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Election 2005
2005
Statewide and House of Delegates Primary Candidate Analysis
May 18, 2005
The interests of Virginia's hunting dog owners, their families and friends closely parallel those of many other citizens: fishermen, conservationists, wildlife lovers, farmers and pet owners. Organizations that attack sportsmen's enjoyment of their dogs and outdoor sports under the guise of "animal welfare" have a larger agenda; they wish to end or limit all hunting and fishing together with pet and livestock ownership.
The Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association (VHDOA) was formed specifically to counter these threats through education and informed political action. We actively lobby in the General Assembly and make a concerted effort to study those candidates seeking elected office. As the challenges to America's sporting and animal ownership traditions increase, it's vital that we elect leaders both capable and willing to meet the current and future tests.
There are an unusual number of open seat and competitive primary races this election year in Virginia. The GOP candidates for Lt. Governor and Attorney General are in very tight contests, as are the four Democrats running for Lt. Governor. In addition to selecting three of the major parties' candidates for statewide office, June 14, 2005 voting will decide many citizens' next Delegate. Also the primaries, not the November general election, in numerous instances, will determine our next generation of leaders.
Rather than scheduling district or state nominating conventions, both the Democratic and Republican parties will hold state-monitored primaries on the same day in local precinct polling locations. Any registered Virginian may vote in either party primary (not both), regardless of past voting history. Voter registration deadline is May 15th and the details may be found here.
Our analysis indicates there are many more close GOP House primary races than Democratic ones. November's election will determine the winners in a handful of districts, but a larger number of primary winners will get a free pass to the General Assembly, since they'll have no general election opposition. In fact, 84 House races currently have only one party's candidate on the November ballot.+ The two-party fall contests include fewer competitive races than in next month's primaries.
In addition to three open, single-party House seats, the June 14th contests will decide multiple same-party challenges to sitting incumbents. This unusual occurence stems from a small, anti-tax, socially fundamentalist group's displeasure with some GOP members' votes, including the one to break the 2004 state budget deadlock.
The Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association's grading of incumbent candidates is based on ~30 votes and actions affecting sportsmen and dog owners over the 2002-2005 sessions. The most important of these votes are described on our website's current and archived state issue pages. Our scoring methodology is explained at 2003 endorsements. Candidates without such voting histories were asked to complete our 2005 issue questionnaire.
This election is an exceptional opportunity for sportsmen and dog owners to shape Virginia's future governance. Not only are there very competitive statewide races this year, the combination of retirements and intra-party challenges guarantees a minimum of eleven new faces in the House, with at least three 2006 freshmen added to the critical Agriculture Committee, the body which has jurisdiction over all hunting, fishing and animal issues. Primary turnouts typically average only 10-12% of registered voters. Make a difference! The world is governed by those that show up!!
May 18, 2005
The interests of Virginia's hunting dog owners, their families and friends closely parallel those of many other citizens: fishermen, conservationists, wildlife lovers, farmers and pet owners. Organizations that attack sportsmen's enjoyment of their dogs and outdoor sports under the guise of "animal welfare" have a larger agenda; they wish to end or limit all hunting and fishing together with pet and livestock ownership.
The Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association (VHDOA) was formed specifically to counter these threats through education and informed political action. We actively lobby in the General Assembly and make a concerted effort to study those candidates seeking elected office. As the challenges to America's sporting and animal ownership traditions increase, it's vital that we elect leaders both capable and willing to meet the current and future tests.
There are an unusual number of open seat and competitive primary races this election year in Virginia. The GOP candidates for Lt. Governor and Attorney General are in very tight contests, as are the four Democrats running for Lt. Governor. In addition to selecting three of the major parties' candidates for statewide office, June 14, 2005 voting will decide many citizens' next Delegate. Also the primaries, not the November general election, in numerous instances, will determine our next generation of leaders.
Rather than scheduling district or state nominating conventions, both the Democratic and Republican parties will hold state-monitored primaries on the same day in local precinct polling locations. Any registered Virginian may vote in either party primary (not both), regardless of past voting history. Voter registration deadline is May 15th and the details may be found here.
Our analysis indicates there are many more close GOP House primary races than Democratic ones. November's election will determine the winners in a handful of districts, but a larger number of primary winners will get a free pass to the General Assembly, since they'll have no general election opposition. In fact, 84 House races currently have only one party's candidate on the November ballot.+ The two-party fall contests include fewer competitive races than in next month's primaries.
In addition to three open, single-party House seats, the June 14th contests will decide multiple same-party challenges to sitting incumbents. This unusual occurence stems from a small, anti-tax, socially fundamentalist group's displeasure with some GOP members' votes, including the one to break the 2004 state budget deadlock.
The Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association's grading of incumbent candidates is based on ~30 votes and actions affecting sportsmen and dog owners over the 2002-2005 sessions. The most important of these votes are described on our website's current and archived state issue pages. Our scoring methodology is explained at 2003 endorsements. Candidates without such voting histories were asked to complete our 2005 issue questionnaire.
This election is an exceptional opportunity for sportsmen and dog owners to shape Virginia's future governance. Not only are there very competitive statewide races this year, the combination of retirements and intra-party challenges guarantees a minimum of eleven new faces in the House, with at least three 2006 freshmen added to the critical Agriculture Committee, the body which has jurisdiction over all hunting, fishing and animal issues. Primary turnouts typically average only 10-12% of registered voters. Make a difference! The world is governed by those that show up!!
2005 Virginia Primary Reviews and Endorsements
* denotes incumbents.
* denotes incumbents.
Governor Jerry Kilgore (R) very positive response George Fitch (R) NR ENDORSEMENT: Jerry Kilgore WON Lt. Governor William "Bill" Bolling (R) B, very positive response Sean Connaughton (R) positive response ENDORSEMENT: Bill Bolling WON Attorney General Steve Baril (R) very positive response Robert "Bob" McDonnell (R) C, positive response ENDORSEMENT: Steve Baril LOST District 23 Preston Bryant (R)* B Robert Garber (R) NR ENDORSEMENT: Preston Bryant WON 75-25 District 30 Edward "Ed" Scott (R)* A+ Mark Jarvis (R)^ NR ENDORSEMENT: Edward "Ed" Scott WON 65-35 District 33 Joe May (R)* C- WON Chris Oprison (R)^ positive response District 35 (Shannon seat) Jim Hyland (R) very positive response Arthur Purves (R) NR Ed Robinson (R) refused to answer questionnaire ENDORSEMENT: Jim Hyland WON 51-40-9 District 37 (Petersen open seat) Jim Kaplan (R) NR John Mason (R) NR WON District 41 (Dillard open seat) William A. Finerfrock (R) positive response Michael J. Golden (R)^ positive response ENDORSEMENT: Michael J. Golden WON 74-26 District 50 Harry Parrish (R)* C Steve Chapman (R)^ NR ENDORSEMENT: Harry Parrish WON 55-45 District 54 Robert "Bobby" Orrock (R)* B Shaun Kenney (R)^ semi-negative response ENDORSEMENT: Bobby Orrock WON 55-45 District 55 Frank Hargrove (R)* D Rod Clemmons (R) positive response ENDORSEMENT: Rod Clemmons LOST 26-74 District 67 Gary Reese (R)* C- Chris Craddock (R)^ positive response WON District 82 Harry R. "Bob" Purkey (R)* C Peter W. Schmidt (R) NR ENDORSEMENT: Bob Purkey WON 63-37 |
Lt. Governor Viola Baskerville (D) D Phillip Puckett (D) C Chap Petersen (D) D+ Leslie Bryne (D) D WON ENDORSEMENT: Phillip Puckett LOST District 37 (Petersen open seat) David Bulova (D) NR WON Janet Oleszek (D) NR District 45 (Van Landingham open seat) David Englin (D) NR WON Libby Garvey (D) positive response Richard Hobson (D) NR James Lay (D) NR Laura Mandala (D) NR Elsie Mosqueda (D) NR ENDORSEMENT: Libby Garvey LOST 25-30 District 57 (Van Yahres open seat) Rich Collins (D) Very positive response Clement "Kim" Tingley (D) NR David Toscano (D) non-responsive reply ENDORSEMENT: Rich Collins LOST 24-54 District 71 (Baskerville open seat) Melvin D. Law (D) NR Jennifer L. McClellan (D) NR WON District 74 Floyd Miles (D)* D Donald McEachin (D) NR WON 51-49 District 75 (Paul Councill open seat) Jim Councill (D) very positive response Jerry Flowers (D) very positive response Deborah Goodwyn (D) marginal response John Nicholson (D) positive response R C Tyler (D) WON 38-33 District 90 Algie T. Howell, Jr. (D)* C WON Keela A. Boose (D) NR |
^ denotes a VCAPAC supported candidate.
NR denotes no response to VHDOA's candidate questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to sportsmen's and dog owners' rights.
+ Virginia's primary filing deadline passed on April 15, 2005. However, local party endorsed candidates may file as late as June 14, 2005. Hence, it's likely more than 16 House races will be contested in November, some of them seriously, others more nominally.
NR denotes no response to VHDOA's candidate questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to sportsmen's and dog owners' rights.
+ Virginia's primary filing deadline passed on April 15, 2005. However, local party endorsed candidates may file as late as June 14, 2005. Hence, it's likely more than 16 House races will be contested in November, some of them seriously, others more nominally.
Copyright © 2005 VHDOA