Larry Linkous, a Blacksburg native and longtime businessman is throwing his hat into the ring for the 12th District Virginia General Assembly House seat currently held by Democrat Chris Hurst. Linkous is running as a Republican.
Hurst has held the seat the past three years after defeating Republican Joseph Yost in the 2018 election cycle. His current term ends on January 12, 2022.
The 12th district represents the city of Radford, Giles County, and portions of Montgomery County and Pulaski County.
Linkous decided to run after being approached by a number of people over the past few months. “I am displeased with the current political climate here and want to change it,” he said.
Linkous made his announcement Thursday in the parking lot of the Hilton Garden in Blacksburg. Supporters gathered with masks and sat in the cars, tooting their horns after the candidate made a few remarks.
Linkous is no stranger to the region, having served as the past chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, the New River Community College Board and the Montgomery County Economic Development Authority. He ran unsuccessfully for the House seat in the late 80s.
He is an auctioneer by trade and has served as the past chairman of the Virginia Auctioneers Regulatory Board and president of the Virginia Auctioneers Association. He was named the 2000 Virginia Auctioneer of the Year and remains active in the state group.
Linkous was also one of the first auctioneers certified in the Commonwealth with license number three. In 1989, he was named the businessperson of the year by the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce.
In 2001, was named the chamber’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year.
He has been active in the local business community for 48 years including founding Custom Meats, Custom Catering and Linkous Auctioneers.
In 2019, Hurst narrowly beat Republican Forest Hite with 53 percent of the vote. He has been outspoken about the storming of the capitol shortly after then-President Donald Trump spoke to supporters.
“If you run as a Republican in 2021 and beyond, you must answer for the actions of Trump and the violent insurrection on 1/6. Do you support Trump? Do you support the rioters? Why are you still a Republican?” Hurst said recently on Twitter.
Linkous said there is a big difference between him and the current Democrat. “I’ve got so much more time invested in this district that I should know it better than him,” he said.
He would not speak directly to Hurst’s recent criticism of a local businessperson who attended the events at the capitol last month.
The Democrat also received attention last year from a traffic stop when he was pulled over but was not charged with driving under the influence.
The local Republican Party has not announced as of yet how they will choose a candidate for the seat.