• Photo

Legislative assistant Caleb Cox reviews paperwork with state Del. Anne Crockett-Stark. Contributed photo

Sphere IT

Save This Page

Reader Reaction

digg it

FCHS grad learning the legislative ropes

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Caleb Cox is taking a break from the classroom, but he’s found a new venue to broaden his education: the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
Cox, a 2003 graduate of Fort Chiswell High School, is the new legislative assistant for state Del. Anne Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville.
“In my heart, I wanted someone from my area who knows my people,” Crockett-Stark said.
Crockett-Stark represents Bland County and parts of Giles, Pulaski, Tazewell and Wythe counties.
After his graduation from Fort Chiswell, Cox attended the University of Tennessee where he earned a liberal arts degree in three and a half years.
“He wears these bright orange things,” Crockett-Stark said.
Following his college graduation, Cox returned to his old high school and served as a substitute teacher from February to December 2007, including a stint as a long-term substitute for a math class.
Cox, who was raised in Draper, credited Sherry Phipps, a business teacher at Fort Chiswell, and Sue Jones, a retired Fort Chiswell teacher, for recommending him for the legislative assistant opportunity.
Phipps said she’s a friend of Crockett-Stark’s and saw the opportunity to connect her with Cox as a way to help out two friends.
“He was a student of mine when he was in high school,” Phipps said about Cox. “He’s so easy-going and he blends in with everyone. He’s just a great guy.”
After an interview, Crockett-Stark hired Cox in early December 2007. Although she needed his help to prepare for the upcoming legislative session, Crockett-Stark said she was impressed that Cox juggled two jobs through the end of the semester.
“He really stuck to the job at Fort Chiswell and didn’t quit on them,” she said. “He kept a commitment.”
Cox said he’s now committed to Crockett-Stark, ideally at least through the end of her two-year term that just began in January. After getting political experience in Richmond, he said he plans to enter law school.
During December, Cox went through an orientation session in Richmond and helped out at Crockett-Stark’s Wytheville office in the evenings. Beginning in 2008, Cox started working for Crockett-Stark full time and made the move with her to Richmond at the start of the legislative session in early January.
As a legislative assistant, Cox performs a variety of duties. In general, he helps organize Crockett-Stark’s legislative affairs, with specific tasks including preparing a daily schedule, listening to constituents’ concerns and keeping an eye on bills.
Despite having a lot to learn, Cox said he hasn’t felt too overwhelmed so far.
“It’s gone smoothly,” he said. “I tried to go in with no preconceived notions of how it would be.”
Cox also said that more experienced legislative assistants for other delegates have been helpful at showing him the ropes.
“Everyone here is a support to one another,” he said.
In high school and college, Cox said he wasn’t a part of any political organizations or clubs.
Nevertheless, he said he’s long had an underlying passion for politics.
“I’ve always had an interest in the way government works,” he said.
In addition to his writing and computer skills, Crockett-Stark said she appreciates that Cox shares her commitment to the people of her district.
She added that he also has a similar outlook to her own on money matters.
“Fiscally, he’s conservative,” Crockett-Stark said. “I can’t get the boy to go out and treat me to dinner or anything.”
Phipps said she expects Cox to be successful in Richmond and in whatever career he eventually decides to pursue.
“He’s got such a wonderful outlook on life,” she said. “[Cox and Crockett-Stark] were perfect for each other.”
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .