The Case For Mike Wray

I've been very interested in the comments so far to the "case for" posts I've put up. Let me address one in particular to clear up any confusion. Someone complained awhile back that my posts didn't challenge the candidates' shortcoming. Of course they don't, that's not the point. I'm not doing Gwen Mason's oppo research for her. I realize all of our candidates' have shortcomings (as all candidates do) but I'm not going to waste my time tearing down our candidates. I'm setting forth the POSITIVE CASE FOR each and I'll leave the nastiness to others.

Today is Mike Wray's turn. Making the case for Mike is easy. I don't think there's any question his resume is the best and most traditional of any of the candidates. Resumes don't make great candidates but they don't hurt. Mike has been a businessman for decades in the Roanoke Valley, he's led numerous community activities and civic organizations and he's actually run for office and been elected in the 17th. I hear a lot of complaints about Brownlee is the AG race from Cuccinelli people that Brownlee isn't a proven campaigner with electoral history. I find it curious that these people aren't applying the same logic to the 17th.

The good thing with Mike, unlike Gwen Mason for example, is that he was not only elected, he actually accomplished things. Mike made economic development the centerpiece of his career and the results speak for themselves with hundreds of jobs created and millions in tax revenue generated. Unlike Gwen Mason who just makes stuff up about her record, Mike has a solid record we can all be proud of.

One other major plus for Mike in this primary is that he's from the County and has name recognition in the County. People often mistake the 17th for a City seat because Fralin held it but the truth is that a plurality of the votes will come from the County. Mike is the only County candidate and he'll be very tough to beat if he can lock down that support.

Now, I haven't done this with the others but let me address the one attack against Mike that is mainly coming from one of his opponent's supporters. If you're going to attack Mike Wray for not being "conservative" enough for you, back it up. Show us votes. I don't want to hear about third hand conversations overheard at cocktail parties and I'm tired of the guilt by association attacks you people want to make. Furthermore, it's just dumb to set up a 4 against 1 scenario which almost guarantees Mike will win. Let's explore these candidates' records, proposals, experiences, skills, etc. but leave the witch hunts out of it.

Another Question for Our Readers

Does the GOP still have a big tent mentatlity?

If so in what way?

If not is that a good thing?

Arlen Specter switches to the Dems

I will pose the question to the readers:

Is the GOP better off without Specter?

The Case For Chris Head

I had every intention of posting the "case for" each of our 5 candidates last week. As usual though, the week got away from me and I only got Melvin's and Josh's posted. Now I'm sitting in the airport on my out to San Francisco so I thought I'd take a minute to post the case for Chris Head.

I have not known Chris Head long (about a year). We actually met last year when he and his wife hosted a fundraiser for Bob Goodlatte at their beautiful home at the top of a mountain in Botetourt County. Chris immediately struck me as a great guy with a lot to offer but I had no idea he was interested in running someday.

With Chris, there are 2 major positives to his campaign that set him apart from his competitors. Resources and jobs creation.

Let's be honest, politics has become too much of a fundraising game. While I'm not a fan of the system, it is the system and we have to play to win within the system. As such, Chris' resources and connections give him a big leg up. If Chris is willing to dedicate his time and money to winning this election (which I fully expect he is) it will be hard for the others to keep pace. Let me be clear, Chris has been very successful in business but this isn't just about him using personal resources to "buy" an election. His business success has given him connections that will also be very helpful in his run. When you're hosting Congressional fundraisers at your home, you "know people."

Much much much more important to me though is Chris' resume. Everyone (even "don't blame me for our record unemployment" Gwen Mason) is talking about creating jobs. There is no question this is the single biggest issue in this campaign. With Chris, it's not just talk, he can back it up. Chris has literally created hundreds of good paying professional jobs. He knows what it takes to grow a business, meet a bottom line and compete in the marketplace. He also knows how stifling government regulation can be to a business and he'll bring a "William Fralinesque" perspective back to the House of Delegates.

Finally, there's no question Chris is running hard. My understanding is that he's already done 3 mailings and I'm beginning to see his signs pop up around town. If he keep this going through June he'll be formidable in the primary and beyond.

17th HOD Candidate Websites

Just added Mike Wray's website to our links on the right side of the page so all 5 candidates' sites are now listed. I encourage all of our readers to take a few minutes and check out each site as you evaluate these fine candidates.

2nd Annual Roanoke Valley Republican Barbecue

A new Republican tradition has been born in the Roanoke Valley. For those of you who came to the barbecue last year you know it was a huge success. Frankly, it was supposed to be a one time thing but it was so great we've decided to make it a tradition. Just like last year, there will be music, food, kids' games and more. Mark you calendars and tell all your friends.

WHAT: ROANOKE VALLEY REPUBLICAN BARBECUE
WHEN: JUNE 13TH FROM 4:00-6:00 PM
WHERE: FALLON PARK (CLICK HERE FOR A MAP)

More information to come shortly. Thanks to Mike Bailey for coordinating this event.

The Case For Josh Johnson

As I did yesterday with my "case for" Melvin Williams, I'm going to be posting a positive argument for supporting each of our 5 candidates in the 17th HOD. Today is Josh's turn.

As I had to do yesterday with Melvin, I must offer a caveat with Josh. Josh and I are both attorneys at Gentry Locke and I know Josh very well. However, unlike smaller firms, we have almost 50 lawyers spread out over 3 floors and, frankly, I rarely see Josh. Nonetheless, I want to be clear about that relationship lest I be accused of hiding bias. Now, why to support Josh?

Josh's biggest strength - his youth - is frankly his only identifiable weakness. It's a strength because he has energy, passion, new ideas, no baggage, etc. Our party is yearning for new, fresh leadership and I love the youth in this race (both Josh and Melvin). Of course I may be biased since I'm only 32 and many of you probably look at me as a know nothing snot nosed kid. Regardless, I look at the positive momentum young leaders have made in our local units and statewide and I can't help but think it's a plus.

More important to me with Josh though are his beliefs and his organization. Josh is a true conservative at heart. There is simply no question about it. Josh doesn't talk about it much but he is a minister in the Primitive Baptist denomination and this upbringing and his ministry have forged a true conservative world view.

As for organization, I give them some credit for their "poll" results but that's only a small issue to me. Of more importance is the fact that a 30 year old political neophyte has raised over $20,000 to date (I hear close to $22,000) and filed his SBE paperwork in a timely fashion.

I hear Josh and his team are constantly knocking on doors, his fliers are first rate and they seem to be doing things very professionally. For someone so young, he's running his campaign like a seasoned vet.

Josh has to answer any concerns about his age but I have full confidence he can meet that challenge and would be an excellent candidate for our party. Next up, Chris Head.

17th HOD "Poll" - Final Tally

I'm going to take down the poll so I wanted to post the final tally so the data wouldn't be lost for those couple out there that care. I'm sorry this turned into a debate about the relative skill of commenters in deleting cookies and manipulating "polls." I'm going to leave that discussion alone for now, hopefully never to return. Here are the numbers. Thanks to all who voted.

