Kay Coles James for RPV chairman: A visionary for the future of the party

The announcement by Pat Mullins last week that he will step down as State Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) on January 31, 2015, has begun the usual flurry of telephone calls and email messages that range from “Who will run for RPV Chairman?” to outright requests for support for one candidate or another.

Before the RPV State Central Committee rushes to promote from within, Virginia Republicans should step back and ... (continue reading here)

RPV's Mullins to resign

The expected email from Republican Party of Virginia chairman Pat Mullins came this morning congratulating Republican candidates for wins on Tuesday. Then the bombshell part.... (continue reading here)

Campbell County Republicans file lawsuit against RPV and former Campbell County GOP chairman

Members of the Campbell County Republican Committee filed suit late Tuesday afternoon, September 30, 2014, in Campbell County Circuit Court against the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) and former Campbell County chairman Leslie Williams for declaring null and void the results of a Mass Meeting held in Campbell County on March 20, 2014..... (Continue reading here)

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins’ partisan retort is not helpful in search for ethics reform

No sooner had Governor Terry McAuliffe announced a bipartisan committee on ethics reform to be headed up by former Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Democratic Congressman Rich Boucher than the Republican Party of Virginia’s Chairman Pat Mullins came out with a snarky response....  (Continue reading here)

Mike Thomas: Cheating is not a conservative value

By Mike Thomas
First Vice Chairman, Republican Party of Virginia

When did cheating become an acceptable “conservative” value?

There has been a whole lot of talk about slating in party circles recently. It isn’t surprising. While slating has been around a lot longer than I have been involved in Republican politics (since 1976 when I was in high school), over the last decade it has taken place only once or twice each year and not in any larger locality.

Discussions about slating are not only appropriate, they are necessary. I am even among those who are open to eliminating slating. But, my purpose here is not to discuss slating. My purpose is to stress the importance of us following our own rules.

So, why do I bring it up?

Because the slating that occurred this year on a larger scale than in recent years is being touted by some as a reason to cheat. Cheat, as in intentionally disregarding the rules that Republicans purport to abide by.

The Republican Party of Virginia is held together by shared principles, as embodied in the Republican Creed, and it is held together and governed by our Party Plan. While the rules themselves aren’t the reason we come together, they are the written statement of how we agree to work with one another. They protect the rights of the majority as well as of the minority on any given question. They provide a method to resolve disputes and a way to keep moving forward even in the midst of controversies.

One of the clearest – and most fundamental – rules of the RPV is that in order to be a delegate or alternate to a convention, you must first be elected by a mass meeting, party canvass, or convention. No individual or group is given the power to appoint delegates. They must have been elected. Not prefiled. Elected. Not having stated in open meeting, “I want to be a delegate.” Elected.

Sometimes mistakes happen. Mass meetings have forgotten to electe delegates due to a hotly contested race for chairman. Some have elected delegates but forgot to elect alternates. Some have forgotten to elect a county committee. There have been numerous cases where, through a genuine mistake, one or two individuals were left off of the list of people nominated to the mass meeting. There have been cases where an individual was not elected because of an erroneous determination that they were not registered to vote.

I have sympathy for anyone in such a circumstance. It has happened to numerous personal friends and allies, in one case resulting in the election of a candidate whom I did not favor.

And, there have been thousands of people over the years who were not elected a delegate because that is what the majority of the mass meeting intended to happen. Most of the time this has been to secure the nomination of a candidate for public office. Other times it has happened to win an intra-party contest. And, in a few cases, it has happened to “settle an old score.”

This is the point. Regardless of the reason that an individual was not elected a delegate, the fact remains they were not elected. And the many, many times that I have wished there was a way to correct a mistake – even a political miscalculation – have all led to the same result: No committee or convention can seat as a delegate someone who was not first elected as a delegate by their local mass meeting, party canvass, or convention.

Unless, that is, you ignore the Party Plan and attempt to do it anyway. Unless you cheat.

If this happens, and if the State Central Committee were to uphold this, thus setting the precedent of it being okay to ignore the Party Plan as long as you have the votes on a given committee, the consequences for the RPV and indeed for the future of conventions would be enormous and disastrous.

