There are so many localities in this region with local races, mainly constitutional officers, that I can’t begin to keep up. There are a couple of Virginia Beach races that I’ve been aware of – sheriff and Commonwealth’s attorney – but that’s about it. As it turns out, I was a little late in getting to these local races, and Thursday’s Virginian-Pilot had the endorsements in which I would have predicted. That I would have chosen the same that they endorsed – Ken Stolle for Sheriff and Harvey Bryant for Commonwealth’s attorney – cannot, of course, be substantiated. (And for those keeping track at home, note that both of these are Republicans.)
Here in Norfolk, we only have two contested races. One – for sheriff – is a no-brainer and the Pilot endorsed incumbent Bob McCabe.
The other race that is contested is that of the Commissioner of the Revenue. Incumbent Democrat Sharon McDonald is being challenged by Independent Doug Knack. The endorsement in this race will be a test for this new editorial board.
It would be easy for the board to fall back on their standard of preferring the incumbent and the why fire/why hire rule. To do so, though, requires that the board ignore the troubling signs that the recent tax commissioner ruling highlighted. Add to that the bullying I mentioned in this post plus the possibility of other rumored story being published before the paper endorses (which seems unlikely at this point), there will be even more food for thought. (UPDATE: The story was published here.)
I have to admit that I’m too close to this situation to see clearly what the Pilot may do. The current Commissioner was the only elected Democrat to openly and notoriously oppose my candidacy in 2005. I think I’ve been pretty clear – albeit in other circumstances – what I think of such behavior. But political reasons such as this should have no bearing on the endorsement.
My gut tells me that the Pilot will punt and not endorse in this race. And for challenger Doug Knack, that is a victory.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Non-endorsements by newspapers are pathetic. They chicken out of Presidential contests, and in some of these local ones, they give a puny half-hour interview and are surprised if they don’t hear much about the campaign. Maybe if their newspaper wrote more than one article every 10 weeks about a campaign, the editorial board could have some information about candidates and races.
But they can’t puff up about their endorsements and the responsibility that does with it if they shiver at the thought of making choices.
oops “does” should’ve been “goes”