Bill Cleaveland - 38% (466 votes)
Josh Johnson - 31% (380 votes)
Melvin Williams - 17% (212 votes)
Chris Head - 10% (122 votes)
Mike Wray - 3% (37 votes)

Roanoke City School Funding-Rosen Gets It

As our readers know the Roanoke City GOP asked City Council to use at least $2 million of the rainy day fund to address the investment needed in our schools. It appears as though Court Rosen gets it, who originally circulated the idea on his blog, but it seems as though the rest of council does not. There has not yet been a vote on this so there is still time be heard. Please e-mail the members of council and ask them to do what is right for our children. See Rosen's updated blog for more information.

This is an investment in our schools that currently have a graduation rate in the 50s. To improve you have to fully invest in this process. It is my fear that the members of council are protecting the bond rating to ensure an amphitheater gets built. Council has a great school board in place and we need to give them all the tools they need to succeed. Once you address schools then by all means pursue capital projects, but until then focus on the main thing.

Total Stats From Yesterday - 17th HOD Poll

In 24 hours we had a total of 1,630 unique readers with 3,506 page views. These are NOT numbers that can be manipulated by deleting cookies, these are based on IP addresses. There are 2 ways to "manipulate" these numbers. The first is to simply access the blog from different computers. Obviously, statcounter can't track who is sitting behind the computer. The second is to go through a proxy site to shield your IP address. Statcounter tells us when that happens and frankly it happened a few times yesterday but not much.

What does this mean? It means that a huge number of unique readers hit the blog yesterday, most of them coming to vote in the "poll." Over the course of the "poll" we had well over 5,000 unique readers (can't remember which day Adam posted it) so 1,216 votes should come as no surprise. So I say again, for those who want to accuse a couple of people of just sitting back and manipulating this "poll," you're wrong. For those who think our poll actually means something, you need to read the first paragraph of my post below.

Thanks to all our old and new readers. Feel free to stick around and leave us your thoughts in the comments. We'd love for you to tell us how great we are but we're big boys and we welcome your criticisms as well.

Voting Is Closed In The 17th HOD Poll - What Did We Learn?

Let's be clear, a blog "poll" like this is completely unscientific and reading too much into it would be a risky proposition. Frankly, the biggest thing they do is drive blog traffic. That said, let's see what we can learn from this.

1. We had a stunning 1,216 votes cast in this poll. Before anyone accuses the campaigns of manipulating the result - I think this vote total is probably pretty accurate. As of 8:00 tonight we had over 1,500 unique readers and over 3,200 page views. That's in a single day. If you look over the course of this poll we had thousands of unique readers so 1,216 votes isn't shocking.

2. We did nothing to promote this poll. Adam posted it and then emailed each of the campaigns and told them about it. From there it was out of our hands.

3. It seems pretty clear that the Wray campaign just chose to ignore it. On the flip side, it's clear Cleaveland and Johnson folks were pushing all the way through today as their vote totals really skyrocketed in the last 12 hours as our hits went up. Williams' campaign started off hot but got very few votes as the poll went on.

The above are simply statements of fact - no editorializing. Here's what I've learned from this exercise.

1. First and foremost I learned that REPUBLICANS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS RACE. I expected a few dozen votes. No one could have expected 1,216. Democrats are sorely mistaken if they think they're gonna walk in here and steal this seat.

2. Bill Cleaveland is able to generate much more enthusiasm than I expected. 465 voters in an internet poll like this is a huge number. Frankly, numbers like that would make me think a handful of people were manipulating it but I've seen the unique user numbers and these appear to be legit votes from separate IP addresses. Certainly not scientific but that's a lot of people.

3. Josh Johnson also put together a strong effort showing some good organization to his team. I'll have more to say about Josh in tomorrow's "case for" but I'll just say this result confirms the buzz I'm hearing.

4. Melvin's following was quick out of the gate but the numbers just weren't there. No idea what that means. I'll leave it at that so some of Melvin's more rabid followers (who appear to have recently stumbled onto our little blog and like taking shots at me) don't call me a RINO (if you know me you know how funny that accusation is).

5. 2 campaigns filed timely financials with real numbers (Cleaveland and Johnson). They happen to be the 2 that also did incredibly well in this poll. I'm not ready to call them the frontrunners but you certainly have to be impressed with their organizations.

I'll leave it at that. I'm sure some people want to call me the anti-Christ now so feel to leave us your comments with your thoughts.

17th HOD Poll - Time Is Running Out

Time is running out to vote in the 17th HOD poll. Make sure you vote this afternoon as the poll closes in a few hours.

The Case For Melvin Williams

As I said below, I'm going to do a "case for" each of the Republican candidates in the 17th HOD race. The goal is to set out the positive case for each of the candidates as I see it. Just one man's opinion. As has always been the case, I will never say a negative word about another Republican and I won't do so here. Since Melvin was the first to announce, I'll start with him.

First, let me disclose that I have known Melvin for several years, go to church with him, have tried at least one case with him and think very highly of Melvin. I believe these interactions have given me a true picture of what Melvin is "all about" and I can say, unequivocally, he's a good man.

Melvin is smart, articulate and passionate. In fact, having seen each of the candidates give their "stump speeches" several times, there is simply no one who brings Melvin's passion to the table.

Melvin is also a true conservative and he has lined up support from some local conservative leaders that will serve him well, especially in the primary. If he turns that support into action he'll have a formidable team.

As I've said before, I think we have 5 very solid candidates who bring their own strengths to the table. As such, the question I ask is what sets a particular candidate apart from the rest. In Melvin's case, it is his ability to connect with a well articulated conservative message and the passion he brings to his message. We haven't seen a financial filing from Melvin yet but, assuming he can generate the resources to get his message heard, his campaign should be one to watch.

Melvin has lived a life of service as a lawyer and minister and I'm very pleased that he has now offered to serve in the political arena. If you haven't already done so, check out his website and get to know him better.

Up next, Josh Johnson.

Update - Just saw that Melvin has filed his financials and, frankly, they don't tell us much but I wanted to add since I mentioned above.

Just Some Random Thoughts

I've been in San Francisco for a week so I haven't really been able to post or comment. Several things I'll just throw out for the time being. If any desire further discussion, I'll pick them up this week.

1. The RPV Convention rules committee met yesterday. I was the 6th District rep. Nothing too earth shattering. Couple points of interest. Chair candidates will have to declare their candidacy by May 12th and meet with the Nominations committee shortly thereafter. All voting will be done on a single ballot after all the speeches. Speakers get 10 minutes which they can only use for candidate speeches (something I tried to amend but lost 7-6). No "last man out rule" until after the 2nd ballot. That means no one is forced out on ballot 1 but, in AG race, third place finisher on second ballot is out. Should make for an interesting convention. Process was very open and fair with all the campaigns giving input. I was humbled to be invited to participate and I'm proud of the work done by the committee.

2. I'm very excited to hear about the RPV Chair "unity ticket" of Pat Mullins and Sandy Bourne. Check out Bearing Drift and Crystal Clear Conservative for more. Things are looking up for our 2009 ticket.