Consider these possibilities, because there is no difference. None. Why bother with holding a mass meeting at all if your District Committee is going to elect the delegates it wants anyway? Why should prefiling not be ignored, too? While at it, why stop with convention delegates? Are the votes not there on the District Committee to sustain an appeal? No problem, we’ll just add a few members and give them a vote. Or, we’ll just “fire” one of the officers who doesn’t support the appeal.

If we are willing to throw one part of the Party Plan out the door, where does it stop? And on what basis do we then demand our rights to a contest or appeal under the same Party Plan we have already disregarded?

Most of us have complained for years about liberal activists and leaders who throw the rules out or ignore the law to reach the outcome they desire. When this happens, it means that brute force and the well-placed few win, rather than respect for the rules and the outcomes that it produces, as well as the confidence it inspires.

There have been plenty of contests over the years. Where there was a clear violation of the Party Plan and that violation clearly made a difference in the outcome of a contest, the appeals process worked and it worked well. But a contest or appeal that is brought simply because those bringing it don’t like the outcome should be dealt with swiftly.

In order to preserve mass meetings and conventions as a method of nominating candidates for public office – and while I favor party canvasses, I strongly support the party also having the option of mass meetings, conventions, and primaries – we have to be able to guarantee that the rules of our party will be enforced. If we cannot guarantee that a candidate for public office will win or lose a nomination based upon the rules rather than who the members of a committee are, we could see conventions taken from us.

Let’s make sure that does not happen. More importantly, let’s get on with the real business of the RPV this year – electing a new United States Senator and adding to our delegation in the House.
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Mike Thomas graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in political science and has spent more than 30 years working in local, state, and federal politics. He served from 1994-98 as the Commonwealth's Secretary of Administration for Governor George Allen, and as State Director and Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator George Allen. A senior vice president for State Government Relations at McGuire Woods Consulting, Mike is married and lives in Chesterfield.

Gillespie rakes in record $2.2 million in first quarter fundraising

Ed Gillespie's Facebook message said it all: "More than $2.2 million raised." It's a monumental milestone for the Republican going up against incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Warner for a number of reasons.

• 3 out of 5 individual donors are from Virginia.
• The median donation amount was $500.
• There were 827 donations of $100 or less totaling nearly $40,000.
• Donors reside in 89 of Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities.
• The $2.2 million raised by the Gillespie Campaign in part of the first quarter is more than any other non-incumbent Republican Senate campaign
• 15 Gillespie donors had previously given to Mark Warner

Today's numbers prove that not only is Gillespie capable of raising impressive amounts of money but he is also able to chip away at Warner's polling numbers, holding him beneath 50 percent in the last two polls. Gillespie's high name recognition in political circles is playing out in his quest for the Republican nomination and confirms he is the only one in the field of four candidates who can make a serious run against Warner.

Gillespie's campaign manager Chris Levitt commented about the fundraising total:

“In less than a full quarter, the Gillespie campaign raised more money than any other Republican Senate challenger in the country. Virginia voters know that they have an opportunity not only to replace a Senator who’s voted 97 percent of the time with President Obama, but to replace Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader. Our first quarter report shows strong support from across the Commonwealth and reflects enthusiasm for Ed Gillespie’s plans to put Virginians first and unleash job creation.

“In addition to having the funds to take our message to all Virginians, the Gillespie campaign has absorbed an overwhelming amount of support from grassroots activists, college students, and even independents who supported Mark Warner in 2008. Ed has been publicly endorsed by 49 of the 83 voting members of the RPV State Central Committee members and 51 unit chairs from around the Commonwealth. With unemployment among 20-24 year-olds continuing to be in the double digits, we have seen young people and college students flock to Ed’s message of growth and opportunity. Over the last five years, Virginians have seen a stagnant economy with work hours cut, too few jobs, higher energy prices, skyrocketing health care premiums and policy after policy from Mark Warner and President Obama that makes the problem worse. They know that Ed will be effective on day one to take us in a better direction.”

The Republican state convention to determine the U.S. Senate candidate will be held in Roanoke on Saturday, June 7.

Adam Tolbert wins chairman of 9th Republican Congressional District

I

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.

Ed Gillespie for U.S. Senate ... Roanoke stop on the campaign trail

 Ed Gillespie and Trixie Averill 

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie was in Roanoke Friday delivering remarks to about 65 Republicans who gathered at the Plantation on Sunnybrook to hear about his candidacy for the nomination at the state GOP convention that will be held on Saturday, June 6, in Roanoke. Many thanks to Trixie for organizing the lunch.

