Morgan Griffith has won the Republican nomination in the 9th District.

More later…

I have often used the saying that “it takes a special kind of candidate to run for Congress” when talking with fellow political activists and friends.  In this day and age that is very true.  I believe that this year in VA9, Morgan Griffith is that special kind of candidate and Republicans should nominate him at the Convention on Saturday.

Let’s face it.  Running for Congress is the big leagues in politics.  In the case of VA9, the race will be the equivalent of running a statewide race in a state such as New Jersey.  The 9th District is very large in size and will only get bigger in next year’s redistricting process.  Not just any person can run a successful campaign for Congress.  It takes much experience and political skill.  Running for Congress is not like running for Board of Supervisors or even Sheriff in local government.  Running for Congress is a mega campaign.

Running for Congress in this modern era, like it or not, requires lots of money to get your message out and to be competitive.  Boucher purportedly already has $2 Million at his disposal and can easily raise much more if need be by using his advantage as an incumbent.  Only a special kind of candidate can raise that kind of money to compete and Morgan Griffith has already demonstrated he is on the path by raising in excess of $100,000 for this race so far.  He is well on his way at raising the cash needed.  Winning in the 9th will require expending between $1 Million to $3 Million.  Griffith also has good name recognition and is in a key position as the Majority Leader in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Much has been made about the fact that Griffith doesn’t live in the district and that will continue to be a topic of debate if he is the GOP nominee.  Under the Constitution of the United States, federal, and Virginia law, residency in a Congressional District is not required to be a candidate.  The Supreme Court of the United States has also addressed this issue in the past by saying states could not impose more restrictions than those spelled out in the Constitution to be a member of Congress.  Griffith has stated at our Smyth County Republican meetings that he sleeps 30 feet from the district line.  When redistricting happens next year, I am sure his property will be well within the confines of the 9th District.  Some have also labeled him as an “outsider.”  This is hard argument to make.  Griffith attended Emory & Henry College in Washington County.  As Majority Leader, he must frequently work with our legislative delegation in SWVA on key issues.  Living 30 feet from the district line is not really that much of being an outsider when you have to do much of your business and shopping in the 9th as Griffith does.

I also am tempted to say that it is probably a very common occurrence today for candidates to live outside the Congressional districts they seek to represent or do represent in their states.  I tried to find some statistics on the matter, but could not easily find them.

Also, here is another interesting point to ponder about residency.  Hypothetically, if Griffith wanted to run for Congress, and did so in the 6th District where he technically lives, he would be redistricted out of his district more than likely next year if he did win.  It makes no sense to run in a district that would be potentially leaving you behind the following year.

Some of the other candidates have said “nominate me and the money will come.”  That is in large part wishful thinking.  The national campaign committees look at each race just like you would in making a business investment.  Those committees are not going to drop money on a district where a candidate does not have a high likelihood of winning.  So far, Morgan Griffith has stayed on target and met the goals of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).  He is the only candidate of the 6 Republicans in VA9 to be considered.  The other 5 candidates are seriously missing out on money that could be raised under Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules pre-convention.  Griffith has been capitalizing upon this and has of course raised over $100,000.  In fact, recently Griffith has being filing “large contribution” filings with the FEC which are required within 48 hours of larger contributions being made.

I have nothing against the other 5 candidates for the nomination.  All are nice people.  I would suggest that they consider seeking local or state office and perfect their political skills there before considering a run for Congress again.  I hope that all the unsuccessful candidates for the nomination stay active in GOP politics.  Many of them have great ideas and are true assets to the Republican Party.

A final word.  Unity is important.  After the Convention on Saturday, I hope that all Republicans, regardless of whom they supported for the nomination, work together to defeat Rick Boucher.  Defeating an entrenched incumbent will be very, very difficult.  But, this is the most opportune year to do it.   I have had countless Boucher supporters state to me that they never will vote for him again.  Some of these supporters have said they have voted for Boucher everytime since his first election.  With Congress being the only election on the ballot in November in most places, turnout will be key to unseating Boucher.

Morgan Griffith is the only GOP candidate who can run a serious race against Boucher.

Let’s defeat Rick Boucher!!!