3. The race in the 17th is going to be very exciting. We have 5 fantastic candidates. Let me be clear now. I am not and will not be endorsing any candidate in this race (I'll let Adam decide for himself). In fact, I have offered to meet with all of the candidates to help them out and 4 of them have taken me up on the offer. I will continue to work with them at their request. My goal is for us to get a great candidate, come out united and blow out Gwen Mason. Anyone who assumes I favor one candidate over another is completely mistaken.

4. We have a lot of new readers and, from some of their comments, it is clear a few things need to be cleared up. As anyone who has been following us over the past year knows, Adam is the Chair in Roanoke City and I'm the Chair in Salem. However, we only speak for ourselves and no one else. Also, since we don't have our finger quite on the pulse of Roanoke County, we usually stay away from races that are completely County races. We asked the County chair to join us but he declined. Hopefully the new chair elected in June will come on board and we can expand our coverage.

5. A few (one or two) of our readers don't seem to understand blogs. They are offended by our allowing anonymous commenters and have even made veiled threats at litigation and local Committee action. Thankfully, 99% of the people out there know how ridiculous this is and I, therefore, won't even address it more. It's just too bad the noise is being associated with one of the candidates in the 17th because that can do nothing but hurt that candidate. Thankfully, he's a fantastic candidate who has a very good shot at winning. You certainly won't see me holding the actions of his supporters against him.

6. As I did with the AG race, I'm going to post a series of "cases for" each of the candidates in the 17th. Once again, my goal will be to set forth a completely positive argument for each of the candidates that may help some of you in your decision making process. My goal is to start that this week and I'll post them in the order in which they announced (Williams, Johnson, Head, Wray and Cleaveland - I think that's right). For those who missed them, here are my "cases for" Ken Cuccinelli, Dave Foster and John Brownlee.

Sorry that was so long.

Bob McDonnell expanding his lead on all three Democrats

The latest Rasmussen poll numbers shows Bob McDonnell expanding his lead on all three of his opponents.

The results stand at:

Bob McDonnell 44%
Brian J. Moran 34%

Bob McDonnell 45%
Terry McAuliffe 33%

Bob McDonnell 45%
Creigh Deeds 30%

The Unemployment Issue (The Truth)

On April 15th the Roanoke Times Editorial Board continued on with their liberal ways by suggesting the Delegate Fralin and other Republicans do not care about the unemployment in Virginia. Nothing could be further from the truth. You cannot just keep throwing more and more tax payer dollars at a problem without a real way to avoid the situation in the future. Let me take a shot at informing you as to what the GOP has done for the workers of Virginia, including those mentioned in their piece.

1. 
   Introduced House Bill 1889 by Delegate Sam Nixon (R- Chesterfield) and amended by Governor Kaine, extends the period of time that unemployed Virginians can receive unemployment benefits from the traditional 26 weeks by up to an additional 33 weeks – or 59 weeks – of coverage. This extension will end when the $62 million of federal stimulus money expires in two years. This new extension is in addition to the 20-week extension approved earlier this year by the federal government.
   
2. Introduced House Bill 2024 by Delegate Danny Marshall (R-Danville) and amended by Governor Kaine, establishes a “mini-COBRA” program to allow employees of small businesses to have better access to the federal health insurance premium assistance program. Federal funding will support the continuation of benefits for nine months to workers laid off from a small business. The legislation also provides an opportunity for small employers to assist their laid-off employees in retaining affordable health insurance coverage in order to weather the current economic recession.

Let me further provide you with information on your taxes as related to unemployment.

1. 
   There are three taxes to support Virginia’s unemployment insurance program. All are paid by Virginia businesses. Payments into the VEC Trust Fund come from a tax levied on employers – per employee – and depend on the solvency of the Trust Fund and the employment histories of the individual business. There also is a pool surtax, which is used to raise funds for benefits that cannot be obtained from a specific employer because the benefits exceed the employer’s prior tax payments or because the employer is no longer in business. The final surtax is the fund-builder tax that takes effect when the Trust Fund’s solvency drops below 50%.
2. For 2009, the average annual tax per employee paid by Virginia businesses is estimated at $98. This was down from the high of $162 in 2005 when an automatic builder tax was last in effect. However, the VEC’s own projections, the average tax will jump to $159 the next year and $199 in three years. The Governor always neglects this point.
3. Virginia’s taxable wage base (the amount of earnings on which businesses pay the unemployment insurance tax) has been $8,000 since 1991. The fact state UI taxes are low is one reason Forbes ranks Virginia as #1 for business.
4. The VEC Trust Fund is expected to drop below solvency by the end of 2009, meaning the builder tax will kick in and Virginia will begin borrowing from the federal government, which is subject to repayment with interest.
   

Ask yourself who is really looking out for Virginia workers and business? What would increased financial burdens on VA business do to jobs and our Forbes Ranking?

Fundraising Numbers are in

Tonight the Star City Harbinger reported on the fundraising reports for the GOP 17th HOD race. Click on the link above for the story and visit vpap.org to see more detailed data.

Jerry Kilgore endorses John Brownlee

Former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore announced this morning that he has endorsed John Brownlee's bid to secure the Republican nomination for that post. Kilgore also announced that he has agreed to serve as General Chairman of Brownlee's campaign.

"We need a strong candidate for Attorney General and that's why we are here today," said Kilgore. "It's important for our Party and for our ticket that Republicans unite around the candidacy of John Brownlee."
Kilgore noted that he had moderated several debates between the three Republican candidates for Attorney General this year, and had anticipated staying neutral until a nominee was selected on May 30. "However," Kilgore said, "one candidate stood out at those debates. One candidate demonstrated an understanding of the office, an understanding of the issues and an understanding of how to win this campaign. That candidate was John Brownlee.
"I have been impressed with John's abilities to attract supporters in every region of our Commonwealth. He has impressed me with his e-campaign and willingness to use new technologies in reaching voters....He will have the ability to bring together business and social conservatives and focus on the winning formula for the Attorney General's office.
"John Brownlee already has run an office very similar to the Attorney General's office. Like John, I served in the U.S. Attorney's office. Like the Virginia Attorney General's office, the U.S. Attorney's office deals with much more than criminal cases. They deal with every civil matter that the United States becomes a party to in the respective district."
Kilgore also mentioned the importance of Brownlee's experience as a former prosecutor. "Virginians, for more than a quarter century, have elected an experienced prosecutor as their Attorney General when given the choice between a candidate with prosecutorial experience and no prosecutorial experience, and 2009 will be no exception.
"Importantly, John has worked with the entire law enforcement community in Virginia - federal, state and local. They understand his abilities and why he would be a great Attorney General. That's why John has been endorsed by so many Sheriffs and Commonwealth's Attorney throughout the Commonwealth."
Brownlee said Kilgore's decision to join the campaign was a "significant moment" that placed his campaign in a "unique position" going forward in the nominating contest.
"This is a man who has dedicated his entire life to public service....He served as Attorney General for nearly four years, and was a very successful Attorney General. His efforts led to a better and safer Virginia.
"This is a man who knows; he knows the job, he knows the people, he knows the challenges. And the fact that he would stand here today and put his seal of approval on our campaign means so much to Lee Ann and me."

