I won't be voting in
However, if YOU are planning to vote
10th HOD Republican Primary:
Whoever wins the primary will earn the right to run against Dave Butler (D). Dave is currently on the Leesburg Town Council, he's well-known in the area, and well-liked. I certainly like him a lot and would vote for him without hesitation if I lived in his district.
I've heard a boatload of complaints about how many mailers/flyers/emails from Minchew and Whitbeck have been sent in this race...to people outside the district and to people who are strong Dems. Really? Why waste your money that way?
John Whitbeck is on the Lansdowne HOA, and has been called out for taking donations from people with business before the board, and with whom the board has contracts, including MCDean and Open Band.
Randy Minchew has been involved in local politics and local affairs for a long time, has served on the EDC and the REDC, and has close ties to Gov. McDonnell. He went to high school with my husband, and he's a pretty decent character, though I disagree with him about almost everything.
I know very little about Cara Townsend. Judging from her website, I wouldn't agree with her about much, either.
13th Sen Republican Primary
The winner of this primary will run against Shawn Mitchell (D) in the General. I haven't yet met Shawn, but I've heard good things about him. He's a returned Iraq veteran, and owns a successful local business. He definitely has my vote.
As for the primary, if yard signs could vote, Dick Black would get this one judging by what I've seen in my wanderings about the Broadlands/Ashburn area.
If you don't know who Dick Black is, then you've never heard the stories of him handing out plastic fetuses in the House of Delegates. I've heard he also mailed them to elected officials, which was upsetting to more than one Legislative Aide who'd miscarried. When even the other hard-core anti-choice crowd thinks he's gone too far, it's a sign he shouldn't be elected.
John Stirrup is anti-immigrant and anti-choice in that order. He currently serves on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, and I have heard that he is generally easy to work with.
Bob FitzSimmonds seems, from his website, to be another anti-choice activist. Not much to choose between him and Dick Black.
31st Sen Democratic Primary
The winner of this primary will run against Caren Merrick (R) in the General. I know very little about Ms. Merrick, but her website reflects the very very very Blue nature of the district she's trying to win. No clue there as to where she stands on Choice issues. What a contrast from the Republicans in the 13th!
On to the contestants in this race. I've never met Barbara Favola, if she's come to LCDC meetings, then it was after I left. She is currently on the Arlington County Board, serving as Chair. I have heard that she has taken donations from people with business before the Board. She has strong support from the Democratic Powers That Be.
I've met and spoken with Jaime Areizaga-Soto. He is smart, on the ball, and has strong grass-roots support (as demonstrated by positive posts by bloggers). He has loaned his campaign upwards of $200,000, but he's also raised over $100,000, so he's proven he's got the fundraising chops to be in the game.
87th HOD Republican Primary
It's no secret that in the General, I'll be voting for Mike Kondratick (D). He's a thoughtful, smart, compassionate person and I think that he will be a terrific representative.
As to the Republicans vying for the right to run against him, I have never seen so many yard signs for a primary. Both Jo-Ann Chase and David Ramadan are spending money on signs like nobody's business.
Ms. Chase and I have met on numerous occasions, most notably when a WaPo reporter did a piece on Back To School Night at Eagle Ridge in 2007 (can't find it on their site, darn it). Most of what I know about her is that she is as enthusiastic a supporter of her candidates as I am of mine.
I have never met Mr. Ramadan. I have seen several of his mailers, which have come to our house. Again, why would you spend money mailing something to an elected official from the opposing party? Makes no sense.
I live in the Whitbeck/Minchew "I'm more macho than you" district. I used to think Minchew was a pretty decent guy. After enduring mailer after mailer after mailer from him featuring him posing with his buddies (including Allen, Wolfe & McDonnell) the final straw was when he sent a strong anti-choice mailer in a closed envelope, addressed only to my husband (all other mailers addressed to the family).
ReplyDeleteI have heard nothing from Whitbeck, so, although I don't like him either, at least he has proven he is more of a fiscal conservative.
I am rooting for Cara, because Whitbeck and Minchew have sprayed far too much testosterone in our district, and she hasn't been professing her big connections as a way to push a strong anti-choice agenda. Minchew is far more dangerous than the other two!