 Wendell Walker, 6th Congressional District Chair, and Roger Jarrell, Lexington-Rockbridge Unit Chair.

Fred Anderson, former 6th Congressional District chair (left).

Delegate Greg Habeeb with the beard he's growing until the budget impasse is resolved in Richmond.

Trixie Averill, Ed Gillespie, and Dr. Ed Lynch at lunch talking about cruises. Dr. Lynch teaches at Hollins College in Roanoke.

Fred Anderson offered the invocation.

Roger and Trixie

Tucker Davis with the Gillespie campaign in the 9th Congressional District.

Dan Webb with Congressman Bob Goodlatte's staff.

As Ed spoke, Trixie clicked and posted to Facebook. I did a bit of posting on Facebook, too, throughout the event.

Many familiar faces were there ... Molly and Larry Koon, Tucker Davis, Dr. Ed Lynch, Pete Larsen, Wendell Walker, Kathy Hayden, Roger Jarrell, Fred and Ann Anderson, Greg Habeeb, several elected officials, and many others.

The Plantation on Sunnybrook

Ed Gillespie is living the American dream. His father came to this country from Ireland because he found work here as a janitor. Ed grew up working in his parents’ grocery store. He went to college, is married, and has three children.

"I got to grow up to be Counselor to the President of the United States of America!" he said at Friday's lunch, and the words seemed incredulous to him even as he said them. After serving as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, he had been called to the White House during the administration of President George W. Bush.

Gillespie is a political consultant who has served as chairman of the Republican National Committee, worked with Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, worked with Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, John Kasich, Elizabeth Dole, George Allen, and Bob McDonnell. He also worked with Karl Rove to get Republicans elected. Read more about his background here.

He highlighted issues and opportunities, noting that years ago he started out parking cars in the congressional garage in D.C. -- running now gives him the chance to go from the parking lot to the Senate floor in the Capitol. He emphasized he is interested in seeing policies that will make life better, that he wants to be a candidate for all Virginians, a servant for all Virginians.


Gillespie became chairman of RPV while I was on State Central Committee; he advised George W. Bush, Bob McDonnell, and other men that I have admired throughout the years. I like what he's done. His leadership has helped Republicans win ... he has advised elected Republicans ... he has been very effective at raising money. He has my vote.


Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 4, 2014

Shaun Kenney to become new Executive Director at RPV

Julian Walker is reporting this morning that Shaun Kenney will become the next Executive Director at the Republican Party of Virginia:

Shaun Kenney has been selected as new executive director of an in flux Virginia Republican Party, a move that could be formally announced as early as Wednesday, party sources familiar with the decision told The Virginian-Pilot.

Notification to party officials that Kenney is the pick to replace outgoing executive director Anthony Reedy -- he is leaving amid some short-term money woes at the state GOP -- began this week, according to sources.

Looks like some changes taking place at RPV....

John Fredericks: 'Slating not so ancient'

Amid the bruhaha from the Virginia Beach mass meeting where the winning side used slating -- they had 600 voters to the opposition's 300 -- comes this from conservative radio host John Fredericks who reminds that slating is not so ancient, as the Virginia Beach mass meeting losers would have you believe:

SLATING NOT SO ANCIENT
By John Fredericks

Appearing on my radio show on Tuesday, Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins lambasted State Senator Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) for “slating” delegates for his Second Congressional District convention at Virginia Beach’s GOP mass meeting on Monday night.

Mullins said the tactic has not been used since the mid-1980’s.

He was off by a few years.

This was shared with me by a reader who dug up an Associated Press story from April 29, 2001 that appeared in The Daily Press.

"State Sen. Randy Forbes won the Republican nomination for the 4th Congressional District seat Saturday in a raucous and bitter convention that literally became a shouting match.

"Forbes won 464.7 delegate votes to 332.7 for Del. M. Kirkland Cox for the right to run in a June 19 special election for the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Norman Sisisky’s death last month.

"Forbes' victory came after a failed parliamentary bid by Cox supporters to free a major block of votes from Portsmouth’s delegation to vote as they wished. Delegates from Portsmouth and Forbes' hometown of Chesapeake were constrained by 'slating and instructing,' a practice that commits all of a delegation’s votes to the candidate that wins the majority.

"As a result, Forbes won all 93-delegate votes from Portsmouth and 261 from Chesapeake, the largest voting bloc at the convention.