Kilgore, who was elected Attorney General by a wide margin in 2001, said he would take an active and visible role in Brownlee's campaign between now and the Virginia Republican Convention on May 29 & 30.
"The Virginia Republican Party is at a crossroads," concluded Kilgore. "As we near our Convention, we must unite behind the ticket that will not only bring us together as a Party but will win in November. That ticket should include John Brownlee as our next Attorney General."

Octavia Johnson Fundraiser

You are Invited to a Fundraiser for:

Sheriff Octavia Johnson

When:
April 30, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm

Where:
At the Home of John and Lee Ann Brownlee
6311 Hamlet Trail Roanoke, VA 24018

Donation Levels:
$250.00- Platinum
$100.00- Gold
$50.00- Silver
$30.00- Bronze

Please RSVP to aboitnott@cox.net by April 28, 2009

Americans for Prosperity-Card Check Rally

Save My Ballot Tour - Roanoke
When: Friday, April 17th 6:00-8pm
Where: Holiday Inn - Tanglewood 4468 Starkey Road, SW Roanoke, VA 24018
WITH
Rep. Bob Goodlatte,
Del. Morgan Griffith,
Del. Ben Cline,
Tito the Builder,
AFP President Tim Phillips,
AFP State Director Ben Marchi

Help deliver a message to Senator Mark Warner, the lawmakers in Washington, and the media, that ordinary citizens will stand up to defend our freedom from the onslaught of big government policies that threaten to take it away.

17th HOD Candidate Interview Responses

If you've been following along you know that Adam has posted a quick interview with each of the candidates in the 17th. Now that all 5 have been posted and to make it easier for everyone, I'm combining each of their answers into one post. Just click on the names below to be taken directly to the respective candidates' interviews.

Mike Wray

Bill Cleaveland

Melvin Williams

Chris Head

Josh Johnson

Mike Wray Interview Response

1.) What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I feel that my level of experience and the proven effective leadership that has defined all areas my adult life distinguishes me from the other candidates. My service to the community has been both public and private. In addition to serving on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, I have participated extensively with community organizations such as the PTA and Civic League. From coaching kids’ sports teams to acting as president of several local boards, the proven effective leadership I offer the voters has developed from over 30 years of energetic involvement in this community.

2.) In what ways have you been involved with the Republican Party previously?

I have served the Republican Party as an elected official in County government. In this role my board with a majority of Republicans was able to reduce the real estate tax rate and encourage businesses to locate in Roanoke County.


3.) What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

The biggest challenge facing the 17th District is getting the economy going again and putting people in this state and across the country back to work. We are all affected by the current economic climate and our region needs jobs, not short-sighted handouts with strings attached. The solution must come from sensible investment in the private sector to stimulate the development of long lasting jobs.

4.) Give us some specific legislation that you’d propose in your first term if elected?

The interstate system is a vital transportation artery affecting the economies of towns and cities throughout Virginia. If the closure of the interstate rest stop issue has not been resolved before the next session, I will introduce a bill to privatize the rest stops in Virginia. Of course this plan will have to have federal government approval, but we have to begin with a plan from Virginians. These rest stops are a great asset to the Commonwealth, and my plan will create jobs while making our interstates safer for us all.

5.) What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

Serving in public office as a County Supervisor has given me the experience to most effectively work with and fight for my constituents. I understand the needs of this area and have a proven track record of dedication to my community.

6.) What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

My fundamental view of the role of government boils down to this: less is more. We should strive to provide for ourselves on an individual and local level, rather than allowing power and decision-making to centralize in an inefficient and oversized bureaucracy. Keeping taxes low allows citizens to decide what they want to do with their money and stimulates the growth of private business.

7.) Who is your political role model and why?

My two greatest political role models are Ronald Reagan and George Washington. Both men represent the epitome of leadership and values, and both were tenaciously dedicated to the rights and abilities of individuals. Ronald Reagan not only talked fiscal responsibility – he walked it. His commitment to conservative ideals was unwavering no matter the situation. George Washington also stood unwavering in the face of all challenges. He led with a faith that the strength and greatness of this nation comes from its individual citizens, rather than the government.

8.) What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

I think the biggest obstacle for us all is not just getting people energized about the race, but making sure we get as many Republicans as we can voting on June 9th.

The Primaries are Set

At 5:00pm on 4/10/2009 the filing deadline passed for all primaries. Here is the GOP field of candidates.

17th House of Delegates (in order that they will appear on the ballot)

Bill Cleaveland
Melvin Williams
Josh Johnson
Chris Head
Mike Wray

11th House of Delegates

Troy Bird is the nominee

Sheriff

Octavia Johnson is the nominee

Bill Cleaveland's Interview Response

1-What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

First, I believe all of the candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the 17th District seat are honorable people and I commend them for their involvement in this process. For the past thirty years I have been involved in fighting for the rights of individuals. I have been listening to citizen concerns and then responding to those concerns to solve the issues posing challenges to them. I believe my “people skills’, my “listening skills” and my problem-solving abilities will help distinguish me from others in this race.

2-In what ways have you been involved with the Republican Party?

During my entire adult life I have embraced the tenants of our party—respect for the individual, respect for property rights, the concept of limited government, and the philosophy of lower taxes and less government spending. In recent years however, while I have been serving as a substitute Judge in the 23rd and 25th Judicial Districts, I was prohibited by the Judicial Canons of Ethics from being active in any political party. Now, I look forward to putting those Republican principles into action while serving the citizens of the 17th District.

3-What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

A high quality life in the Roanoke Valley is a concept worth saving for ourselves and especially for our children/grandchildren. It is a great place to live and raise a family. If future generations are to enjoy all that we have, we must insure that we retain jobs that are already here. We must work to attract additional high quality jobs that will keep our young people in the Valley once they have completed their education. We must embrace the concept of “regional” as we work with individual governments who share the Valley. Regional cooperation will help the Roanoke Valley more strongly compete with our national competitors to bring increased economic development to the region. Transportation, education, and public safety are additional challenges that must be addressed. I will be talking more specifically about all of these issues as the campaign unfolds.

4-Give us some specific legislation that you’d propose in your first term if elected.

I do not feel we need to propose bills simply because we get elected. There are way too many laws on the books already. Remember, I said we need less government. I will propose and support those bills I feel will help the citizens of the 17th and the Commonwealth as a whole. Again, my special attention will be given to the issues of jobs and economic development, transportation, education, and public safety.

5-What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

My experiences as a prosecutor, a defense attorney, a plaintiff’s attorney and Substitute Judge have all demonstrated that I possess the skills to work with people—even in difficult situations. My patience, listening skills, and perseverance have served me well in arriving at workable solutions to the problems at hand. I bring a strong commitment to recognizing the “SERVANT” part of public servant. These are the attributes I will bring to the House of Delegates on behalf of our citizens.

6-What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

I think government should serve the people. I endorse Ronald Reagan’s concept that citizens know what is best. “The government that governs least, governs best.”

7-Who is your political “role model” and why?

Ronald Reagan. He related to the people and gave us the incentive to take charge of our own lives and thereby promoted the “American way.”