Via the Roanoke Times, Delegate Morgan Griffith of Salem has officially filed his nomination papers and paid the fee to seek the Republican nomination for the 9th Congressional District at the May 22 convention.  March 1 is the filing deadline for candidates for the Republican nomination.

The convention will be held on May 22 at Ft. Chiswell High School in Wythe County beginning at 10:00am, with delegate registration starting at 8:00am.  Individual county/city GOP committees are already establishing procedures for election of delegates to the Convention.  You can see the processes for each unit on the 9th District GOP web site at www.va9gop.org.

Last night Delegate Morgan Griffith issued a press release (see story/text here) entitled “9th District Legislators Declare Support for Griffith for Congress” announcing the support of Delegate Carrico, Senator Wampler,  Delegate Kilgore, Senator Smith, Delegate Crockett-Stark, Delegate Nutter, Delegate Morefield, and Delegate Poindexter.  Carrico, Kilgore, and Wampler had been rumored to be possible candidates for the nomination.  If they are throwing their support to Griffith, as it looks like in this press release, I think we can definitely rule them out as wanting to seek the office.

Further to add to the situation, the press release is ended with the text “PAID FOR BY MORGAN GRIFFITH FOR CONGRESS”

It looks like this is an “all but certain” race for Griffith now.  The filing deadline is March 1 so we should hear about his official papers being filed soon.

The road back to Washington for Representative Rick Boucher (D) for re-election to a 15th term is likely going to be a tough one compared to what Boucher is usually up against.  It has often been popular sentiment that Boucher would have this seat for as long as he wanted it due to his usual 60+ percent victories.  Times may have now changed due to President Obama’s policies along with Boucher’s support of the cap and trade legislation.  Additionally, Boucher’s early and continuing support of Obama in the campaign may come back to be an issue.  Check out this piece in the Washington Post.

Persons seeking the Republican nomination for the seat must file their paperwork with the district chair by March 1 along with a $500 filing fee.  You can see the convention call on the 9th District web site here.  That said, there are only six days for any “big name” candidates to make up their minds and jump in.  So far as of this writing the following people have submitted the paperwork and paid the fee:  Adam Light, Jessee Ring, Dave Moore, William Carr and Brandon Roop.  Notably absent from the list is Jim BeBout who announced he was running last year at a Tea Party and was campaigning last week as the keynote speaker at a Washington County Republican Party dinner.  BeBout may be waiting to the last minute to file which might be a smart move to be able to judge the field of competition.  Jessee Ring has visited us in Smyth County and made a presentation.  The rest I know nothing about.

One”big name” that looks to be making the plunge is Majority Leader of the House of Delegates Morgan Griffith (Salem). See this story from Sunday in the Roanoke Times.  Griffith technically lives in the 6th District although his property joins the 9th District from reports.  Apparently a quirk in Virginia law allows anyone to run in any district in Virginia.  It actually appears that the U.S. Constitution along with the U.S. Supreme Court holding in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton (and possibly other cases) only requires a member of the House to be an inhabitant of the state represented, not specifically the district.  Also, it is worth noting that after redistricting in 2011, Griffith’s entire property will likely be in the 9th anyhow.

Griffith attended college in the 9th District, Emory & Henry College, from 1976 to 1980 according to his House biography page. E&H is located in Washington County, about 7 miles out of Abingdon.

It should be an exciting time in the 9th District this election season.  A lot of Democrats and usual Boucher supporters are having more second thoughts than usual.  Hopefully after the nominating process is done people will be united behind the candidate.  I hope that we end up with a candidate who will get national backing and be able to defeat Boucher in November.  So far it looks like Morgan Griffith may just be that candidate.

Today I attended the Inauguration ceremonies at the Virginia State Capitol for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General.

It was a perfect day for an inauguration.  The temperature was in the lower 50’s and the sun was out.

It was great to witness the orderly and very ceremonial transfer of power as one administration handed off to the incoming administration.

I wish Governor McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bolling, and Attorney General Cuccinelli well for their terms of office.  I am confident that they will do a great job in getting Virginia back on track in these tough times and maintaining the Commonwealth as the best state in the nation.

Well, I have sort of been on hiatus for awhile now.  Lots to do with work and being a political party chairman along with working on the recent successful November campaigns.  So much I have to do but so little time to do it.

