Adam Tolbert wins chairman of 9th Republican Congressional District

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Congratulations to Adam Tolbert, long-time Republican leader in Southwest Virginia, who won the chairman position at today's 9th Congressional District convention. Previous chairman Jack Morgan didn't run for reelection leaving an open seat.

Adam, 29, won by a vote of 801-291 over Charlie Hargis who was endorsed by E.W. Jackson.

Did I really hear that Russ Moulton was once again on the premises and trying to make changes during the convention? With all the smack talk from the Moulton side of the aisle about others, it's interesting how they are surprisingly quiet about Moulton's part in conventions and mass meetings all over the state far from his home base.

But Adam prevailed -- soundly -- making him one of RPV's youngest district chairs. He already has years of volunteer work behind him. The chairman of Smyth County's Republican Committee for the past several years, Adam has also been a member of the State Central Committee for several years, not surprising for someone who started volunteering on political campaigns at the age of 10.

A lifelong resident of Smyth County, he graduated in 2006 from The University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, Virginia, with a B.A. in Political Science, and in 2008 earned a Master of Science in Management degree from Liberty University. He also completed the 2008 Candidate Training Program (CTP) of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and currently works at the Wise campus of UVa.

On top of that, Adam spent a number of years blogging about politics as the Smyth County Conservative which is how I first met him -- a fellow blogger as well as a fellow State Central member. His blog provided information about upcoming races and candidates but on August 29, 2011, he announced his own plans to run for political office with a blog post noting his run as Treasurer. Though his opponent won at that contest, Adam continues with his grassroots leadership in a humble but determined way.

I've congratulated Adam on Facebook but wanted to congratulate him again for a fair race and solid win. He has a bright future in Virginia Republican politics.

Election Day in SWAC area ... ongoing updates

It's Election Day 2013 in Virginia. The polls are open ... voters are voting, candidate supporters are greeting them, and volunteers are sending them out the door with "I Voted" stickers.

The weather is good ... a cold, frosty start to the day with temps in the 20s is expected to lead to a high in the 50s under overcast skies.

What an odd year it has been with some newspapers refusing to endorse anyone for governor while others encouraged write-in votes for Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. Many are happy to see this election cycle finally come to an end.  For many, it marks the finish of the daily barrage of campaign emails, robocalls, and television ads.

Virginia is being considered a bellwether for the country. The tea party and Libertarian wings of the Virginia Republican Party have their dream team of candidates in Ken Cuccinelli, E.W. Jackson, and Mark Obenshain for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Four years after the Republican team led by Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling swept into office with historic leads, will it happen again?

This is a notoriously red area of the Commonwealth so what's going on in the central Shenandoah Valley area that includes Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County? I'll pass along news as I hear it.

10:15 a.m.: Churchville precinct had light but steady turnout. The voting location within Churchville Elementary School had been moved with only one table for check-in as opposed to the usual two. About half a dozen people were in line to sign in; two machines were in use. Interestingly, there was a card table set up with a McAuliffe sign and materials but no presence from the Republicans.

2:00 p.m.: Wilson Precinct. Steady, light turnout continued.

7:10 p.m.: Polls have closed and the wait begins for returns to be posted and announced.

Editorial: 'Virginia Mainstream Project Seeks a Wider GOP Current, Which Would Benefit Us All'

If Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling hadn’t announced formation of the Virginia Mainstream Project prior to the GOP’s convention, he certainly would have done so afterwards.

So begins Thursday's Farmville Herald editorial by Ken Woodley as he noted the lack of transparency and lack of inclusiveness currently in the Republican Party of Virginia.

Mr. Woodley continued:

There is nothing mainstream about the trio of Republican candidates emerging from the convention, which was held for the specific purpose of deep-sixing the gubernatorial aspirations of Bolling and handing the party nomination to Ken Cuccinelli.

The attorney general is joined by E. W. Jackson as the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor and Mark D. Obenshain, who’ll run for attorney general. Jackson made the most headlines following his nomination, with reports he has called the Democratic Party “anti-God” and labeled gays and lesbians as “sick” and “perverted.” Writing an opinion piece last fall for The Washington Times, Jackson, a minister, wondered how Democrats have “managed to hold on to black Christians in spite of an agenda worthy of the Anti-christ.

As the dust settles from the Republican convention held two weeks ago in Richmond, more are beginning to understand what Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said after the convention:

Bolling issued a post-convention statement rightly saying that “some of the things he (Jackson) has said are simply indefensible. These kinds of comments are simply not appropriate, especially not from someone who wants to be a standard-bearer for our party and hold the second-highest elected office in our state. They feed the image of extremism, and that’s not where the Republican Party needs to be.”

The entire editorial can be read here.