8-What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

Voter awareness of the June 9th primary, increasing my name recognition, and fund raising will all be areas I will be working on during this election. I would like to earn your support.

Resolution on School Funding

Tuesday night at the Roanoke City Republican Committee Meeting a resolution was passed asking City Council to release $2 million in additional funds to the Roanoke City Schools. This money would be on top of the monies already allocated to the schools. This money would make the schools whole on their budget needs and allow them to retain staff and improve the quality of education.

If I am looking at this like a business and my competitors have a better product but are forced to make cuts it is my opportunity to invest and close the gap. The city loses families each year to the County and Salem due to school performance, this is our time to catch up.

These funds are in an account referred to as the "Rainy Day Fund". If during this financial crisis and given our graduation rates we don't use this money then when would it ever be justified to use these funds?

The other side of this issue will tell you that it will effect the city bond rating. If you read Council Member Rosen's remarks on his blog it appears that there is going to be an overhaul of this process. It is my suspicion that the bond rating is being protected in order to ensure the amapitheater gets built. Personally I would rather fund schools and then during better times fund capital projects like an ampitheater.

See the resoltion below and make sure to see the article and vote in the poll (where currently 84% of the people are for using these funds) on the Star City Harbinger. Also write your City Council members to tell them of your opinion.

Resolution for Roanoke City Schools Funding

Whereas the Roanoke City Republican Committee represents the Republican Party in Roanoke City

Whereas 15,394 republican votes were cast in the last election or 37.75% of the total votes

Whereas the Roanoke City Schools Graduation Rate is 52%, and it is the 2nd lowest in the state

Whereas the low graduation rate keeps companies from moving to Roanoke, which prevents economic development, retention of talented employees, retention of families living in the city, and revenue growth

Whereas the low graduation rate needs to be the city’s number one priority

Whereas there is a significant budget shortfall in all government budgets including the Roanoke City Schools due to one of the worst economic crisis in history of the country

Whereas the budget stabilization fund (Rainy Day Fund) currently has $19 million of tax payer money

Let it be resolved that the Roanoke City Republican Committee requests that Roanoke City Council and the Administration release at least $2 million of tax payers money to the Roanoke City Schools on top of the funding already provided for the purposes of improving the educational experience.

Passed by a unanimous vote on 4/7/2009

Melvin Williams' Interview Responses

1) What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I am a candidate that has a record of standing up and fighting for what is right -- even when faced with powerful and vocal opposition. As an attorney and pastor I have a history of taking a stand on issues and persuading people of the correctness of my position on issues. I will stand up to anyone who transgresses the bounds of law, whether it is law enforcement itself, local government or big business. No other candidate has chosen to take on “the powers that be” in his/her everyday profession and defend the rights of individuals. In the General Assembly the people want a candidate who will do what is right even when it may not be what is popular. If elected to be the servant and representative for the people of the 17th House District I will fight for their rights.

My life experience combined with my youthful energy and passion uniquely qualifies me to serve the people of the 17th District in the House of Delegates. These qualities set me apart from the other candidates and uniquely qualify me to square off against Gwen Mason in the general election.

2) In what ways have you been involved with the Republican party previously?

My parents instilled in me a strong sense of individual rights and responsibilities. They taught me that I was responsible for my success and/or failure and no one else was to blame, not even the government. I remember, too, being told about my paternal grandfather's service in the Maryland House of Delegates and that he was re-districted out of office by a Democratic majority. As a teenager growing up in West Virginia I supported the campaign of our local House of Delegates member and later served as an intern for him. Through college I was a member of the College Republicans and worked to promote Republican candidates and issues at Bridgewater College, including the candidacy of Bob Goodlatte.

My involvement in the local Republican party first began in 2004 with George Bush's re-election campaign. My wife, Pamela Fulghum Williams, and I joined the Roanoke City Committee in 2004 and participated in local efforts with Bush's campaign. I volunteered for the City Committee in the Allen Senatorial campaign to include distributing campaign material on election day. In the most recent election cycle I served as a poll monitor in Roanoke City on behalf of the Party. Lastly, my wife and I always post yard signs at our home and three residential rental properties in order to give GOP candidates the most exposure possible.

3) What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

The primary challenge facing our region is the fear of the economy getting worse. To those of us on main street the economy means jobs. We do not have confidence in the stability of our jobs and the presence of opportunities to pursue success. The Roanoke Valley in particular faces difficulty in attracting and keeping companies that will create good jobs and provide the economic stability and growth that the Valley needs to flourish. To compound this difficulty, the localities of the Valley often fail to cooperate, and end up wasting resources competing against one another.

To address this problem, first the localities of the Roanoke Valley should cooperate better with one another, to include surrounding localities like Bedford, Franklin and Montgomery Counties. As the world becomes smaller (i.e., globalization) geographic areas must learn to work together to attract job-creating businesses, and encourage current businesses to stay, prosper and expand.

Roanoke also needs to attract young professionals. Carilion is attracting young professionals through its expansion and Clinic model. However, they must fight government regulation at almost every step of their expansion, i.e., certificates of public need to move two operating rooms to Community Hospital from another location. And Carilion's growth should not be at the expense of other local businesses.

Part of the economic difficulty facing the Valley involves transportation: Interstate 81 is overcrowded, and Interstate 73 plans are swallowed up by bickering and delay. The intermodal rail facility should help alleviate some of the congestion on Interstate 81, but even that project has faced significant community opposition. We need a northwest to southeast corridor, i.e., the existing Rte 220 corridor must be expanded, as we plan for the future. Yet, everyone says not in my backyard. The job of government is to identify the community needs for its people to pursue their goals. Then, the government must build the infrastructure necessary to satisfy those needs. After that, the people will be in a position to achieve.

4) Give us some specific legislation that you'd propose in your first term if elected?

I would introduce legislation to:

A. Encourage local governments to cooperate in regional partnerships to encourage economic development and avoid the line drawing and divisiveness so common among local governments;
B. Conduct a comprehensive review of state regulations and the Virginia Code to determine where our laws and regulations are over-reaching, out of date and stifling to individual (persons and businesses) endeavors, and as part of that review examine where we may combine state agencies to achieve more efficiency in government and reduce bureaucracy;
C. Repeal (or amend so as to weaken) the one-gun-a-month purchase law;
D. Expand the rights of lawful citizens to carry concealed weapons;
E. Require abortion clinics to comply with the same regulation as required of other outpatient medical treatment facilities;
F. Amend the restaurant smoking ban signed into law this year to relieve restaurant owners of the need to create a totally separate smoking area, and allow the owners to determine whether their restaurants are smoke free. The free market is taking care of this problem as many restaurant owners already have smoke free environments – the government need not interfere.

5) What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

My experience and skills as a part-time pastor and full-time attorney along with my youthful energy and passion qualify me for this position. For over a decade I have worked everyday to persuade people of the correctness of my position on various issues of the day. As a pastor I have sought to impart to my congregations Christian values represented and apply them to everyday life. As a litigator I fight everyday to persuade judges and juries of the correctness of my client's position. Sometimes I take unpopular positions and stand up to entities that do not like to be questioned. I have not and will not shrink from the fight for what I believe is right. Additionally, these roles have taught me to listen: I have the ability to hear the needs of the people of the 17th District and work to satisfy those needs in Richmond.

