For a generation, Frank Wolf served the citizens of
Virginia, and Virginia�s northern tier, both wisely and well as the House
member from the 10th Congressional District. But his long service also
reached well beyond our borders, as he gave a voice to the voiceless and
hope to the oppressed across the globe.
This past Nov. 4, voters in Northern Virginia�s 10th
Congressional District encountered a sight that only those in their mid-50s
or older had ever seen: a general election ballot without Frank Wolf�s name
on it. Rep. Wolf, who retires from Congress this month after 34 years of
stellar service to the people of Virginia and the nation, first ran for the
seat in the Bicentennial year of 1976, narrowly losing in the Republican
primary. Two years later, this time having won his party�s nomination
unopposed, he lost the general election in a close contest to incumbent Rep.
Joseph Fisher.
But his persistence would serve
him, and the people of the district whom he would ultimately serve, very
well indeed. His third run for the office in 1980 would prove to be the
charm, as he narrowly defeated Congressman Fisher in a rematch of their 1978
contest. And following this successful run, he never really had to look
back, handily winning reelection to what would ultimately total 17 terms in
office.
In a tribute to him last fall in
its editorial pages, the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted that �Wolf�s tenure
established him as the conscience of the House.� And, we�d like to add, as a
person of resolute character as well.
His impassioned pursuit of human
rights across the globe is the stuff of legislative legend. From Iran to
Sudan, to China and Tibet, Rep. Wolf repeatedly spoke up for individuals and
groups that were being persecuted, oftentimes for religious reasons, while
also working against the abominable practice of human trafficking, and in
all of these efforts standing up to tyrannical leaders and governments
around the world.
Back home, he also served the
interests of the 10th district well, working hard to address day-to-day
matters important to
average folks, including such routine but
critical issues as transportation.
In addition, he sounded an early
and urgent clarion call both to colleagues and constituents about
the growing threats to our nation�s physical � and
in particular our cyber � security, not merely from rogue groups but also
from established foreign governments.
On electric cooperative issues,
he was open-minded and even-handed as he considered the views of cooperative
leaders on the many electric utility, energy industry, environmental and
finance issues that affect your cooperative, and that affect you, as well,
as a cooperative member-consumer.
Without fail, he would also
generously make time for the young people who visited him at his Capitol
Hill office each June as part of the annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
of Washington, D.C. Even as his seniority and visibility in the House grew,
his priorities always seemed grounded in timeless things, like family, and
faith, and freedom.
In an era sadly marked by
political gridlock and polarization, Rep. Wolf was an example of an elected
official who worked with, and was admired by, colleagues of all political
stripes. He was both principled and practical, and in his unflappable,
understated way, served his fellow citizens well for a generation.
And while his presence in the
House of Representatives will surely be missed, it�s comforting to know that
the glow of conscience and character he leaves behind is there to help light
the way for those who follow.
