What’s in a voting record

When candidates run for office, one of the first things that gets looked at is their voting record. The records don’t show who the person voted for, but they show voting frequency. Most importantly, they show primary votes, which is an indication of whether the person is a Democrat or a Republican.

When I saw my voting record in 2005, it reflected that I was a Republican. This was based on my voting in the 2000 Republican primary, which I admit to doing. It also shows that I voted in Republican primaries in 1996 and 1997. If there was a Republican primary in 1996, the SBE website doesn’t show it. The 1997 Republican primary was for AG, and it is possible that I went to vote, but I honestly have no memory of it. Somehow, though, my vote in the 2004 Democratic primary was not recorded. I know that I voted in that one.

Voting is a privilege that I exercise whenever I can. But like many, that doesn’t mean that I have voted in every election. I’m sure I’ve missed a few in past years. Outside of active party participants, most folks have missed a few. With more and more candidates coming from outside of the party structure, it’s bound to come out that they have missed votes, or they have voted in the other party’s primary.

Which brings me to Hank Giffin, Republican challenger to Delegate Paula Miller in the 87th. I understand that Hank’s voting record reflects that he voted in the 2005 Democratic primary, as well as some missed votes. (The local Republican party will likely want an answer about his missed vote in 2001. That year, in addition to the gubernatorial race, the House of Delegates races included the 87th, in which Thelma Drake was running.) If you recall, the Republican and Democratic primaries were held on the same day in 2005, forcing people to choose one or the other. Why, one might ask, would a solid Republican like Hank vote in a Democratic primary, especially when local guy Bob McDonald was on the Republican ballot for AG? I think it boils down to the subtitle of this blog – All Politics is Local.

I believe most folks identify as being a Republican or a Democrat based on what the party stands for. It is certainly the reason why I am a Democrat. The core values of the Democratic Party align with my own views. But when it comes down to local elections, the vote is based on the person. Who, besides the Democratic candidates for LG, was on the ballot in Norfolk in 2005? Me.

There were more votes for the Treasurer’s primary (4,179) than there were for the LG primary (4,071). Was Hank among the 108 folks that didn’t vote for LG? I don’t know. Did Hank go and vote for me? That possibility is very likely. Although I do not know Hank and his wife, Stevie, very well, I do know that they supported my campaign.

Does that make Hank a “bad” Republican? Of course not. Not any more than it makes me a “bad” Democrat because I voted in the 2000 Republican primary. These kinds of litmus tests are part of the reason that so few people are willing to run. And if the state Republican Party gets their way, folks like Hank won’t even be allowed to run, because he voted in a Democratic primary in the last five years. Who does such stuff benefit? Certainly not the voters.

Don’t think, by the way, that I’m not going to be as hard on Hank for his stands on the issues as I would any other Republican challenger. I will be. That’s what the elections should be about: the issues.