by Brandon Jarvis

The Republican Party of Virginia released a statement Tuesday condemning the chair of one of their largest committees in the commonwealth over his comments about courting Muslim voters while not caring about Christian voters.

RPV Chair Rich Anderson confirmed to Virginia Scope Tuesday that he had spoken with Loudoun County Republican Committee Chair Scott Pio privately to express his displeasure with the speech he gave at an event.

“The Republican Party of Virginia has been made aware of hateful and divisive comments made by a local county chair during a recent event in Northern Virginia,” RPV wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “We strongly and unequivocally condemn these comments, which are in no way reflective of our values as a party.”

During the event, Pio discussed the situation in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel and the impact it is having here on Republicans.

“We have to look at this from a Gaza/Palestinian mindset instead from an American mindset,” Pio said during his comments.

He talked about how he believes the way for Republicans to win in Northern Virginia is to court Muslim voters.

“We as a committee have dedicated our future in Loudoun to the immigrant vote,” Pio continued. “I don’t care about the White man vote. I do not care about the Christian vote. All I care about is the migrant/immigrant community vote.”

Pio said that he has been trying for months to have Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visit a mosque in Loudoun County but has been unsuccessful.

Anderson told Virginia Scope that he wants RPV to be a big tent party and that he has heard from many Jewish Republicans who are offended by Pio’s comments.

“The Republican Party of Virginia is committed to fighting for the vote of EVERY Virginian – no matter their race, gender, faith, or background,” RPV wrote on Twitter. “We refuse to participate in the cynical identity politics game that pits Americans against one another and is an affront to the principles that our country was founded on.”

It was unclear at first who RPV was talking about in their statement as they did not name Pio specifically, but he quickly accepted responsibility and defended himself in a long thread on Twitter.

“It was me. I accept responsibility,” he wrote. “I became Chair of Loudoun Republicans due to my desire to fix Loudoun and turn it RED. In order to do that, we must reach out to our minority communities. There are over 150,000 citizens in Loudoun which are untouched people groups. We have Arabs, Latinos, Ethiopians, Indians, Koreans, Afghans, Africans, and more. For too long in Loudoun County, they have gone entirely untouched! If we want to inform these voters, then we must take the long road and wake these people up.”

RPV said that they will continue to support Israel as an ally and will address the situation with Pio internally.

“We reiterate that the Republican Party of Virginia unequivocally stands with our ally Israel and against anti-Semitism in any form,” they wrote. “On behalf of Republicans across the length and breadth of Virginia, we condemn these comments without equivocation and will address them as an internal party matter.”


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  1. Good morning,
    I do not see a career section on the website. So, here is my resume for any opened reporting or editing positions. Cheers, Dan Tyson

    DANIEL TYSON
    [email protected] |304-731-8884 | LinkedIn/Daniel-Tyson
    Winchester, VA and Dallas, TX
    SUMMARY
    Seasoned editorial professional with over 30 years of experience in the news industry, specializing in editorial leadership, strategic content development, and high-impact journalism. Proven track record in driving editorial direction, enhancing team performance, and delivering exceptional content that resonates with diverse audiences. Adept at managing large teams, overseeing complex editorial projects, and implementing innovative strategies that increase readership and engagement. Expertise in covering emerging markets, managing multi-platform content, and executing award-winning editorial projects. A results-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, consistently achieving measurable improvements in editorial quality, audience growth, and operational efficiency. Seeking a senior editorial role to leverage extensive experience in directing editorial operations and enhancing content strategies.
    MY SKILLS
    Operational
    Editorial planning, Content curation, Audience analysis, Workflow optimization, Deadline management, Resource allocation, Content syndication, Policy development, Strategic partnerships, Budget oversight, Multitasking, Research, Content marketing, Social media management, Competitive analysis, Brand consistency, Risk management, SEO optimization, Cross-department collaboration, Market trend analysis.
    Technical CMS management, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, AP Style, Digital publishing tools, SEO tools, Data analysis, Google Analytics, HTML/CSS basics, Social media analytics, Video editing software, Photo editing software, Content management systems (CMS), Email marketing platforms, News aggregation tools, Media monitoring tools, Digital ad platforms, CRM software, Content management databases, Multimedia storytelling, Cloud-based project management tools.
    Leadership & Communications Team mentoring, Public speaking, Negotiation, Conflict resolution, Editorial guidance, Staff training and development, Stakeholder engagement, Executive reporting, Cross-cultural communication, Media relations, Change management, Collaboration, Influencing skills, Emotional intelligence, Strategic thinking, Active listening, Coaching, Consensus building, Team motivation, Persuasive communication.
    Accomplishment Successfully led a newsroom turnaround, increasing ratings by 14% within eight months.
    Launched a new newspaper while balancing editorial responsibilities, achieving a 30% increase in press run within seven issues.
    Played a pivotal role in boosting regional contests participation by 30%, significantly enhancing company profits.
    Developed and executed content strategies that resulted in a 20% increase in online engagement across multiple platforms.
    Demonstrated an exceptional ability to make complex information easy to understand for a general readership audience, contributing to a 15% growth in readership.
    Continuing Education Graduated from several USDA continuing education programs related to federal budget and taxation.

