Interesting stuff happening in the 2nd Congressional District. With Scott Rigell all but anointed the Republican challenger, former RPVB chair Ken Golden has decided to run as an independent. CQ Politics is obviously not aware of this latest development as they changed the race from leans Dem to tossup. I’m thinking it should be leans Dem.
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Over in the 3rd CD, we have another former chair of the Virginia Beach Republican Party, Chuck Smith, challenging long-time incumbent Bobby Scott. No, living in the district is not a requirement for running. But if 3rd District Republicans were going to draft somebody to run, why not pick someone who a) does live in the district and b) didn’t start this cycle running in the 2nd.
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Poor Bob McDonnell – he can’t catch a break. First it was his being overshadowed by the antics of AG Ken Cuccinelli. Then he made his own splash with the Confederate History Month fiasco. Now it’s the addition of an essay to the application for restoration of voting rights to non-violent felons. Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states without an automatic restoration. Instead of making it easier, McDonnell has raised the bar. I thought this was the 21st Century.
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Monday was the deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming local elections. Many of the cities in Hampton Roads will have elections May 4. (No – I’m not going to list them because I will undoubtedly miss somebody.) Expect the campaign noise level to get louder as we get closer to election day.
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Speaking of local elections and McDonnell, the Governor is coming to Norfolk for a fundraiser for Randy Wright. Yeah, Wright, the guy who called the school board he helped to appoint “wusses.” After 18 years of sitting on council and appointing school board members, now he sees the light? Or was this an election year conversion?
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Finally, there will be a forum for Hampton City Council candidates this Thursday, April 15th, at 7pm in the Council Chambers. The forum is sponsored by the Virginia Peninsula MAL Unit of the League of Women Voters. There are six candidates vying for three seats and only one incumbent running for re-election. The face of the Hampton City Council will change with this election, so if you live in that city, this is an excellent opportunity to hear from those who would represent you.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Adam Sewer’s reporting that McDonnell is backing off the essay requirement. McDonnell’s claiming it was a “draft proposal”. You know, despite the fact that 200 felons have received letters about the essay requirement.
What a clown.
Chuck Smith has lot to worry about. Going against Rep. Bobby Scott in a heavily gerrymandered district is a steep hill to climb all by itself. Smith recently dropped from an failed attempt to get the GOP nod in the district that he actually lives in. There’s that mark of failure he’s gotta deal with.
So, he doesn’t even live in the 3rd and is off to a bad start with some GOP members that can’t believe he is being appointed and the other candidates pushed from GOP consideration. Smith also played a controversial role in the dumping of former RPV chairman Frederick.
To top it all off, Smith or any Republican offering, will face splitting the opposition vote with Libertarian candidate James Quigley. Quigley has already been traveling the district in order to take advantage of the Republican disarray.
http://jamesquigley4congress.com/
James Quigley has recently spoke about Rights Restoration, which is a main platform for him. From the start he held a stand on principle and Natural Rights of the individual.
“The real question is ‘When does our society recognize that an ex-felon has paid his debt to society?’ I believe that an individual’s debt to society is paid in prison and that he should not owe any money to the state nor should he have his right to vote held from him upon leaving prison.” – James Quigley
Keep in mind, these are people and they are people the state CHOSE TO RELEASE! Also understand the role of the felonization of everything by our “representatives” that want to appear tough on crime or immorality. They have made law that ends carreer chances, removes their right to defense (2nd amendment), and their right to vote for crimes that don’t deserve such harmful penalties. Remember how hard McDonnell fought to keep oral sex a felony under Virginia’s State Sodomy law?
I will say something positive about McDonnell and his proposal. It does serve positively in two respects. It does speed up the process timeline for restoration. Very importantly, he has brought this issue up to the front burner. That brings about public discussion and maybe we can put an end to Virginia’s backward process. I am also pleased to hear that McDonnell may be backing away from the essay requirement. I’ll give credit to acts that enhance freedom no matter the party. Principle, not partisanship. Freedom is the solution.
The vast majority of states automatically return voting rights.
Assuming the person that served their sentence actually found a job after checking off a past felony on the application, that person PAYS TAXES! Our country was built on that little principle that there should be “no taxation without representation.”
Further, if it is self-evident that we are all created equal, if it is put forward that man was endowed with unalienable rights by our creator, how does a MAN think they can remove those rights after they deem a person safe enough to release back into society?
It may prove to be difficult politically for some, but I rejoice in this opportunity to correct this wrongful policy. Rights delayed being rights denied, let’s get Virginia moving forward and remove this stain that tarnishes all that is so very wonderful about Virginia.