6) What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

Government is uniquely suited to do some things, and should otherwise stay out of the way.
On the state and local level, government is best suited to ensure and support the provision of infrastructure services: roads, water pipes, etc. Government should also serve as the last resort for public welfare, stepping in only after the community in general (i.e., neighbors, faith organizations, and public welfare groups).
On the federal level government's most important priority is to ensure the security of our country and defend us. I believe in the 10th Amendment -- that the states are to retain all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government. Therefore, the federal government is to be more limited than state and local governments.
Governments, like any entity, naturally seek to gather more resources, power and control. The people must fight continually to limit the government. For example: should the government need to run rest stops? I agree with one of my opponents that rest stops are natural opportunities for private enterprise to provide a valuable service, but my understanding is that such change will require federal action.

7) Who is your political "role model" and why?

While there are aspects of certain political figures that I admire, I do not have one particular political role model. I admire George Washington for serving as President and then retiring to Mt. Vernon, instead of becoming a de facto king. His choice to pursue what was best for the country instead of personal prestige and power set an example that, until recently, most former presidents followed, i.e., that of the former president staying out of public affairs so as to not negatively impact the state of the nation by criticizing the current president. (Former President Jimmy Carter is one of the most egregious violators of this tradition. Although I admire Carter's work with Habitat for Humanity, I deplore his interference in our current political environment. His interference is harmful to America.)Abraham Lincoln is to be honored for his leadership during the War Between the States. He made difficult decisions and he lived with them.Also, I admire Teddy Roosevelt not so much for his political endeavors as for his life experiences: from the Wild West to high society Roosevelt lived life to the fullest. A Republican can hardly mention political role models without mentioning Ronald Reagan. I admire Reagan for his ability to confront issues without burning bridges, and his strategy to revitalize our economy after the debacle that was the Carter administration. Lastly, I admire J.C. Watts, former congressman from Oklahoma. Watts was an African-American who was willing to buck the system by being true to his conservative values. He won repeatedly (by increasing margins each time) without sacrificing his core values. The GOP lost a good leader when Watts retired from Congress.

8) What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

Name recognition. My plan to overcome this obstacle is to work harder to meet the people of the 17th District by going door-to-door and provide to them the opportunity to get to know me.

Chris Head's Interview Responses

1) What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

Real business experience…I am the candidate with real business experience. I employ hundreds of employees and have a proven successful business record of managing a multi-million dollar budget. Things are not good in our Virginia economy, and it will take leaders with business experience to turn this economy around. In business you have to understand your principles and hold to them. You cannot be all things for all people…you need to know your mission.If the people of our community honor me by voting to elect me our Delegate, they will be able to take comfort in knowing their Delegate will not be voting to raise taxes. I don't believe in tax increases. I will work to reduce the size of government, not increase it. And I will work to defend our Southwest Virginia traditional values.

2) In what ways have you been involved with the Republican party previously?

I am a lifelong Republican. I have attended and hosted fundraisers for Republican candidates, and have actively campaigned for Republican candidates over the years. In college I even volunteered for Reagan. I am a member of the Botetourt Republican committee, and have happily supplied a phone bank location for Republican volunteers at my business.

3) What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

America as a whole actually faces the same challenge: getting the politicians out of the way to let the economy grow again. We need more men and women with business experience in government…people who know how to control costs, reduce expenses, and focus on purpose.Jobs and the economy are clearly the issue that we are facing, but we are facing these problems because of politicians and special interests, not because of the taxpayers or the small business owners. Unemployment in Botetourt and Roanoke counties is running at about 5.5% and Roanoke city approaching 7%. Locally we need to refocus our efforts on expanding transportation into the Roanoke area, including bringing passenger rail and fixing the traffic congestion at I-581 and Orange Avenue, as well as Exit 150.

4) Give us some specific legislation that you'd propose in your first term if elected?

Businesses need tax cuts and tax incentives to begin hiring again. Virginia needs a comprehensive stimulus plan of our own: but one based on cutting taxes rather than spending. We need to provide incentives for non profits and charities to help people rather than government. I will propose legislation to expand incentives to private groups and individuals to help people in need and provide alternatives to looking to big government for long term assistance. I will work with other legislators to create legislation that would prohibit any of our Virginia state tax dollars from being given to people who have come to America illegally. Our tax dollars should be spent helping our citizens.I will support legislation to reduce property taxes for homeowners who are seniors. I work with seniors every day and know what a struggle it is to pay rising property taxes when they are on fixed incomes.

5) What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

Again, I have to start with my experience as a business owner. My wife and I started our business from zero and have over the past 8 years grown and expanded to covering the entire region, providing private pay services to hundreds of seniors and employing over 250 people. I know how to create jobs. No other candidate has had the real world business experience that I've had, and with the permission of voters I'll use those skills to make state government operate more like a customer-friendly, efficient business.

6) What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

To paraphrase our founding fathers, the role of government should be to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for all of our citizens and the generations to come. We need to reduce government: it has gotten too big.

7) Who is your political "role model" and why?

I have several. First, Ronald Reagan. He was a brilliant administrator, he was a true conservative, and he was never afraid to stick to his conservative ideals or to break long-standing protocols if it was the common sense thing to do.
Historically, George Washington, because of his incredible leadership in the face of challenges that are incomprehensible by today's standard. Those that have risked it all, persevered and prevailed inspire me.
I admire the fact that Newt Gingrich was not afraid to challenge the status quo.

8) What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

We need to elect more Republicans who honestly believe in controlling the size of government. We need to elect new people, people with true business experience if we want better results.

Okay, Gwen Mason Is Either Blind Or She's Just Lying

I'm sorry to be so blunt but there's no other way to put it. As we've posted over the last couple weeks (here, here, here, here, here) the Mason campaign is off to an embarrassing start. Yesterday we posted about Gwen's cutting edge economic development strategy - HUGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Well in part 2 to Hank's interview on SCH he gives Ms. Mason an open invitation to explain what she's done to "promote positive economic growth and development in the City?" Her answer?

On Roanoke City Council, I’ve been committed to economic growth and development and improving our quality of life. That commitment has turned into solid results for the City.

I'm sorry but that's just a bold faced lie. Since Ms. Mason has been on City Council, the City budget has gone millions of dollars in the hole. Since Ms. Mason has been on City Council, the school budget has seen record cuts. Since Ms. Mason has been on City Council, unemployment has doubled.

So apparently Ms. Mason believes the fact that she's bankrupted the City and doubled unemployment amounts to "solid results." Either that or she's just lying to the voters. Which one is it Ms. Mason?

Proving that it's a lie is Ms. Mason own inability to point to a single - not one - initiative she's advanced that has promoted positive economic growth for the City. The fact that she wants to take that miserable record to Richmond to wreak the same havoc there is the height of hubris. Maybe if Ms. Mason focused more on her current job rather than running for higher office she wouldn't have such a pitiful record.

