A Westmoreland County doctor plans to challenge Rep. Rob Wittman for the 1st District congressional seat.
Dr. Keith Hummel, an emergency-room physician, hopes to win the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Wittman for the seat in November’s election. No others have filed as candidates.
Wittman won the seat just last December in a special election, held after Rep. Jo Ann Davis died of breast cancer. The 1st District extends from Fauquier County to York County.
Hummel, 57, who also runs a vineyard and winery, has never run for political office. He said he’s running now because his own populist viewpoint isn’t being represented.
“I’m running because I have a concern that we are losing our representative form of government. It is my perception that a lot of people in Congress, their ear is held by the lobbyists,” Hummel said. “We need someone who is not a professional politician for the 1st Congressional District, who will listen to the people, who will put the interests of the people and the nation ahead of the interests of the lobbyists.”
Hummel thinks this is the year for a self-described populist to do well because the presidential election campaign has galvanized many people who have felt disenfranchised, and Hummel says they’re the kind of people to whom his populism appeals.
Category: 2008 election
Hillary Clinton to extradite OPEC leaders to the United States?
Or something? The Politico:
Clinton’s attacks on oil prices as artificially inflated, Enron-style, keep escalating, and today she appeared to threaten to break up the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
“We’re going to go right at OPEC,” she said. “They can no longer be a cartel, a monopoly that get together once every couple of months in some conference room in some plush place in the world, they decide how much oil they’re going to produce and what price they’re going to put it at,” she told a crod at a firehouse in Merrillville, IN.
“That’s not a market. That’s a monopoly,” she said, saying she’d use anti-trust law and the World Trade Organization to take on OPEC.
Let’s see: United States anti-trust law only applies in the U.S. of A. OPEC is based in Vienna, Austria. The closest countries to the United States that are members of OPEC are Venezuela, Ecuador, and Algeria.
Further, OPEC is fall from a monopoly, they only account for 41.7% of the world’s oil production. Total non OPEC counties count for more (58.2%), so let’s launch an anti-trust investigation into them.
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) which includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico account for 23.8% of world production. Don’t forget to investigate them.
And you know what OPEC would do if Hillary actually attempted this act of outright stupidity? Stop supplying oil to the United States.
She used to be a lawyer, right?
So much for the “world’s smartest woman”.
Caroline County news roundup
Bowling Green Town Council Election: The Free Lance–Star:
Eight candidates will vie for seven seats on the Bowling Green Town Council in Tuesday’s election.
Two current members, Susan Sili and T. Scott Haley are not running for re-election, but three new faces have joined the race.
Mayor David Storke is running for the seat again unopposed.
The full story has more along with candidate profiles.
Superintendent search: The Free Lance–Star:
Nine of Caroline County’s 26 applicants for superintendent are former or current school chiefs.
The candidates include four assistant superintendents, six central-office administrators, four principals or school administrators and three others.
Sixteen men and 10 women–10 of whom belong to racial minorities–applied for the position. Twelve of the candidates live outside Virginia.
Again, full story has more.
Has the Democratic Party of Virginia written off the First Congressional District?
They don’t bother to list the candidates that are running for the Democratic nomination on their website.
For those that are curious, the candidates are:
The Democratic candidate will be chosen by a convention in Williamsburg on May 17th.
Classy: “We are past the point of debates.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore has rejected a call by Del. Robert G. Marshall of Prince William County to hold five debates before Republican delegates choose the party’s U.S. Senate nominee at a convention May 31.
“We are past the point of debates,” Gilmore spokeswoman Ana Gamonal said. “Seventy-five percent of the delegates already have been elected, and they know where Jim Gilmore stands.”
[…]
Marshall said debates would be useful because Gilmore has taken inconsistent positions on such issues as abortion and illegal immigration. He said there have been no more than six joint appearances.
“This is a disservice to Republican voters,” Marshall said.
SNAFU at the State Board of Elections
From a recent press release from the State Board of Elections:
A Democratic primary election, to determine the party’s candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, will be held in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th Congressional Districts.
That would be a negatory, sirs.
The First Congressional District Democratic Committee is using a convention, not a primary, to decide their candidate for November.
From the First Congressional District’s Democratic Committee’s Call to Convention:
CALL TO CONVENTION 2008
FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE[…]
3. Purposes. The purposes of the District Convention shall be:
A. To nominate a candidate to the U.S. House of Representatives;
Gilmore and Marshall have company…
The WaPo: Another Conservative Enters Senate Race:
There are now three candidates running for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va).
Robert D. “Bob” Berry, a longtime conservative activist from Springfield, says he filed paperwork with the state party last month and has begun making the rounds to local GOP committees.
“The Republican Party is losing its way on a number of very important issues and it needs some serious guidance in terms of resting on its foundational principles,” said Berry, who will face former governor James S. Gilmore III and Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) at the GOP state convention in May. “I decided to run because the party needs a lot of help in returning to its roots.”
Video: Albert Pollard is sworn in.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqsWzfka4h4]
[Video credit: Assembly Access]
Local General Assembly/election coverage
How do I manage to do both of those in the same post? Because I’m just that good.
