Everytime the Republican Party gains a majority the extremist take the wheel and drive the bus straight into a ditch. You want to get the Senate back and not lose the house in two years, tell the extreme right to get to the back of the bus.

When the best Colgan can get to endorse him at the single two Senators most in favor of fiscal irresponsibility in the Commonwealth, it kind of clears up what sort of fiscal legislation Colgan will continue to be supportive of.

Gee Greg, the best that Fitzsimmonds can do is the Farm Bureau, what’s that mean…that he’s going to be nice to animals? Looks like Potts and Chichester did a lot more for Colgan than the Farm Bureau did for Fitzsimmonds. Maybe next time Fitzsimmonds runs he can get the endorsement of the Animal Control Association.

So here are my predictions for local races putting my Democratic bias aside:

House District 50: Miller vs Rishell. One would have thought that with an incumbent who had been in office for just a year that repeat Democratic challenger Jeanette Rishell would have made more solid hits on Delegate Jackson Miller’s record. Unfortunately, little of substance got talked about during the debates between these two, and gaffes by Rishell, a progressive leaning candidates, allowed Miller to slip by virtually unscathed. Her mailings (which by the way I never received even though I was an early and frequent contributor to her campaign), talked about some bogus charges that Miller voted himself a pay raise while in the General Assembly. That, in turn, allowed Miller to check the voting records and trumpet her failure not to vote in several recent elections (not even by absentee ballot). She certainly put together a well organized campaign and caused Manasass Republicans to spend money that, in the past, they did not have to. While I predict she will not win, she has restored the two party system to a city that has lacked any loyal opposition for two decades.

Prediction: Miller over Rishell.

House District 13: Marshal vs Roemmelt. Another repeat of candidates. Challenger Bruce Roemmelt got off to a slow start in this campaign, but utilizing his rolodex, he raised some money. More importantly, he sent some damaging mailers out about how Marshall sells his support for votes in the General Assembly and how he wants even married couples not to have access to birth control. Had he started earlier with this kind of campaign, he would have greater inroads in the district given the influx of new voters who were not around 2 years ago and would be impressionable to change. I predict Marshall wins but he will still not be embraced by his fellow Republicans. P.S. I believe Roemmelt would be an excellent candidate for the State Senate in 4 years when Colgan does not run. He has the temperament, the campaign organizational skills and the right stuff to be a superb state senator.

Prediction: Marshall over Roemmelt.

Senate District 39. Colgan vs Fitzsimmons. It is a case of the long years of service of a conservative Democrat running against a closet gay Republican. Many observers outside the district say that Fitzsimmons made serious inroads by using the immigration wedge issue to hammer Colgan. However, so many Republicans, led by former Republican Delegate Harry Parrish’s wife and son, will cross over and pull the Democratic lever leading other likeminded Republican to re-elect a Democrat. Hopefully, this will bury this Republican idiot who needs leave Larry Craig behind and come out of the closet.

Prediction: Colgan over Fitzsimmons.

Manasass Clerk of the Court: In this three way race, you have actually have someone who has experience as a Clerk along with a legal background. Attorney Bill Ryland has both. His challengers, a Republican who has been a supervisor and delegate and has all the charm of a bitch in heat and an independent, who has been chairman of the school board, who has little gravitas let alone smarts to do this job. I predict Ryland in a walk.

Prediction: Ryland over the women challengers.

Virginia Republicans have finally been caught ala “the Emperor has no clothes.” and will lose their majority in the State Senate. And the result, including a Democratic Governor and one Democratic US Senator, puts the Republicans back in their minority status state wide. Oh, they will still be able to stamp their tiny feet and be obstructionists, as they are already, but, at least, their influence will be greatly reduced.

While I can not vote in Prince William County, I do predict that Board Chairman Corey Stewart will lose. His “johnny one note” tune of division will be rejected and Democrat Sharon Pandak will win. Unfortunately, Stewart’s compatriot in bigotry, John Stirrup, will get re-elected which will make Pandak’s job tough, but she will have a mandate for change that should put marginalize him for awhile. Of course, she and others on the board will have to still produce when it comes to overcrowding and zoning problems, but, hopefully, her methods will not be so draconian.

Finally, I predict that this whole illegal immigration debate has awakened a sleeping giant. In Manassas, almost 50% of the students are non-white yet there is only one black on the Board and no Hispanics. This will change as this ethnic group starts to organize and vote and run candidates, not only for the School Board, but for City Council. It will be interesting to see which political party is looking ahead and working on recruiting Hispanics as supporters. Will Democrats seize the moment and start addressing that group’s issues? Or will Republicans use religious connections to make inroads? Stay tuned for some interesting times.

Prediction: One Hispanic on Manassas School Board in 2010; One Hispanic Manassas City Council in 2011.

Better the devil you know than the one you don’t?

Since Mexicans Without Borders is supporting Pandak, I suppose they are supporting Colgan too.

Have noticed that more than half the Republicans
I’ve spoken to in private about the Senate race,
hesitate and and/or roll their eyes when the
name FitzSimmons is mentioned. That is
reflected in the large number of yards with
Colgan and Miller signs. GOP elected officials
have to hold the party line in public, but
many clearly think Colgan is the best choice
for our community and for our Virginia.

Tax surpluses means overtaxation.

All they’ve ever delivered for NoVA is higher taxes, and referenda for higher taxes.

That’s about the weakest argument I’ve ever heard for reelecting Chuck Colgan.

You may be right, but you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Get rid of Colgan and you have no seniority in the senate, even if Republicans lose.

“Can someone “in the know” inform us on whats going on with this?”

Lots of Miller supporters are also Colgan supporters.

He has the most seniority in the Senate. If Democrats take control of the Senate, and Chuck Colgan wins this race, he will head the finance committee and be able to direct far more dollars to our region for needed things like schools and transportation.

There is a very, very good chance Democrats ARE going to take the senate this time. Dems probably won’t take the House, but Colgan will have far more power to demand compromises for us.

If FitzSimmons is elected, he will have zero experience in the senate, and since things are handled in a pecking-order fashion, he will be able to do very little for our district.