Meet Sam
“If you send me to Richmond, I promise to provide strong representation for each and every one of you. I won’t tow a party line. Instead, I’ll listen to the citizens of the 53rd District and vote in accordance with your needs and wishes. I won’t push for higher taxes, but will instead bring more money and resources into our community from Richmond. I will go to bat for the 53rd every day, making the district a shining example of what devoted public service can achieve. Together, we can help restore faith in our American political system and serve as an example to our nation and the world.”
Sam Soghor is a PTO dad, a special education instructional assistant, and a volunteer — everything from picking up trash with the sheriff to working in the school cafeteria, so underpaid teachers can get a lunch break.
He's an active participant in school board and board of supervisors meetings, supports the local arts community, and has a weekly radio show, Amherst Town Talk, where he and his co-host, a Republican town council candidate, talk about issues that are important to them and their neighbors.
Sam was educated in public schools and has a bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Purchase. He moved to Amherst from New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, or as he puts it, "the universe flung" him there. What started out as a few weeks in the country after work in the theatre district shut down turned into a new home and a new start in a community he loves.
As the parent of a child who attends Amherst County public schools, Sam has a genuine interest in the local public school system and will work to ensure schools in his district, particularly rural schools, have everything they need to provide students a high-quality education.
While Sam lives in the Town of Amherst, he enjoys exploring the natural areas of the 53rd District, including the Blue Ridge Mountains and George Washington National Forest. He will seek commonsense measures to protect these precious resources for future generations.
Recognizing the importance of fresh, local food to community and economic health, Sam will push to make sustainable farming practices accessible and affordable for district farmers, providing them the same resources that industrial agriculture operations have.
He vows to do all of this with more money and resources from Richmond and without raising taxes.
On the other hand, Sam's opponent, Republican Tim Griffin, a hard-right conservative, attacks the public school system, casts doubts on the integrity of our election system, seeks to eradicate the separation of church and state, and seems more interested in fighting "culture wars" than working with the people of the 53rd District to build a better district, state, and country.