"The practice is legal under GOP rules, but is regarded as a divisive tactic that often favors candidates from the most populated areas.

"Cox supporters sought to have the slating and instructing overturned in Portsmouth. They said that the vote among the delegation during a mass meeting earlier this month was not done properly."

Which leads us to the Second CD nominating convention on April 26 at Hampton University between Wagner and GOP activist Curtis Colgate.

Wagner supporters slated 32 delegates at the mass meeting in Virginia Beach that are expected to deliver over 600 votes for Wagner at the convention, virtually insuring his election.

But Colgate supporters, who control the convention by virtue of the current Chairman Gary Byler, are expected to mount a challenge to the slating process and allow all registered Virginia Beach delegates to participate, not just Wagner’s 32.

Colgate’s forces control both the rules committee and the credentialing committee.

And you thought Richmond was rough and tumble.

Former Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins makes a run for 6th Congressional District Chairman

Former Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins and his wife at
October 2010 Tea Party Convention in Richmond. (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

In a battle that's shaping up for 6th Congressional District chairman, former Virginia House Speaker and delegate Vance Wilkins is challenging the incumbent chairman, Wendell Walker.

Vance Wilkins was Republican Speaker of the House -- an historic first in the Commonwealth -- for a little over two years before resigning in 2002 after allegations of misconduct. While serving as delegate from 1978-2002, he was instrumental in helping build the Republican Party into a majority that loosened the Commonwealth from its long-time Democratic grip.

Vance Wilkins' reemergence on the political landscape could be seen in 2007 when he was adviser to a candidate who unsuccessfully ran against Augusta County's State Senator Emmett Hanger (R-24th). Since that time, Wilkins has been seen working Republican events, most recently at the Republican Advance in December, and has been a moving force recruiting current chairmen throughout the 6th. Known in the past as conservative, he has in recent years lined up with the tea party wing of RPV.

Wendell Walker, who has served as chair in Congressman Bob Goodlatte's district the past three years, may have cause to be concerned. It's obvious Wilkins is putting his trademark tenacity to work as he pulls out the call lists of leaders and former leaders in the Sixth and works the phone to gain support. His hard work is legendary from the 1980s and '90s when he recruited and campaigned for Republican delegates, bringing a majority to the House. There's been no word yet from anyone who has received a phone call from Walker but he surely must be working his lists, too, in this battle that will culminate at the 6th District Convention on April 26th.

Anyone interested in attending the 6th Congressional District Convention will be required to attend their local committee mass meeting to become a delegate. Information for all committees can be found at the Republican Party of Virginia website. The Augusta County Mass Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at 6:30 pm at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

[Update: Word was received after this post was published that confirmed Walker has been contacting convention delegates and making the rounds of meetings in the 6th District.]

Four GOP candidates file to seek nomination to run against Mark Warner

Four candidates filed by the 5:00 p.m. deadline on Saturday, February 1, 2014, to seek the Republican nomination for U.S Senate. The election, to be held in November, will pit the Republican against Democratic incumbent Mark Warner.

Besides submitting the necessary paperwork, a filing fee of $6,900 was required.

The four candidates, in order of filing, are:

- Edward "Ed" Gillespie, of Alexandria, a communications consultant, former White House aide, and former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

- Anthony "Tony" DeTora, of Fredericksburg, a senior policy adviser for a member of Congress.

- Wayshak "Shak" Hill, of Centreville, retired Air Force pilot and financial planning consultant.

- Charles "Chuck" Moss, of Nokesville, owner of a small network consulting business.

The Republican Convention will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Roanoke. Go to the Republican Party of Virginia website for more details.

Special Election: Another loss for Virginia GOP

Democrat Jennifer Wexton won Tuesday's special election for the 33rd State Senate seat vacated when Democrat Mark Herring became attorney general. This could potentially turn control of the state senate over to Democrats if they retain the lead after a recount of the Hampton Roads area seat formerly held by now-Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam.

This is the latest in a string of losses for the Republican Party of Virginia which has left all statewide offices in the hands of Democrats -- governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and both U.S. senators -- plus tonight's loss. Is it time to redraw the play book?

