Former Danville VA. mayor, Seward Anderson, promises to do more for state’s veterans

By Matt Tomsic

House of Delegates candidate Seward Anderson spoke about his proposals for veterans during an address at the Danville-Pittsylvania County Veterans Memorial on Thursday.“I believe it’s our solemn duty to repay them for what they’ve given to this nation,” Anderson said.If elected, Anderson said he’d work to provide tax relief for veterans, prevent foreclosures on any active service member’s home, ensure returning veterans have quick and easy access to their benefits and deregulate veteran’s organizations, which would allow them to use revenue for improvements on their posts and other necessities.“We should do everything we can to thank our vets and meet their needs,” he said.

Anderson proposed removing taxes of financial aid sent from the state of Virginia to families of service members in the National Guard and reserves.

Home foreclosures should never happen to any active military while deployed, he said. Currently, the service member has to begin the process to receive protection from foreclosure. Anderson said he wants to move that responsibility to the lending agency, which would protect service members from the start.

He proposed moving benefit registration process online and putting in place more people to create better, quicker access for returning service members.

Butch Davis, a Vietnam Veteran, introduced Anderson and accidentally called him “Seymour” a few times before switching to “Mr. Anderson.” After the address, the two men laughed over the mistake as Anderson jokingly listed some of the other wrong names others had called him.

Davis said Anderson was an advocate for the area’s veterans during his time as Danville’s mayor.

“From listening to my fellow vets, he is no stranger to our post,” he said. “I’m confident he can do the job required and recommended.”

Anderson’s father served during World War II and was a prisoner of war in Japan. Anderson served six years in the Virginia National Guard and his son, Worth, is a senior airman in the Air Force.

Anderson is running against Delegate Danny Marshall, who responded to Anderson’s Thursday address. Marshall cited his service in the Virginia Housing Commission, which helps veterans and all citizens of Virginia with home foreclosures.

“The mortgage companies are not getting the information to the people in a timely manner,” Marshall said. “It’s not just veterans, it’s everyone else.”

He also has a 100 percent voting record for veteran’s issues, Marshall said, and he’s helped push a bill on charitable gambling that would benefit veterans’ associations.

“The American Legions have different facilities that they must maintain,” he said. “A lot of them do that through (games like) bingo. My bill would have allowed them to keep a little more of the money they raised.”

The bill, House Bill 2025, is in a study group that will make recommendations on it.