We’re not done in Smyth County yet as we have a special election next Tuesday, January 12 for Circuit Court Clerk.  There are a total of 7 candidates and I believe that our candidate, Robert Odum, has a great shot at winning.  Whomever wins will have about 6 years of the term left to serve.  Long time Democrat Clerk Jimmy Warren passed away back in August prompting the calling of the special election.  Warren had served as clerk for 35 years.

It is going to be great to finally have a good Republican governor again!  It has been too long.  I hope that Virginia gets back on the right track and the McDonnell Administration works to repair the inefficiencies and damages from the Warner-Kaine Administrations.

I am looking forward to the inauguration in Richmond.  I am planning on being there.

It is time that party ID on the ballot be extended to local offices like Board of Supervisors and Constitutional Offices in Virginia.

Under current Virginia law, only indicators for political party candidates (or independents) for federal, statewide, or General Assembly positions are printed on the ballots.  Local office candidates such as those for Constitutional Offices (circuit court clerks, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, sheriffs, treasurers, and commissioners of revenue) and Board of Supervisors nominated by a political party do not have any indicators beside their names on the ballot.  Yet, of course local political parties can nominate and place on the ballot candidates for these offices.  As a party chair I have to fill out and return a certification form for our local candidates for these offices to allow them ballot access.  Seems that after that, there isn’t anything in the official processes that designate them as party candidates.

As with most local political parties, we spend a considerable amount of time seeking out candidates for offices, holding meetings to nominate those candidates, assisting them with their campaigns, along with providing money and resources.  Yet, when the election comes a voter who wanted to vote a Republican ticket could be faced with two or more names for an office and be unsure of who is the Republcian candidate.  Granted, a voter should be better informed on their own and know the candidates before hand.

I’m glad that the 2009 Republican Party of Virginia Convention adopted a resolution in support of extending party ID to local elections.

Bottom line is that if the law provides for the ability of a local political party to nominate candidates for local offices, the ability for that candidate to be identified on the ballot as a Republican or Democrat should be there.  Contact your General Assembly member and encourage them to fix this problem.

A company would like to locate a new truck stop at Exit 24 in Meadowview in Washington County.  The proposed site would only be around 1000 feet from Meadowview Elementary School and forever change the scenery in that community.  People are lining up on both sides of the issue.  The Washington County leaders have held a couple public hearings on the issue and haven’t really reached a consensus.  There has been a truck stop in Glade Spring at Exit 29 for years now.

I say that if Washington County doesn’t want the truck stop, bring it up the Interstate to Smyth County.  We have some good land along the Interstate that would be perfect for a truck stop.

An interesting ballot scenario will play out in Russell County in November.  Among the elections for Governor/Lt. Governor/Attorney General/House of Delegates, Russell County will be having two special elections for constitutional officers.

The Democrat treasurer of Russell County retired in May after many years of service.  Similarly the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mike Bush (D), was appointed to a Juvenile & Domestic Relations judgeship for the 29th District in April.  Following this, former blogger Brian Patton (D) of Dickenson County, whom had served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney under Bush, was named as interim Commonwealth’s Attorney after Bush left office by the circuit court.  Patton had relocated to Russell County several weeks before the appointment.

On last Friday, the Russell County Republicans nominated former Russell County Circuit Court Clerk Dollie Compton, whom lost her 2007 re-election bid by 451 votes to the Democrat challenger, to be the Republican Treasurer nominee.  Also nominated was her son Nick Compton to be the Republican nominee for Commonwealth’s Attorney.  Both Dollie, who also is an attorney, and Nick presently work for Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tamara Neo (R).

Also in the race are an independent candidate for Treasurer, Sheryl Taylor, who was appointed by the circuit court to be interim treasurer, but lost the fight for the Democrat nomination to Board of Supervisors Member Billy Wampler of Castlewood.  According to the SBE, Jay Steele of Lebanon has also filed for Commonwealth’s Attorney as an independent.  Patton did receive the Democratic nomination to run for Commonwealth’s Attorney.

It should be an interesting race.  This might be the first, or at least a rare time, in history that a mother and son have been running for offices at the same time.  It probably will make for some media coverage.  The local political climate of Russell County is Democratic.  All Constitutional Offices and Board of Supervisors members are Democrats.  It will be interesting to see if the Republicans can cut into that Democratic rule.