Eric Cantor addresses GOP Advance about future of Virginia Republicans

Congressman and Mrs. Eric Cantor at Republican Advance, Hot Springs, Va

At Saturday's lunch during the Republican Party of Virginia's 2013 Advance, Majority Leader Eric Cantor addressed the crowd of statewide Republicans as he shared his vision for the future of the party both in Virginia and across the country. That vision includes uniting the party around an agenda of conservative solutions that will work to address the problems faced by people every day.

“Over the last four years our party has had some success. In 2009 we witnessed the landslide election of our statewide ticket. Since then, we added Republican seats to our congressional delegation, as well as in the House of Delegates.

“There is no doubt we are facing some very real challenges. Virginia has not voted Republican in the last two Presidential cycles, we’ve lost both seats in the U.S. Senate and the most recent elections for Governor and Lt. Governor. There is no sugar coating this. The last time our party failed to hold any of the 5 statewide offices in Virginia was in 1969, the same year Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

“The Republican Party is at its strongest when we are united. We simply cannot succeed if we are fractured and if we are not committed to working together. In the end, the differences we may have among ourselves pale in comparison to the differences between our party and the Democrats. We need to be focused on dividing Democrats, not dividing each other.

“Winning elections is about convincing the voters that we have their back, that we’re on their side. If we want to win, we must offer solutions to problems that people face every day. We have not done this recently and it has allowed Democrats to take power, it has allowed them to push their partisan politics, and even worse to enact their leftist agenda.

“President Obama has been leading our country in a direction of dysfunction. He’s grown the national debt, he's grown the number of powerful bureaucrats as well as the number of people who depend on the federal government. Like most Democrats, Barack Obama trusts government over people. His actions defy his rhetoric of hope and change, and deny any chance of a real economic recovery.

“When our party is not united, and when we fail to offer a plan that connects with people to help solve their problems, we lose at the ballot box. When we lose at the ballot box, higher taxes win, job killing regulations win, big government wins. When we lose at the ballot box we get policies like ObamaCare, which anyone can see is a complete and utter disaster. To be perfectly blunt, ObamaCare is one of the greatest attacks on hardworking taxpayers this country has ever seen.

“Some believe this means we have to sacrifice our conservative values. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we take our conservative principles and bring them directly to the kitchen table, if we speak directly to people and explain why our conservative solutions work and why liberal ideas are set up to fail – there’s no beating our Republican Party.

“We have a built in advantage. Our conservative solutions actually work to address the problems people face every day. If we focus on them and use them to broaden our appeal, we can provide answers for everybody – not just conservatives like us, but to independents, and the many disenchanted Democrats who feel they’ve been betrayed by their party and their President. If we do this we can start to grow our party again.

“Our solutions work because we are focused on empowering people, not the government. We have a lot of work to do, but I am excited about the future opportunities. If we commit ourselves to go forward united. If we commit ourselves to an agenda that puts helping people first we can build enduring majorities both here in Virginia and throughout the country.”

Perhaps Bill Bolling should become the voice of Va Republicans

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has some advice for the Republicans of Virginia and, after the thumping the GOP has taken in recent years, it may behoove some to stop the witch hunts, step out of the echo chamber, and listen. Where the Party was once welcoming to all, it has pretty much become a right-wing closed-club society complete with purity tests and requirements of lock-step mentality.

In today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, the lieutenant governor offers five points -- and he notes these are his opinion but that won't stop the bashing from the usual suspects -- for Virginia Republicans who have let victory slip through their fingers to the point that every statewide office is now held by Democrats. The state voted for Barack Obama for president twice.

Those who need to listen to this advice will scoff and make another personal attack on the LG. I saw one blogger link to a post about Bolling being the only viable Republican to take on Mark Warner with the comment, "I would vote for Warner. Dead serious."

With that mentality, we will never win again.

In his op-ed, Lieutenant Governor Bolling observed:

This weekend, Virginia Republicans will gather at the Homestead resort for their annual Advance. In light of the adverse results in the 2013 statewide elections, the focus should be on revitalizing the Republican Party and making it more competitive on a statewide level.

With his Virginia Mainstream Project, his 20-plus years of experience in the legislature, his record of working with all sides of the political aisle, and his roll-up-your-shirt-sleeves-and-get-it-done attitude, perhaps Bill Bolling should become the voice of Virginia Republicans.

Update: A lively discussion about this post is going on over at my Facebook page.

