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Redskins Win, FitzSimmonds Raises Some Cash
By Greg L | 18 September 2007 | 29th VA Senate | 24 Comments
Bob FitzSimmonds had a great Redskins event with George Allen at Conrad and Galit Holtslag’s home in Gainesville last night. The Monday Night Football event was billed as a pre-game celebration and brought out a capacity crowd of young and old supporters for Bob, even including some former Colgan backers.
Jackson Miller introduced Governor Allen who did a great job exciting the FitzSimmonds fans. The Governor criticized illegal alien apologists like Chuck Colgan who say illegal immigration is an issue that should be exclusively handled at the federal level. The Governor gave the great example of how that thinking would translate into if Manassas and Prince William County Police Departments were unwilling to pursue bank robbers because the crime they committed was a federal one. The supposed exclusion of local police officers from assisting federal authorities in investigating this one set of criminal activity is nonsense.
Bob gave a great speech hitting on the need for change in the State Senate to address illegal immigration and transportation. Bob discussed the need to de-incentivize illegal immigration by denying state benefits to illegal aliens and going after their employers to the extent that federal law permits, especially when they are state contractors. Bob also went after his opponent’s inactivity on transportation funding reform and his proposed 15 cent a gallon gas tax increase. The crowd responded pretty well. Some attendees actually reopened their wallets to give Bob a larger donation after his speech.
With Bob’s understanding of the issues and the energy his campaign is generating, it looks like Manassas and Prince William might finally have a State Senator who will actually address illegal immigration and fight for our fair share of transportation money. Having sent out three mailers this week, perhaps folks are going to start figuring out that not only is this campaign getting the financing it needs in order to be competitive, but is gaining a lot of traction with the electorate and is well positioned to deliver an upset victory in the 29th District. While Colgan really isn’t doing a whole lot in a race he really didn’t want to be running, Fitzsimmonds is working hard, and doing all the right things so far.
The poll question below started in March, and is heavily influenced by the conventional wisdom that’s been pervasive so far which held that Colgan was pretty much a sure bet. While that poll is showing a 57-43% consensus that Colgan is going to win, the dynamics at this point I think should give good cause to narrow this margin to toss-up status now.
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24 Comments
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How many people were at the event? Please give an estimate. I like recaps of events but it’s hard to get a feel for if there is not some sort of count.
I’d say there were about 80 people there. Conrad’s house was pretty well packed.
It’s pretty funny that George Allen is now a staunch illegal immigration opponent. Too bad he didn’t actually do anything relevant to the cause when he had the chance…
Monday morning quarterbacks are a dime a dozen…..
It’s too bad that Bob Fitzsimmonds hasn’t “seen the light” and still supports the scourge of the Republican party, Faisal Gill.
Dave B.
How can one man do something in the Senate? You do need a majority in order to get something done.
I’m voting for Bob Fitzsimmonds. I think he will do a fine job. He did live in Westgate and he understands the problems we face. I think he will represent us very well.
80 huh. Colgan had 200 plus on Monday night, the same night the Redskins were playing. And there were several Republicans there.
To be credible you must be objective…..
Seems to me everyone wants to forget FitzSimmonds support of amnesty a few months ago…remember he said if you dont like it move.
There have been 13 bills to come out of the General Assembly dealing with illegal immigration. Colgan voted for all 13. Other bills failed because the Republican Attorney Gerneral’s Office said they conflicted with federal law.
Colgan voted to give 287g authority to local police.
Colgan is the only local member of the General Assembly that submitted a budget amendment that would have given Manssas City Police funding to send thier officers to 287g training. The Republican majority committee killed the bill because other juridictions jumped on it also and it became too expensive.
Colgan voted to make it illlegal for an illegal ailen to get a drivers license, for an illegal ailen to posses a fireram , voted to require juvenile detention centers to notify ICE when an illegal was incarcerated and he voted for a host of anti gang laws.
Let’s be real on transportion - The 29th District gets more new road money than any other District in the State. When you get off the expanded lane on 66 and drive down the bypass- thank Colgan. And don’t forget to look at GMU. His legislation or budget amendments funded all those. Harry Parrish is gone, if Colgan goes so does his seniority. And on issues important to Manasasas and Manassas Park, he carries the water in the Senate for Jackson Miller and Bob Marshall. If you think Bob FitzSimmonds can bring that back to Prince William I got some prime border front property in Arizona I want to sell you.
I agree. To go from number 1 to number 40 is a long way down. There is no way that a freshman senator such as FitzSimmonds would be able to bring home more transportation dollars than the number 1 Senator.
I guess that’s why we don’t have any transportation problems in the county. Ooops, perhaps all that transportation money we should have gotten from Richmond got earmarked for the Manassas Museum or something…
Anon 5:24, to be objective you have to have some facts….