As noted previously, Caroline County will not receive funding to convert the Commonwealth’s Attorney position to a full-time position despite there being six budget amendments sponsored bipartisanly by fifteen (15) different Delegates and Senators. Somehow Buckingham County received funding to convert to full-time despite Caroline County having a population that is 66.04% more than Buckingham.
Another of Delegate Chris Peace’s amendments (besides the one for Commonwealth’s Attorney funding) was to provide $25,000 to the fund the construction of the Dawn Library. Killed.
Another of Peace’s amendments was one to provide $50,000 to Quin Rivers Inc., a community action agency, which covers the local area (including Caroline County). Killed.
Say thanks to the *bleep*s on the House Appropriations Committee.
Senator Ryan McDougle has introduced a bill, SB505, that would change Bowling Green’s charter. One of the biggest chances is the elections for mayor and town council:
An election shall be held on the first Tuesday of May, 2008, and every two years thereafter. At the election to be held in May, 2008, the candidate for the office of mayor receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of four years; the four candidates for councilmen receiving the highest number of votes, respectively, at such election shall be elected for a term of four years, and the three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes, respectively, at such election shall be elected for a term of two years; in the event that the three councilmen receiving the next highest number of votes cannot be determined because of a tie in the vote, the candidates who have tied in the votes shall draw lots to determine who shall serve the two-year term. Thereafter as the terms of the mayor and the members of the council, respectively, expire, their successors shall be elected for terms of four years. The mayor and councilmen elected at such elections shall enter upon their duties the first day of July next succeeding. Any vacancies on the council occurring other than by expiration of terms shall be filled, from the electors of the town, for the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the council.
In English: For the May 2008 election, the mayor would be elected for a four-year term, while the top four vote getters for the town council would serve a four-year term. The bottom three vote getters would have a two year term, then after the next election, those three seats would have four-year terms as well.
To make it simple: Mayor, four town council seats, elections in: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, etc.
Three town council seats, elections in: 2008, 2010, 2014, 2018, etc.
The bill would also remove the salary cap for town council members and the mayor.
This bill has passed the Senate and is currently in the House of Delegate’s Committee on Counties, Cities and Town.
Senator McDougle has also introduced SJ51, Celebrating the life of Roger William Edwards:
WHEREAS, Roger William Edwards of Bowling Green, a respected citizen and longtime general registrar of Caroline County for nearly 25 years, died on December 12, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards was born in Pulaski County, the son of the late Andrew and Mildred Edwards; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards served in the United States Marine Corps in Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, and the Naval Weapons Station at Seal Beach, California, attaining the rank of sergeant; and
WHEREAS, before becoming Caroline County registrar, Roger Edwards served as an outstanding trooper for the Virginia State Police for 10 years; and
WHEREAS, a dedicated public servant and community supporter, Roger Edwards was appointed to the position of general registrar of Caroline County on April 1, 1983; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards was knowledgeable regarding state and local voting procedures and served as an invaluable and experienced advisor to all local candidates that ran for public office, as well as a mentor for other registrars across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career, Roger Edwards was always willing to share his considerable expertise with his colleagues, staff members, and volunteers; and
WHEREAS, because of his wealth of knowledge and professionalism, State Board of Elections officials would often call upon Roger Edwards for his opinion regarding potential changes to voting procedures; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards was immensely dedicated to his community, an enthusiastic supporter of many civic activities and organizations, always available to lend a helping hand to his fellow residents in need; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards was a faithful member of Bowling Green Baptist Church and active in the church’s many missions in the community; and
WHEREAS, Roger Edwards will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his loving family, his numerous friends and admirers, and the citizens of Caroline County; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine public servant and outstanding Virginian, Roger William Edwards; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Roger William Edwards as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.
Election Results for the 99th HOD — Pollard wins!
7:32 p.m.: Pollard is up 65.81% to 34.19% with Richmond and Westmoreland Counties reporting!
So far, he’s gotten a majority in every precinct!
7:48 p.m.: 64.06% to 35.94% with Richmond, Westmoreland, and parts of King George and Northumberland reporting. Still has a majority in every precinct.
8:08 p.m.: 63.20% to 36.78% (1,495 vote spread) with more of King George and Northumberland reporting in. Has a majority in every precinct except Shiloh (King George County).
8:32 p.m.: 59.45% to 40.50% (1,777 vote spread) with all but one a couple precincts (Monroe in King George County, and 3A, 4A, 5A in Northumberland County) reporting.
8:48 p.m.: Either way, I’m calling this (which I could have done at 7:00 p.m. — or a month ago); meet the new Delegate for the 99th District, Albert Pollard:
[Photo Credit: Fred2Blue]
Thanks to the voters of the 99th District for not electing that fear-mongering demagogue George Lee Anne Washington!
Looks like Robby Wittman found a great replacement for himself!
9:02 p.m.: 3A and 5A precincts in Northumberland County have reported (leaving only Monroe in King George County and 4A in Northumberland County to report): 59.55% Pollard, 40.40% Washington.
02/19/2008, 9:33 p.m.: ALL PRECINCTS ARE IN (I think): 57.57% Pollard, 42.39% Washington, 0.04% Write in.