Josh Johnson's Interview Responses

As we said yesterday over the next 5 days we will post interview responses from each of the candidates for the 17th HOD, first up is Josh Johnson:

1) What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

I represent a new generation for the Republican Party, and I bring energy and fresh ideas. I can relate to the challenges young families in the Roanoke Valley are facing, and I will be a voice for all generations in the 17th District.

I bring a sound legal and financial perspective. As a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and the University of Virginia School of Law, I have a strong background in finance, economics and law.

Practicing construction law at one of the region’s top law firms and representing small and medium sized businesses, I have insights into the problems facing our economy.

2) In what ways have you been involved with the Republican Party previously?

§ I have been involved in the Roanoke City Republican Committee for several years in various capacities; I currently serve as the Vice Chairman.

§ While in law school, I worked with the Bush campaign in 2004, and I served as the Co-Chair of the UVA Law Republicans.

§ As an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, I spent one summer working for George Allen and another working on a House of Delegates campaign in Tazewell County.

3) What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

The biggest challenge facing the 17th District is the same challenge facing every community in this country – the current economic environment. Not only has our wealth evaporated as the stock market has plummeted, but we also stand to lose vital jobs as the recession continues. The economy must remain our top priority.

Significant portions of the recession are beyond our control. A Delegate cannot single-handedly move the stock market. However, there is much that a Delegate can do to positively influence the region’s economy.

The Roanoke Valley will need to pursue all available economic opportunities to lessen the net effect of this crisis on our region. Fortunately, many of our core businesses, such as health care and the railroad, will not be as impacted as other industries. Nevertheless, we need to focus on attracting more jobs across a wide range of industries. The Roanoke Regional Partnership is, and has been, an effective tool for that purpose. We need to supply groups like the Partnership with more tools to attract and retain quality businesses.

4) Give us some specific legislation that you'd propose in your first term if elected?

The sales tax holiday has been successful for Virginia’s families. To support small businesses and to provide them with some tax relief, I propose a small-business sales tax holiday. The legislation would include a period of several days in which businesses could order office supplies without having to pay sales tax. I will give more specifics on this plan and others, when I present my legislative agenda later in the primary.

In addition, the Roanoke Valley must have a sufficient transportation infrastructure in order to expand our economy. This region was built around transportation. We need to embrace our history and bring passenger rail to Roanoke. We have railroad museums and landmarks, yet we have to drive to Lynchburg to take a passenger train.

Considering the importance of transportation to our region, I would introduce a budget amendment to insure the Department of Rail and Public Transportation has dedicated adequate funding for a passenger rail service stop in Roanoke - via the TransDominion Express Line, which currently serves Lynchburg.

5) What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

§ As the son of a family doctor and a former college professor who is now on the Tazewell County School Board, I grew up in an environment, which gives me a unique perspective on healthcare and education and in an environment that promoted public service.
§ My hometown is a modest community in southwest Virginia. I know the values and concerns of the people in southwest Virginia.

§ I also grew up in a single-industry region, which taught me that a region’s economy must be diversified. A strategic, long-term vision is essential - just responding to the current economic situation is short-sighted.

§ I work hard. I have always worked hard, and I believe that hard work is a virtue. I pledge that I will work hard for the Roanoke Valley.

§ I have strong core values. I believe that good character and honor matter. These values shape me as a person, and they provide a solid foundation for making decisions that affect our community. I continue to be active in my church, which is a simple small country church. My faith is the single most important thing in my life. It defines me as a person.

6) What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

Government does have a role in our society - however, the smaller the role, the better.

Government has too much power to push around the private sector. As a result, we have a government that is inefficient simply because it can be inefficient without consequence. We have a government that is monopolistic without fear of anti-trust prosecution.

The private sector does not have the same luxury, and as a result, the private sector operates more efficiently. However, there are certain functions that the private sector cannot perform. The government must provide the nation’s military and build elements of infrastructure, such as the interstate system, that cannot otherwise be constructed by the private sector.

The government must also regulate certain segments of our society, such as the criminal justice system. Other segments like transportation, education and the postal service can and should operate as a partnership between the private and the public sectors. The proper role of government includes expediting, not getting in the way of, critical infrastructure, such as transportation. It is important to reduce regulatory risks to provide a level of certainty that will invite private investment.

The government is growing at a pace never before seen in history, which I view as problematic for our society.

7) Who is your political "role model" and why?

Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt all had certain admirable qualities that I try to draw from in my daily life. However, if I had to choose one role model, it would be the nation’s first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln’s strong values led him through the darkest period of our nation’s history. His faith and judgment carried our nation through the Civil War. In such situations, we have to rely on a power greater than ourselves.

Lincoln was also an exceptional leader for reasons beyond the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln signed legislation creating the transcontinental railroad and the Homestead Act – both important for the development of the West.

8) What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

My biggest obstacle in this primary is that there are multiple candidates and just two months until we go to the polls. I look forward to getting out, meeting with folks, and having the opportunity to distinguish myself from the other qualified candidates. I am confident that this obstacle will be overcome through hard work over the next few weeks.

Media Coverage Of Bill Cleaveland's Announcement

As I'm sure you've heard by now, Bill Cleaveland officially announced his candidacy for the 17th HOD seat yesterday. I counted over 60 people in attendance. Also of interest was the fact that Cleaveland picked up the endorsements of the Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff. These endorsements, plus Cleaveland's selection to serve as a substitute judge, show that members of the local Bar and law enforcement have great confidence in Cleaveland's competency. I think he's a great addition to this race. Below are some links to the media coverage of the announcement.

Roanoke Times

WSLS

WDBJ7

The Roanoke Free Press

Unless someone pulls a shocker, this should complete the Republican field.

Roanoke City Schools need more money

Roanoke City Council agreed to give the schools 1.5 million dollars but this is not enough. Our graduation rates are in the 50s and now we are cutting resources. The school board is doing it's job and making tough decisions that move the needle and now it is time for our city leaders to step up. The Roanoke City government has 19 million dollars in a "Rainy Day" fund. In my opinion this is about as rainy as it gets. Council member Rosen, who may be the only one who gets it, said:

"We have 19 million of taxpayer money collected over the years sitting in an account. So as we tell parents we have no more money for the schools and we are cutting needed programs because we have no money, it is not true. We have 19 million of their money that they have paid in taxes over the years."

I beg city council to release the appropriate funds to meet the budget needs of our schools. In these trying times we cannot afford to take steps back.

Gwen Mason's Answer To A Recession? Government Jobs

Gwen Mason just keeps saying silly things. Last week we discussed Gwen Mason's inability to understand that the current economic recession has hit us right here in the Roanoke Valley. Gwen Mason needs to pull her head out of the sand.

Well, Hank Bostwick and our friends over at SCH gave her a chance to explain what she meant when she said we were "essentially recession proof." Her answer was stunning and says pretty much all you need to know about Ms. Mason.

The reason she thinks we're recession proof?

let me point specifically to City and County government which employ significant numbers

Folks that says it all. We can't possibly be in a recession, our government is WAY too big for us to go into a recession. Ms. Mason is celebrating the fact that our only thriving industry is local government (although she does throw in Carilion for good measure). I don't think she realizes how stupid of a statement that is. Our local governments are MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE HOLE. A big hospital and bankrupt local governments, yeah, that's a formula for economic growth.

