A recent donation from North Virginia Chamber of Commerce political action committee, NovaBizPac, was traced back to a state legislator who pitched a recent casino bill, according to a Patch.com local news report.
State Board of Elections financial reports for Delegate Wren Williams showed that $500 was authorized in May by Nick Clemente, a NOVABizPac lobbyist and the son of Comstock Companies CEO Christopher Clemente. Christopher Clemente also contributed $2,500 to Williams’ campaign, according to the local report.
Comstock Companies recently unveiled plans to build a casino close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. For the project to move forward, a law needed to be passed by the Virginia General Assembly to bring the matter of a new casino to voters on the ballot.
Two bills were introduced earlier this year that would bring the topic to voters. Williams, along with State Senator Dave Marsden, pitched those bills in January.
Marsden told local news he was not aware of the referendum bill Williams proposed at the time that he pitched a similar bill.
In related news, Fairfax County, Virginia Executive Bryan Hill recently responded to questions surrounding the possibility of building the Comstock casino without any zoning changes.
Hill addressed several issues, including current laws regarding casino construction, possible sites that would work, what gaming is allowed and who would need to approve the project.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn raised these questions after Comstock Companies unveiled plans to build a casino close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
When asked how requests needed to be made to authorize this kind of project, Hill said the path for every jurisdiction is different.
