By Debbie Adams
Vinton’s Mildred Scott held a private “Meet and Greet” fundraiser for Congressman Ben Cline on October 24 at the Vinton War Memorial. Cline was running for his second term in the United States House of Representatives serving the Sixth District, first elected in 2018. He served from 2002-2018 in the Virginia General Assembly, representing the 24th District.
Scott might be as well known in the Roanoke Valley as Cline for her support for the Republican Party, but also for her phenomenal cakes, her cooking and catering, the weddings she plans, her work for the Town of Vinton and Roanoke County, and for her galas.
Cline was present at the fundraiser, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and several well-known local Republicans, including State Senator David Suetterlein, Virginia Delegate Chris Head, Phil North and David Radford from the Roanoke County Board of Representatives, Trixie Averell, Ann Ferguson (wife of the late county treasurer Fred Anderson), as well as Virginia Beach Delegate Glen Davis, who represents the 84th District and is running for lieutenant governor in next year’s state election.
Kaiser Roop, age 14, a student at Roanoke Valley Christian School, was attending his first Republican dinner. Roop said he became interested in the Republican Party because he “didn’t like what people on the left are doing.”
Davis introduced Representative Cline, saying that “he knows how to get bills passed.”
In his remarks, Cline said that he treasured his time in past years serving in the Virginia General Assembly, which is “truly a public service,” with long hours and little compensation. He values his upbringing in the Commonwealth, where he learned his core values focusing on “faith, family, personal responsibility, and community.” That’s why he chose to raise his own family in Botetourt County, he said.
Cline thanked Scott for organizing the dinner, calling her a personal friend who has “watched our girls grow up.”
About 90 guests attended the dinner. Scott, age 92, catered the event as usual. That’s one reason her events are so popular – she is known as a wonderful cook and event organizer. Her coconut cakes are coveted; in fact, she auctioned one off for $200 after the dinner as part of the fundraising.
At one point in her long career, Scott worked for Fred Anderson in the Roanoke County Treasurer’s office and that’s where her enthusiasm for the Republican Party blossomed. She has been a member of the Roanoke Valley Republican Women’s Club for many years and has held most offices. She even worked for the Town of Vinton Finance Department, ultimately for five years, after being asked to work “just during tax season.”
Guests and servers at the dinner wore masks and gloves and observed social distancing guidelines during the occasion.
More photographs are available on the Vinton Messenger Facebook page and at www.vintonmessenger.com.
