Roger Jarrell elected Rockbridge Republican chairman

 Roger Jarrell II with son Trey, 17, driver with Trey Jarrell Racing

Well over a hundred people turned out Monday night at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington where Roger Jarrell II won the chairman's race for the Rockbridge area Republican Committee, defeating incumbent chairman Cher McCoy 94-34. Three candidates had vied for the position but Al Tucker dropped out prior to the meeting.

Rockbridge Republican Committee is part of the 6th Congressional District that is represented by Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

Jarrell, a Lexington native who attended local schools, is well known in the area and had won support from residents and the business community. After graduating from Lexington High School and Virginia Military Institute, he went on to earn his law degree at Washington and Lee University and now is in private practice. His involvement in politics began 20 years ago when he worked on Goodlatte's campaign for Congress as well as campaigns for Oliver North and John Warner.

Jarrell is an adviser with his son Trey who is a NASCAR driver for Trey Jarrell Racing Team.

Attending Monday night's meeting were  Delegate Ben Cline who drove back from Richmond's special session on Monday to give a General Assembly update before returning for Tuesday's session, as well as incumbent Wendell Walker and challenger Vance Wilkins who are candidates for 6th Congressional District Chairman at the convention to be held April 26 in Daleville.

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.]