Tim Kaine

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, who is campaigning for re-election this November, will be in Appomattox on Friday for a meet and greet.

He will be available from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the opening of the Appomattox Democratic Headquarters located at 174 Main St.

“Just think of it more as like a town-hall-esque setting,” said Press Secretary Brandon Gassaway on Tuesday. “He’ll do some time where he’ll mingle with folks and shake hands and do that kind of thing.”

Gassaway said that Kaine will have a campaign speech and listen to comments and concerns from the community.

He is expected to discuss economic issues, but Gassaway said that because the meet and greet will be an open dialogue, topics could range anywhere from from healthcare to gun safety, or “a whole myriad of things because usually the room drives the conversation.”

“What we’re running on is a Virginia that works for all, which the economy plays a big part in ...” Gassaway said. “Driving economic policy is definitely top on our list of priorities.”

Kaine has served as a senator from Virginia since 2013. Prior to that, he was the state governor from 2006 to 2010 and chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011. He has a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and started his public service career in 1994 when he was elected to the Richmond city council. He soon served as the mayor from 1998 to 2001 and became the lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 before being elected as the governor.

Both Kaine and U.S. Senator Mark Warner recently praised the town of Appomattox for receiving $3,501,000 in federal funding to support improvements to the existing sewage treatment and collection system to avoid health hazards. The funding will replace and repair collection lines, rehabilitate manholes, construct a new wet well and new wastewater pump station, level sensors and improve gas monitoring.

Gassway said that Kaine will likely mention that accomplishment for the town.

“We are pleased that Appomattox will receive funding to support the renewal of aging infrastructure. This funding will help alleviate sanitary hazards so we can protect the health of the community,” the Senators said in a joint press release.

The sewage treatment and collection system in Appomattox serves 700 residential users and 70 businesses.

The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. Funding from this program is used to ensure clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage for households and businesses in rural areas.

The chairman of the Appomattox County Democratic Party could not be reached for comment.