Category: 2009 election

Is Ronald Webb planning a run against Albert Pollard next year in the 99th District?

Albert Pollard (D) won the special election for the 99th House of Delegates District in February against Lee Anne Washington (R).

Rob Wittman (R) had previously represented the 99th District until he won a special election to replace the late Jo Ann Davis for the 1st Congressional District in December 2007.

Ronald Webb (R) previously ran against Albert Pollard for the 99th District in 2001, losing 38.47% to 61.49%.

From April to July 2008, Webb received $7,138.91 in contributions, including $4,763.91 from the First Congressional District of Virginia Republican Committee and a $1,225 contribution from himself.

In that same period, Webb spent $1,225 for a “campaign manager”, $895 on “political flyers”, and $2,128.20 on “political signs”.

Webb has also been sending letters to The Caroline Progress constantly attacking Albert Pollard.

So, is he considering a run next year?

No, no, no, no!

From NBC 12: Senate considers bill barring early setting of execution dates:

The General Assembly is considering legislation that would bar the state from setting an execution date for people convicted of the death penalty until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on any appeals on the merits of their cases.

A law that took effect in 1995 allowed execution dates to be set before an inmate’s appeals were exhausted. The idea behind the legislation was to shorten an appeals process that frustrated prosecutors and the families of murder victims.

The state Attorney General’s office says it opposes the legislation.

“The idea behind the legislation”? It does exactly what’s it’s supposed to do!

Yeah, sure, people like John Allen Muhammad and Paul Warner Powell deserve more time. Anyone remember the Briley Brothers back in the 1980s? Maybe they should have been allowed to sit on death row for a couple more years so they could try to escape again?

I guess we should let them sit on death row for 26 years like Stanley Tookie Williams.

This would be bill SB395 introduced by John Edwards (not that John Edwards!) (D-21) for those that are curious. The bill passed the Senate of Virginia’s Committee for Courts of Justice, 6-5.

Interestingly enough, Creigh Deeds who is running for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2009 voted against this bill in committee. Of course, that might have something to do with the demographics of his district (25th Senate of Virginia District): While he does represent the very liberal city of Charlottesville, he also represents rural areas that aren’t so liberal such as Bath and Buckingham counties (judging from the 2004 Presidential election results and the 2006 gay marriage constitutional amendment).

Either way, it could be a point of contention between Deeds and Brian Moran (46th House of Delegates District) who is also running for the Democratic nomination for Governor. I can imagine the attack ads and talking points in my head right now…

Anyway, complete breakdown of the committee vote:

YEAS–Marsh, Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Puller–6.

NAYS–Stolle, Quayle, Reynolds, Obenshain, Deeds–5.