You might ask yourself, how can someone be so blind and out of touch with real people with real problems? Just look at Ms. Mason's resume and you'll see. According to her own resume, she has never held a job - NEVER - where she didn't get a government paycheck. Her entire career has been funded by your tax payer dollars. She's been a federal government employee, a City employee and apparently works part time writing government grants.

Folks, there's nothing wrong with being a government employee. But it's clear that Ms. Mason's lifetime of work as a bureaucrat has blinded her to the economic realities the rest of us face and led her to the bizarre conclusion that huge local government (even when they're millions in the hole) is the answer to our economic problems.

My goodness it just gets more and more unbelievable with her. No wonder our great City is in the mess it's in with leaders like her.

17th Candidates Interviews

Starting tomorrow we will post a blog interview with each of the candidates for the 17th House of Delegates seat. These will be posted in no particular order but we will do one per day. Please check back each morning for the next 5 mornings. We asked each candidate the following questions:

1) What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

2) In what ways have you been involved with the Republican party previously?

3) What are the biggest challenges facing the 17th District?

4) Give us some specific legislation that you'd propose in your first term if elected?

5) What experiences, skills, etc. make you the most qualified for this position?

6) What is your fundamental view of the role of government?

7) Who is your political "role model" and why?

8) What do you see as the biggest obstacle for you to overcome to get the nomination?

Frederick is out, where do we go from here?

With the news yesterday that Jeff Frederick is out as RPV chairman this leaves me with a lot of questions. I supported Jeff last year and I thought he made mistakes along the way. I am not sure that this move does much to unify the party. My personal thoughts on yesterday are that I am glad I did not have to vote on this issue, it would have been tough. See my questions below and let me know your thoughts.

1- Does Jeff go quietly, or does he run for chair or Gov in May?

2- Do the Frederick supporters stay on board with the party?

3- Does an independent candidate emerge for Governor?

4-What do we do now to ensure that we are unified?

Mike Wray Announcement - 17th HOD

Just got back from the Mike Wray announcement. Just some quick thoughts.

He has a VERY solid resume. In fact, his resume will likely be unmatched by any of his Republican challengers and it far exceeds Ms. Mason's resume. Resume doesn't mean you're the best but it helps.

He has a loyal following. This was by far the most well attended of the announcements to date with over 50 people in attendance.

Mike received the endorsement of County Supervisors Joe McNamara and Mike Altizer, County Treasurer Kevin Hutchins (who couldn't attend for family reasons) and former County Treasurer and current 6th District GOP Chair Fred Anderson. Elected support in a primary goes a long way. So far he's the only candidate to receive elected endorsements from within the 17th District although I understand Bill Cleaveland may have a few on Monday when he announces.

Mike took the unusual step of announcing a policy proposal at his kickoff. He proposed (assuming no deal is reached between now and then) to submit legislation privatizing our interstate rest areas. He understands the federal aspects of this proposal and believes such a move would save money and lives. I appreciate the fact that Mike is talking concrete ideas rather than vague concepts. Hopefully we'll see more of that from each of the candidates.

Finally, Mike isn't someone to fire the crowd up with lofty rhetoric but you get the impression watching him that he's a nose to the grindstone leader who has spent most of his adult life serving his community and would make a difference in Richmond. His candidacy will be interesting to watch.

Up next...Bill Cleaveland at noon on Monday.

Gwen Mason Has Got To Be Kidding

Candidates' websites are a great place to learn what they're really all about. It's a completely controlled environment where they can assert their message with no fear of cross-examination. As such, the words a candidate puts on his/her website should be scrutinized very closely. With that in mind, I couldn't believe the nonsense that Gwen Mason has thrown up on the first page of her website. Here's a quote.

My experience on Roanoke's City Council and advocacy for innovative and aggressive economic development, combined with environmental stewardship and educational excellence are exactly what the Citizens of the 17th District demand in Richmond.

As you can see, Mason is basing her entire campaign, in fact her entire candidacy, on her time on Roanoke City Council. Let's examine.

Gwen Mason's time on Roanoke City Council has been Alfred Dowe, Alvin Nash, budget shortfalls, failing schools, failed amphitheater projects, empty trolleys driving around downtown, Countryside golf course, etc. etc. etc. Not a great resume.

It gets worse though. Let's look at the specific aspects she's running on.

1 - "Innovative and aggressive economic development." Quick, someone mention 1, just 1, innovative or aggressive economic development initiative advanced by Ms. Mason. What? Can't do it? Well at least the local economy must have improved under her stewardship. What? The economy is in the toilet, home prices are falling, unemployment has doubled, budgets are crumbling? Guess no one told Ms. Mason.

2 - "Environmental stewardship" - I guess that's referring to her anti-cigarette butt campaign. Okay, I'm all for that.

3 - "Educational excellence" - Really? You're really running on educational excellence? Look, I have great respect for teachers (my whole family is pretty much in education) and I have a ton of respect for what the folks in Roanoke City, especially Rita Bishop and Dave Carson, are trying to do. Frankly, I don't want to rehash all the problems with Roanoke City schools here because that would be piling on. I'll just say this - if Ms. Mason has any ideas to promote "educational excellence," why is she completely failing on the local level?

I hate politicians who say "I have a plan and if you elect me I'll implement it." If you have a plan, IMPLEMENT IT NOW, DON'T WAIT TO GET ELECTED. Well, Ms. Mason's claims of "educational excellence" ring just as hollow. What she has proven is that she has no idea how to promote educational excellence and she'll take that very same inability with her to Richmond if elected.

Richmond has enough problems. Do we really want to send Gwen Mason to Richmond to wreak the same havoc she's currently wreaking on Roanoke?

Walker for Commissioner of Revenue Website

The Douglas Walker for Commissioner of Revenue campaign has launched their website. This site includes information about Douglas, his campaign, and factual information on the current state of affairs in the Commissioner of Revenue office. The website is

http://douglaswalker2009.com/

Lunch With Senator Cuccinelli - Friday April 3rd

ROANOKE COUNTY GOP LUNCHEON
Friday, April 3, 11:45
The Plantation at Sunnybrook
7342 Plantation Road

Special Guest - Senator Ken Cuccinelli

Click here for more information.

Gwen Mason - When Does It Become A Recession?

Yesterday I posted in response to Gwen Mason's comment that Roanoke was "fairly recession proof." I noted that, among other things, Ms. Mason was apparently ignoring unemployment rates that had gone up "60% in less than 6 months."

Well, I spoke too soon because Roanoke's unemployment numbers for February just came out and they aren't pretty. Unemployment has now doubled in the last year - all under Ms. Mason's watch.

Still think we're recession proof Ms. Mason? It's time for aggressive realistic leadership that will acknowledge the problems we face and work hard to combat them rather than burying our heads in the sand and pretending national economic issues don't impact us.

Thankfully, all 5 of our Republican candidates are out there talking about the issues that matter - jobs, jobs and jobs.