A few items from around the net:
- Norfolk budget hearing quiet. I went to the budget hearing last night. With no real estate tax increase proposed, the speakers mainly asked for support for the schools and for the Community Services Board. Although I didn’t get a chance to participate in the public forums during its formulation, I believe that helped tremendously in having the citizens of Norfolk be aware of what was coming down the pike. Kudos to city manager Marcus Jones for opening up the process. And he told me last night that he intends to embrace a continuous process regarding the budget, with sessions planned for this summer. He’d like to be able to deliver the budget earlier next year. Now if he can arrange for WiFi and cell phone coverage (the former was non-existent, the latter spotty) at the venue where the public hearings are held, things would be great. The city could live stream the event (the video of last night’s hearing is available here) and I would have been able to do more than just the occasional tweet.
- Wednesday Hamilton trial: the marital emails. Seems they just further proved that the former delegate was negotiating a deal for a job before he got the funding for the center. Also Wednesday, a state senate staffer testified that she was unclear about Hamilton’s role at the center, saying “I guess I didn’t want to know any more.”
- The tweet heard around the nation. Seems some folks were not aware of the joke that made the rounds after the death of Osama Bin Laden. I saw it on Twitter several times. So I was just amused when AG Ken Cuccinelli tweeted about it, misspelling Virginians. But I knew what he was referring to. Obviously, a lot of folks didn’t as it quickly ended up all over the place. But I have to wonder: was it a slow news day or what?
- Who is the 4th Dem candidate for the 2nd CD? That was my question after reading the story. I know Nye is considering a run (please don’t), that soon-to-be-former Del. Paula Miller’s name has been mentioned and businessman Paul Hirschbiel is giving it serious consideration. But the fourth name? Anybody have any info to share? 🙂
- Wagner to Newport News, Chris Stolle for Senate? So I thought once Virginia Beach got it second Senate seat back, Wagner would stay put. Seems that’s not necessarily the case and if he moves to the Peninsula to challenge John Miller (a mistake, I think), first-term Del. Chris Stolle will run for the second seat. That would leave the 83rd district seat open – my new district, I might add.
- Thursday Hamilton trial: the Runte video. The videotaped deposition of former ODU president Roseann Runte was to be shown to the jury today. And the trial will extend into next week, with Hamilton planning to take the stand.
That’s all I got. What else is going on out there?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
You know who else lives in the 83rd now?
John Amiral and Kenny Golden…
And Tommy Smigiel.
Do you really think Republicans will ever be desperate enough to give serious thought to John Amiral again?
I dont think Frank Wagner can beat John Miller. I think that unless Norment moves in to run against him Miller is a substantial favorite. The next best option for the Rs would be someone who is a longtime newport news resident.
I don’t know if a lot of people over in the 1st know who Frank Wagner is. I think that is something his campaign would have to work hard to over come if he decides to run on the peninsula.
Wagner would have a tough time in the new 1st. Norment says that the poll Republican ran at the start of the special session shows him beating Miller “comfortably.” If that’s a fact, there’s no downside for Republicans since any Republican can win the redrawn 3rd.
So the Pilot updated their story – Wagner is staying put.