This Sunday’s On the Record will feature post-election analysis. Host Joel Rubin will be joined by retiring Virginia Beach Republican delegate Leo Wardrup, CNU Political Science professor Quentin Kidd, and yours truly 😉
Catch the show Sunday at 10:30am on WVEC. If you miss the airing, it will be available on the website on Monday.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Go, Vivian! Stop Leo! (Oh, wait, he’s already been stopped.)
Vivian:
Be sure to mention that when the rest of Tidewater was going blue, Republicans lose two Delegate Seats in Va Beach and the lose a Senate seat on the penninsula, the 4th District portions of Tidwater remained solidly red with Fred Quayle hammering Heretick in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Isle of Wight. Addtionally, Delegate John Cosgrove destroyed his Democratic opposition and Sen. Blevins routed his opponent as well. Best, Wayne Ozmore
but the senate is blue and will do redistricting and next election, more dems in the house.
so tell them that vivian.going out of town but will tivo the show.
Does anyone have any idea why the Heretick-Quayle race was non-competitive. During the summer, it seemed to have the makings of being quite competitive…. Not a blow out such as it was.
Um, guys – the show was taped Friday morning. It’s not live.
Eric – I didn’t expect the blowout, either. The biggest factor in the loss was the same as always: Heretick didn’t make the case for firing the Quayle and hiring him to enough voters. It takes money to get the message out and Heretick just didn’t have the resources.
Good job, Vivian! And thanks for the reminder on why Leo didn’t even dare to run for re-election. I’ve never heard anybody talk that much and say so little (or so little that’s true, anyway).
Nice job Vivian! To hear Leo talk (and he did a lot of it) the General Assembly was run by him, and only him. I think he ignored the pitiful performance of the VB Republican Party in getting out the vote in this past election. Whomever was in charge of that dropped the ball. I’m told its some ego-maniac lawyer (is there any other kind?) who was too busy telling everyone how important he was, than getting the precincts organized. The vote tally’s in the 83rd and 21st House districts show a complete and total lack of organization. Hats off to the Dems for their special efforts. It was the difference in the victory.
I had to laugh about Leo’s whining about “Seniority” and how it will hurt our area that he isn’t there any more. And exactly what was it that his “seniority” got us? Regional government? Higher taxes? An increase in state spending by 125%? If this is what he and Williams got us with their so called “Seniority”, I’ll take what we’ve got now.
You did a great job, and it is amazing that Leo’s ego, allowed you to even sit at the same table with him.
I think you guys are taking this a bit too far. Leo was simply talking about the fact that he sat as one of the seven budget conferees, which is a very important opportunity for a delegate or Senator and one earned by seniority. He stated that he used that position to ensure that cities beyond Virginia Beach were able to receive appropriations that were important to their local governments, like help for museums, performing art centers and local transportation projects. If you don’t think those investments are worthwhile, or would rather see some other section of the state get that money, then say so. But don’t beat up Leo for it, unless you intend to do the same for the next Democrat from this region who attempts to do the same.
As a matter of fact, Leo referred to one, Johnny Joannou, who will likely be the only Hampton Roads legislator among the budget conferees next March. If the Republicans had maintained their majority, Ken Stolle, Tommy Norment or Fred Quayle might have had a shot at a seat.
In the new Senate, basically all the Democrats who will be on Finance, from whence budget conferees are chosen, will be freshmen with the exception of Ed Houck and Chuck Colgan, neither of whom are from here. I hope Dick Saslaw, the new Majority Leader, or Colgan, who will likely be the new finance chair, will put an effective and respected Hampton Roads Senator on the conferees panel…but there is no guarantee.
So yes, Leo might be a bit sanctimonious in taking credit for looking out for Norfolk and other Hampton Roads cities through his position on the budget conference committee; but let’s be honest. Hunter Andrews had a similar personality and got similar results and no one, at least on the Democratic side, was complaining then.
As for regional government, it’s the cities that went to Richmond asking for the ability to raise and spend our own money on transportation in Hampton Roads, rather than waiting for it to dribble down from the state. The Republicans, House and Senate gave them pretty much what they wanted. There is no way the General Assembly, controlled by D’s or R’s, was, or ever will, raise enough money ($9-billion) to build the six projects our MPO has determined the region needs in a timely manner. The issue, therefore, is whether we actually want the authority to raise this money on our own or wait for it.
If the D’s have a better way to do this, without years and years of delays, I think we are all open to hearing it. During the election, all I heard, and correct me if I am wrong, is that we should have the state pay for this, instead of the region. Paul Fraim and Joe Frank are good Democrats. Ask them whether they would rather stick with and amend the plan passed last year or start all over.
I am not an apologist for Leo Wardrup and believe me, he did plenty over his time in Richmond to tick off people in both parties. But politics, at that level, is not for the squeamish; and if there are going to be several SOB’s at the table where key decisions are made on money, I hope at least one of them is ours, regardless of party affiliation.
Joel – Leo left out one very important point: he decided to retire. No one made him do it, he didn’t lose an election. If he was so concerned about the lack of local representation on the budget conference committee, he should have run again.
Vivian Paige is Virginia’s answer to Donna Brazile. Good job on OTR!
I suspect Louis was being complimentary there, but VJP, I expect much greater things from you than Ms. Brazile.
If I’m being compared to Donna Brazile, think I can get the same money she does? 😀
For those of you poking at Leo, he’s had health problems that won’t allow him to do some of the things he used to. (After surgeries on both knees, he can’t walk door-to-door.) Given the physically demanding nature of a General Assembly session, he hung it up.
Pretty good job by Vivian. Living in the 83rd, I’m glad she pointed out our changing demographics. Virginia Beach’s densest minority concentration falls mostly in the 83rd (one precinct in the 90th). It may be fun to say Bouchard won by only 130 votes, but if Joe can get those southwest precincts to turn out, he’s fairly secure.