The Virginian Pilot has started a series in which the opinions of candidates running in primaries was solicited. The candidates were asked a broad question: “What does it mean to be a Democrat/Republican in your respective district?”
The first primary contest to be covered is the Democratic primary in the 13th Senate District. The candidates are Steve Heretick and David Bouchard. In his piece, entitled “Embracing access, transparency in government,” Heretick makes the case for Democrats:
I am proud to be a Virginia Democrat. History reflects that we have long been, and remain, the true conservators of the core values of leadership in this commonwealth: accessibility, transparency and straightforward common sense.
Bouchard’s op ed doesn’t answer the question; instead, he talks about “Making officials accountable.”
The electorate demands fiscal responsibility from its elected officials and that the representatives be hardworking. Its residents want security in their homes, the best education for their children and economic prosperity and security for their future. They are sportsmen and enjoy hunting and fishing.
I am running for office because current political views are out of touch with the needs of the voters.
Both of these candidates have been invited to appear at the candidates’ forum on May 31 sponsored by the Portsmouth Democratic Committee. I hope Democrats in the 13th will take the time to attend.
(Note: if the linked articles from the Pilot don’t display properly, use Internet Explorer to view them. For whatever reason, the Pilot still hasn’t figured out how to make these display properly in Firefox, my browser of choice.)
Technorati Tags: Steve Heretick, David Bouchard
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Bouchard might have done a better job than Heretick about taking the opportunity to use some free ink to tell folks what he’s campaigning on, but leave that aside (as well as Mr. Heretick’s apparent love for extended metaphors), what an outstanding case Mr. Heretick has made for the Democratic Party in Portsmouth. I don’t think I would have approached the topic with quite the same theme, but I still agree with his premise and think he’s encapsulated well what he thinks it would mean to him to be elected a Democratic member of Virginia’s General Assembly.
Too bad the national Democratic Party doesn’t embrace the same values espoused by Heretick (an unfortunate last name…lol).