Waynesboro Circuit Court Clerk will not release concealed weapon permit info to RPV

Last Friday Ryan Nobles at Richmond's NBC TV-12 reported that the Republican Party of Virginia had submitted FOIAs to state Circuit Court Clerks for the names and contact information of concealed weapon permit holders.

Today he reported that at least twelve clerks would not be releasing that info including the local city of Waynesboro.

Nobles wrote:

Last Friday, we broke the news that the RPV had requested the personal information of hundreds of thousands of permit holders to communicate their political message to them leading up to the fall elections. The RPV was legally allowed to ask for the material, but in less than a month the release of that information will become illegal.

The new law to seal the records of permit holders was passed in the 2o13 Virginia General Assembly session and was sponsored and championed by the Republican nominee for Attorney General, Sen. Mark Obenshain.

Clerks who were reported as denying RPV's request represented the localities of Waynesboro, Dinwiddie, Winchester, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Southampton, Suffolk, Middlesex,Isle of Wight, Bedford, and Prince George.

GOP tinkerings: Convention or primary?

As Virginia Republicans prepare to head to Richmond this weekend for the Republican Party of Virginia convention, the debate questioning convention versus primary continues with a party that is badly splintering from political maneuverings that have some questioning the validity of the event.

Today's Point Counterpoint discussion at VPOD (Virginia Politics On Demand) covers that issue with Adam Frost writing pro and Andrew Schwartz writing con, offering reasons for each.

Personally, I'm for primaries for all the reasons Adam lists. The longer I work in politics, the more I understand the relevance and importance of providing the opportunity for all to participate in an open process that is easily accessible in all parts of the state without having to jump the hoops of local committees who are easily corrupted.

Adam wrote:

Parties should never nominate candidates by convention.  Never.

Nominations by convention disenfranchise the vast majority of the party’s members:

- They disenfranchise people who are out of state on the day of the convention.
- Specifically, they disenfranchise the very military personnel that put their lives on the line in foreign lands to defend our republic.
- Conventions also disenfranchise people who are home but who very understandably don’t want to take the time and expense to go to a city potentially hundreds of miles away to spend an entire weekend being bombarded with political candidates, tactics, messages, signs, speeches, etc. ad nauseam.

He goes on to note, "Conventions result in an unmotivated party base. ... Conventions also tend to choose the least electable candidates because the activists at the ideological fringes are the ones most motivated to go to the conventions."

Conventions also disenfranchise a number of older folks because of mobility issues: parking and walking long distances to the venue, navigating the multiple stairs in the coliseum, hours spent listening to political speeches and more just to vote. This could also apply to others with mobility issues. Then there are the religious reasons -- those who observe Sabbaths on Saturdays when state conventions take place.

Not to mention that some who are unable to attend the mass meetings at the local levels are out of the convention process because of units like Augusta County that do not allow prefiling and will not add delegate names to the list unless they are physically present in the room. Business trip? Prior commitment? Sick? Hospitalized? Emergency worker on call? Too bad ... you're all out of the process. It happened to me because by the time the date, which was kept a secret up until a few weeks ahead of time, was known, I was unable to attend the Saturday morning mass meeting due to a prior commitment.

I am convinced primaries are the fair way to go in the nomination process.

Bolling asks RPV to rescind presidential primary loyalty oath

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today asked members of the Republican Party of Virginia’s (RPV) State Central Committee (SCC) to rescind the Loyalty Oath in connection with the upcoming presidential primary.

In a letter to SCC members, Lieutenant Governor Bolling wrote:

“In recent days various Republican Party leaders and activists have inquired about my position on the Loyalty Oath, so I wanted to share my views on this issue with you. While I certainly understand the rationale for a Loyalty Oath and respect the initial decision the SCC made in approving a Loyalty Oath, it is my belief that the Loyalty Oath should be rescinded.

“I am concerned that requiring a Loyalty Oath may send the wrong message about our desire to grow our party and create an opportunity for more people to become involved in the party. If we want to prepare the Republican Party for the future and build a robust organization that can defeat President Obama and Tim Kaine this fall, we must grow our party, make our party more inclusive and avoid any action that could be perceived as being exclusive.”

Lieutenant Governor Bolling added, “I realize that one of the challenges with Virginia’s current open primary system is the possibility that our primary could be influenced by Democrats or other voters who do not have the best interest of our party or candidates at heart. That is a legitimate concern and that is why I have always supported and continue to support voluntary party registration in Virginia. I know that the SCC’s decision to require a Loyalty Oath in the upcoming presidential primary was intended to try and diminish this possibility.”