    EDUCATION
    Bachelor of Arts
    Wheeling Jesuit College

    PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

    Regional Editor 2023 – Present
    ENR
    ● Directed editorial content for construction and engineering coverage across a five-state region, producing bi-monthly magazines and weekly newsletters.
    ● Spearheaded the planning and execution of coverage for newsworthy events, special sections, and awards, increasing regional readership by 25%.
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    ● Developed in-depth features on major construction projects, leading to a 20% increase in engagement on ENR.com.
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    ● Expanded social media presence, resulting in a 15% growth in followers and higher engagement rates.
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    Senior Writer 2021 – 2023
    Capital.com
    ● Covered emerging markets in Latin America, conducting interviews and researching market trends to deliver exclusive content.
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    Senior Writer 2019 – 2021
    LNG Publishing
    ● Specialized in the global base oil industry with a focus on Latin American markets, producing exclusive trade news for print and online.
    ● Coordinated content development from concept to publication, working closely with international editors and reporters.
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    ● Improved article turnaround times by 10% through effective project management and editorial processes.
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    Business Editor 2018 – 2019
    The Informer
    ● Maintained high-quality control over the paper’s business section, editing content on the impact of the natural gas industry and business trends.
    ● Enhanced business coverage by introducing new reporting techniques, leading to a 15% increase in readership for the business section.
    ● Assisted the Circulation Department, resulting in a 10% improvement in distribution efficiency and customer satisfaction.
    ● Wrote and edited in-depth articles on state government and local business issues, improving the publication’s reputation for investigative journalism.
    ● Implemented new editorial policies that improved content accuracy and reduced retraction rates by 8%.
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    ● Developed and managed editorial budgets, ensuring cost-effective content production and allocation of resources.
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    Executive Producer 2017 – 2018
    WVVA
    ● Led a large newsroom of 18 reporters, producers, videographers, and interns, achieving a 14% increase in ratings for the 5/6 PM newscasts.
    ● Developed long-form stories on local history and issues that resonated with the audience, enhancing viewer engagement by 20%.
    ● Coordinated story assignments to optimize newsroom efficiency, reducing production bottlenecks by 15%.
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    ● Fostered a culture of excellence, leading to the newsroom receiving several regional journalism awards.
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    ● Enhanced viewer engagement through innovative storytelling techniques, contributing to a 12% increase in viewership.
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    Business/Energy Reporter 2014 – 2017
    Beckley Register-Herald
    ● Delivered comprehensive coverage of regional coal company bankruptcies, breaking numerous business stories that were picked up by national outlets.
    ● Strengthened the paper’s business coverage, leading to a 10% increase in business section readership.
    ● Conducted in-depth interviews with industry experts, producing exclusive content that set the publication apart from competitors.
    ● Enhanced content quality by implementing a rigorous fact-checking process, reducing errors by 20%.
    ● Improved reader engagement through the introduction of interactive content elements, such as infographics and charts.
    ● Expanded the paper’s online presence, increasing digital readership by 15%.
    ● Played a key role in special projects, contributing to a 12% increase in advertising revenue for the business section.
    ● Developed a network of industry contacts that provided valuable insights and exclusive information for reporting.

    Managing Editor 2013 – 2014
    The Informer
    ● Directed all editorial operations for a regional newspaper, overseeing content strategy, production schedules, and staff management.
    ● Led a team of 20+ journalists, editors, and designers, resulting in a 15% increase in overall publication quality and reader satisfaction.
    ● Developed and implemented a new editorial vision that increased readership by 12% and attracted new advertisers, boosting revenue by 10%.
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    ● Managed editorial budgets, reducing costs by 8% while maintaining high standards of journalism.
    ● Enhanced the paper’s digital presence by launching an online edition, resulting in a 20% growth in web traffic within six months.
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    Editor 2008 – 2012
    West Virginia Standard Company
    ● Managed the editorial direction for a state-wide newspaper, overseeing content creation, editing, and final publication for all sections.
    ● Led a team of 15 reporters and editors, improving newsroom efficiency and reducing production time by 15%.
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    Mexico City Reporter / Congressional Reporter 1996 – 2008
    The Wall Street Journal
    ● Covered significant political, economic, and social developments in Mexico, providing in-depth analysis and exclusive reports that informed a global audience.
    ● Developed a strong network of sources within government, business, and civil society, securing exclusive interviews and breaking major stories.
    ● Led coverage of U.S. Congress, focusing on legislative developments, policy debates, and political dynamics that shaped national and international affairs.
    ● Launched a new newspaper initiative, overseeing all aspects from content planning to budget management, leading to a 30% increase in press run within the first seven issues.
    ● Coordinated with editors in New York and other international bureaus to align reporting with the newspaper’s global coverage strategy.
    ● Contributed to a series of award-winning reports on the impact of NAFTA, which significantly raised the newspaper’s profile in Latin American coverage.
    ● Wrote analytical and investigative pieces on key legislative issues, including federal budget policies, taxation, and international trade, increasing the newspaper’s influence in policy circles.

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