Royse Ready To Rumble
By Greg L | 14 March 2007 | Prince William County | 4 Comments
Chris Royse was the first to step up to the challenge of taking on Woodbridge Supervisor Hilda Barg, long before rumors of her stepping down encouraged a host of opportunists to at least start hinting at making a run. Although waiting for the right opportunity to conduct a campaign is smart politics, I tend to respect more those who will make a run because they think they can beat the incumbent rather than wait until it looks like the incumbent will walk away from their office and then join in the mad rush to take an open seat. Seeing that Chris Royse is a former airborne trooper, this behavior is to be expected. From everything I’ve seen, avoiding a fight isn’t what these guys tend to do.
Chris is having a fundraiser with Senator Jay O’Brien and Delegate Jeff Frederick on Sunday, March 25th at Kilroy’s Restaurant in Woodbridge between 2-5PM. Contact Chris at cfasano@chrisroyse.com to let them know you’re coming and help support a great campaign that has a good chance of delivering Woodbridge from the out of control development and ineffective representation it has been saddled with for so long. Woodbridge would be well served by Chris Royse.
As for Hilda Barg’s intentions, I think the number of candidates at least suspected of running for the seat lend credibility to the rumor that she may not run for re-election. Hilda Barg hasn’t earned a lot of loyal support in the Woodbridge district and probably understands that she’s in a weak position this election cycle. Without a solid party organization behind her, even if she did run her chances at victory aren’t that great. BVBL readers seem to agree, saying that Hilda Barg is currently the most vulnerable incumbent in Prince William County.
The entrance of Steve Keen as an independent adds an interesting factor to this race, as Keen looks like he’s going to campaign more as a Republican than anything else. Assuming Barg doesn’t run, and if Keen can gain traction, which is not at all certain without some sort of party organization to support him, it’s possible that Democrat Robert Rice might gain some advantage as Republicans choose between Royse and Keen leaving the remainder to support Rice. Between a Republican actually running as a Republican and one who is not, Royse would have the upper hand over Keen, and the ability of Royse to garner financial and volunteer support will be critical in fending off a spoiler from an independent. Rice’s local party organization can pretty accurately be described as “communist” and is clearly broken, however, which may hamper his competitiveness and negate the impact of an independent being in the race. Rice will have to depend on DPVA support, which is not at all certain, and if it’s not there Rice may not end up being much of a factor. Rice and Keen both have significant challenges to overcome, but if they do overcome them, this could be one heck of a race.
With all the uncertainties here, it’s important that Republicans give Chris Royse plenty of support so he can remain out in front in this race and stay there. Overwhelming the independent in the race and taking the fight to the Democrat will be the key to success, and that will take money and volunteers. Let’s make sure he has plenty of both.
UPDATE: Apparently Robert Rice isn’t much of a candidate, so unless other Dems announce, or folks will pull the lever for anyone with a pulse who has a “D” next to their name, for now it’s between Keen and Royse, assuming Barg steps down.
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Chris Royce has got the energy, the vision, and the heart to serve Woodbridge and to keep the concerns of the average homeowner at the forefront. It’s time to retire Hilda, the developer’s mouthpiece, and let some young blood in. Give ‘em hell, Chris!
Greg, Rice seems like a nice guy but I doubt that he has much of a chance against the other candidates declared and otherwise for the Democratic nomination. I have heard numbers upwards of 8 possible candidates. Two of these are pretty serious and will be the real contenders, not Rice. Rice will be the also ran for the nomination for sure.
Chris Royse brings experience to the BOCS that is needed in bio-tech, Homeland Security and communications. He will make sure our community is safe and that the needs of our children are being met.
We need someone that will make good decisions for our future, and welcome in developers that offer the right kind of growth. Chris isn’t a friend of the developers, and will make it his priority to cater to the desires of the community in which he serves.
Chris has the intelligents and guts to take Woodbridge out of the 20th Century!
Please make a contribution of money, time or both to help Chris Royse get elected this November.
Word I have is that Hilda is waiting as long as possible to announce her retirement so that she can try and get her own designated-successor the Dem nomination and block out any other candidates. Sounds as if that isn’t working out so well with the number of Dems salivating at the chance to get the nod.