Torian ready to tackle Richmond

Now that Luke Torian has had a chance to sleep on it, he’s excited about the idea of going to Richmond. 

Torian won the 52nd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in Tuesday’s election with 51.89 percent of the votes. He was the only Democrat to win office in Prince William County on Tuesday night.

“I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, but I’m ready to go,”  said Torian, the pastor of First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries and co-president of the Eastern Prince William County Ministerial Association.

The first thing on Torian’s plate is an orientation before he takes his seat in Richmond in January.

“I am going to be a new person down there and part of what I look forward to is learning the process and how to go about introducing legislation and working with my colleagues in the House of Delegates to address some of these issues that we have,” the 51-year-old Torian said.

While it’s early yet for Torian to have contacted other members of the Prince William delegation, he said he’s looking forward to having “the appropriate conversations with the elected leaders.”

He said he would soon contact other Prince William officials as well.

“I will probably visit with elected officials here in the county as well ... to understand what their concerns are,” Torian said.

He figures he knows one of the issues he’ll be working on during the next session.

“Obviously one of the things I’m wanting to work on is the transportation problems we have here,” he said.

Torian also said he would work hard to “continue adequate funding for education.”

As with any campaign, Torian said it was the volunteers who brought home the win.

“The volunteers were absolutely outstanding. Everyone who gave of themselves on behalf of this campaign, I truly appreciate,” he said.

Torian will replace Republican Jeffrey Frederick, who resigned the seat.

Elections results are unofficial until Nov. 23, when members of the State Board of Elections meet to certify the results.

Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.