RPV Chairman Mullins has called a special meeting of the SCC for January 21, 2012 at which time the committee will revisit the requirement for a Loyalty Oath.

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

GOP Advance: Volunteer of Year Marie Quinn

At Saturday's lunch where awards were handed out to volunteers throughout the state, one in particular was very special. Chesterfield County Republican Committee's Marie Quinn won the RPV Volunteer of the Year award for her unlimited volunteering throughout the years. Marie is always ready to help with whatever is needed and has been a fixture of the Chesterfield GOP for more than 30 years.

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins calls out Marie Quinn's name while Lt. Governor Bill Bolling holds the plaque to be awarded to her.

Since Marie was sitting at our table, I snapped a quick photo of the plaque on the table in front of her that says, "2011 Chairman's Award presented to Marie Quinn for her outstanding support to the Republican Party of Virginia." Congratulations, Marie! You absolutely deserve it!

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
3 December 2011

Good morning, Homestead ... Friday GOP Advance events

 The Casino on a frosty Friday morning before the sun peeked over the mountain.

 The ice skating rink and fire pit next to the Casino.

Steam rises as workers spray water on the skating rink.

This is the view out my window as I wake to a frosty cold morning at the historic 245-year-old Homestead Resort surrounded by the beautiful Alleghany Mountains. The hotel has been bought by KSL Resorts since the last time we were here with the Advance in 2008 and there have been some changes and improvements.

For one, the extensive outdoor Christmas lights that were turned off at midnight in the past stayed on until day break. Our room overlooks the Casino and the new ice skating rink so all the twinkly lights added a festive atmosphere throughout the night. This morning as I look out the widow as the frost-covered grounds, workers are spraying down the skating rink preparing for a busy weekend with a packed resort.

Also new is the fire pit adjacent to the rink where a roaring fire last night had families gathered around enjoying the cold mountain air. Lighted arches over walkways as well decorated lamp posts, faux carolers, deer, and trees add to the holiday feeling.

Indoors, the signature multi-story Christmas tree anchors one end of the Great Hall with its colored lights and decorations while a grand piano anchors the other end as a pianist plays seasonal music. Doors and arches throughout the resort are dressed in garlands and red bows, and the annual gingerbread house has turned into a gingerbread village in the garden hallway.

The Homestead is a winter wonderland, offering skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snow tubing, and snowmobiling. This weekend, there are hayrides available in the afternoons along with archery, paintballing, hiking, golfing, bowling, and shopping ... and don't forget people-watching in the Great Hall sitting cozied next to a crackling fireplace. It has been nice to once again see familiar employee faces. They are a wealth of information about the history of the place and interesting to talk with.

With over 600 Republicans registered for the Advance, the resort will be hopping. Registration begins at noon today in the South Parlor.

Tonight's RPV Welcome Reception will be sponsored by Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling in the Grand Ballroom West.

Tonight's hospitality suites will be headlined by Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's "Bowling with Bolling" at the Homestead bowling alley from 9-11.

Also headlining will be former Governor George Allen's "A-Team Huddle" in the Players Club from 9-11.

Others with hospitality suites tonight:

Room 900 – Virginia Conservative Victory Fund, hosted by Delegate Ben Cline
Room 906 – Virginia Senate Republican Caucus’ “Campaign Candy Land”
Room 1005 – Americans for Prosperity
Room 1006 – Dessert with Dave and Martha Foster
Room 1105 – Pat Mullins for Chairman
Room 1106 – Congressman Eric Cantor, U.S. House Majority Leader
Room 1200 – Delegate Rob Bell with "Camp Bell" -- s'mores and more
Room 1400 – Senator Mark Obenshain
Room 1520 – Delegate Bob Marshall
Bowling Alley – Lieutenant Governor Bolling’s “Bowling with Bolling”
Players Pub – George and Susan Allen’s A-Team Huddle
Washington Library – Keith Fimian - Growth Opportunity and Prosperity Fund

The complete lineup for the weekend can be found at RPV's website. Meanwhile, I'm going to roam the grounds, the building, and catch up with fellow blogger Jeanine Martin while watching for Republicans to begin arriving this morning. It's time for the 28th Annual Donald Huffman Republican Advance.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
2 December 2011