredible wife, make now the right time for me to step away. There is no such thing as the perfect time to leave an institution as remarkable as the Virginia House of Delegates, but there is a right time. For me, that time is now.
“Thank you for all your support and prayers through the years. You’ll never know how much it meant to Christy, the kids and me. I would also be remiss if I didn’t say a special thank you to all the amazing folks I was privileged to serve within Richmond. Regardless of where you’re from, what you believe or to which party you belong, you all have my utmost respect for stepping into the arena and being willing to serve. You are all my heroes. Keep fighting for what you believe in. To my colleagues from the Roanoke and New River Valleys, thank you for your amazing leadership and for standing beside me on this journey. Thank you, and may God bless you and your families.”
“I look forward to seeing what Greg can accomplish in his professional life, and wish him and his family well as they transition from public life,” Labiosa said. “A special election will be announced by the Speaker of the House at a later date.”