FitzSimmonds has consistently been tough on illegal immigration. FitzSimmonds has been speaking about his plan for illegal immigration the entire campaign and worked for Senator Cuccinelli when Cuccinelli introduced and PASSED SB 313 (2006)that requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to furnish monthly lists to the State Board of Elections of license applicants who indicate a non-citizen status on their application.
Colgan voted AGAINST SB 313 because he didn’t want to close the loop hole that kept illegal immigrants from voting.
Colgan also voted for Senator Saslaw’s SUBSITUTE to HB 2339 (2003) that would have allowed illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition.
Colgan has sponsored ZERO bills about illegal immigration during his 32 years in Richmond.
Colgan doesn’t want to do anything about illegal immigration, if he did he would have sponsored actual legislation to de-incentivize it. Colgan refuses to do anything about illegal immigration because that would mean he would be taking away the inexpensive labor from his campaign donors in real estate and development.
The idea that Colgan carries the water for anyone in the Senate is laughable. Colgan carries less bills every year and co-sponsored ZERO of Delegate Jackson Miller’s bills. Colgan has TWICE endorsed Janette Rishell against Jackson Miller and happily campaigns with her.
Although the transportation crumbs we get from the state and his appearances at road openings of projects paid for by the county are appreciated, we need a senator with the energy to actually address the transportation crisis that Colgan allowed to develop while he was fighting for Shenandoah to be the state song.
Colgan needs to retire. He is in his 80’s and working on a second marriage since his wife passed away. He is out of touch with our community.
Bob Fitzsimmonds did live in Westgate. He talked with me quite a while and he is going to do something about illegal aliens. I misunderstood him when he suggested I move. Anyway, he explained himself and I am more than satisfied with his answers.
I believe Bob Fitzsimmonds will indeed represent our district very well. I am voting for Bob Fitzsimmonds!
Of course he is gong to say you misunderstood him. What do you expect him to say?
Knox
Just a little FYI, Senator Colgan and his wife Agnes, raised their family right here in WestGate where Patty and I both live.I’ve lived on this very block my whole life. Heck, Chuck lived at the end of my block for decades. He too is very aware of this place has become. However, he’s not taken a strong stance against illegal immigration. WestGate has been hit hard over the last 7 or 8 years, but especially the last 3years. I haven’t seen a single Colgan sign or seen any campaigning from the Colgan Camp. I’ve got several pieces of literature from Bob. This will be the first time in my life I have not voted for Chuck, and it doesn’t seem right. However, it is right to help, support and vote for Bob FitzSimmonds this go around.
One thing i don’t understand is, why the Republican party keeps letting Bob run. This guy is a proven loser. Why don’t they try for someone better? I guess this is the same party that got us in Iraq.
Bill
Lafayette,
Don’t worry you will begin seeing literature and signs once the Colgan-Rishell Democrat workers make it out your way. Oh and the mail will come once Tim Kaine sends him another check after another fundraiser with the pro-illlegal crowd.
Anon@6:13
I know I’ll be getting more glossy junk mail. I hope Dems. see my Republican signs and keep on truckin’. The only thing Gov. Kaine needs to be signing a 287(g) program and MOU statewide. Has everyone signed that petition. Link is at the top of the page.
Because the PWCRC is being run by losers, Mr. Manning.
Senator Chuck Colgan has been consistently against Illegal Immigration. His website speaks clearly and plainly on the subject. Facts trump opinions.
http://colganforsenate.org/?page_id=18#3
Yes, Roger the facts do trump opinion.
Fact: Colgan voted for Senator Saslaw’s SUBSTITUTE to HB 2339 (2003) that would have allowed illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition.
Fact: Colgan voted against Senator Cuccinelli’s SB 313 (2006) and Delegate Lingamfelter’s HB 170 (2006) that required the Department of Motor Vehicles to furnish monthly lists to the State Board of Elections of license applicants who indicate a non-citizen status on their application.
Fact: Colgan introduced ZERO of the “some 70 bills” listed on Colgan’s website.
Fact: Colgan has consistently opposed illegal immigration reforms. Earlier this campaign, Colgan said that illegal immigration was exclusively a federal issue.
Was Gill at this event since Bob has endorsed him?
Fitz is a born loser and will come in last again this year. As soon as the PWCRC boots Kopko and his cabal out they may be able to field a decent candidate for the 29th.
FYI CONVA–FitzSimmonds spoke on behalf of Kopko’s opponent Brian Murphy at the PWCRC convention in 2006.
Much appreciation though about bringing up FitzSimmonds’ Frank Wolf/Harry Parrish-like campaign record instead of the issues at hand.