Ben Loyola won the Republican nomination in the 6th Senate District Saturday, defeating Dr. Joanne Lapetina. I “watched” the convention via Facebook and Twitter. From my view, it seemed that Lapetina was the better choice; Loyola seems intent to trying to paint Northam as a liberal.
Ralph’s my buddy, but he’s no liberal. I guess that’s the same conclusion others came to because on Friday, a bipartisan group called “Virginians for Northam” sent out an email announcing its formation. Note that the email (below) was sent prior to the selection of the Republican nominee: obviously, some Republicans weren’t happy with either choice.
From my view in the cheap seats, it appears the Republicans made a mistake in choosing Loyola over Lapetina. Neither was a perfect candidate, mind you: Loyola moved into the district to run and while Lapetina is a native of the area, her family lives in Richmond.
As Loyola is pulled to the right, his chances of winning this swing district diminish. That’s a shame, really, because although I’ve not met Loyola, I’m told he is a nice guy.
The email:
Hampton Roads Leaders Launch Bipartisan
“Virginians for Northam” Committee~ Co-chairs cite Senator Ralph Northam’s independence, willingness to work across the aisle as marks of true leadership in the General Assembly ~
NORFOLK – “Today we announce the formation of an independent committee of Republicans, Democrats and Independents in support of Ralph Northam’s re-election to the Virginia Senate,” says co-chair Matt Hales, the committee’s treasurer and small business owner in Norfolk. “While Republican Party activists have been divided for the entire summer over choosing their nominee, a broad coalition of business and community leaders, elected officials and supporters, regardless of party affiliation, are sticking by Senator Northam.”
“In less than four years as a member of the General Assembly, Ralph Northam has established an impressive record of independence and putting Virginia’s interests first,” says Onancock native and co-chair Vernon Brinkley, President and CEO of A&N Electric Cooperative. “While today’s hyper-partisan climate rewards party loyalty above all else, we are fortunate enough to have someone like Ralph who is willing to stand up to political pressures and do what is best for his constituents.”
“For many families today, the struggles have never been more challenging,” says former Accomack County Republican Committee treasurer Lou Marshall, a lifelong Republican. “Representing a diverse district geographically, racially, culturally, and economically, Ralph Northam has balanced the needs of all of his constituents. His brand of leadership is the right approach to solving Virginia’s problems at a time when we cannot afford to play political games at the expense of the taxpayers.”
In the coming weeks “Virginians for Northam” will be expanding its membership and highlighting Senator Northam’s broad base of support in the 6th District from the Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and up to Mathews County. “Virginians for Northam” is co-chaired* by:
Dr. Barbara Allison-Bryan, North, pediatrician
Vernon Brinkley, Onancock, President and CEO of A&N Electric Cooperative
Dr. Hugh Bryan, III, North, orthopedic surgeon and president-elect of the Medical Society of Virginia
Matt Hales, Norfolk, small business owner
Alula “Lou” Marshall, Temperanceville, former Accomack County Republican Committee treasurer
H. Spencer Murray, Franktown, member of the Northampton County Board of Supervisors
Debbie Stitzer-Brame, Virginia Beach, Executive Director of Edmarc Hospice for Children and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Norfolk
John E. “Ed” Tankard, III, Cape Charles, owner of Tankard Nurseries and Virginia Marine Resources Commission member, recently re-appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell
Richard Tankard, Franktown, current member of the Northampton County Board of Supervisors
*All co-chairs have offered their personal endorsement that does not extend to their affiliations, business or otherwise
Working with Democrats and Republicans, Ralph Northam has established a reputation of bipartisan leadership on creating jobs, protecting the Chesapeake Bay and defending Virginia’s sporting traditions, promoting public health, adequately funding and equipping public safety professionals, and keeping Hampton Roads a military-friendly community.
Pro-business leader
With the backdrop of CNBC naming Virginia the best state in the nation to do business, Senator Northam has supported traditional efforts to re-energize the state’s economy as well as innovative initiatives unique to Hampton Roads. From encouraging public and private investment in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island to the development of wind energy projects off Virginia’s coast to the extension of high speed interned broadband infrastructure to the Eastern Shore, Senator Northam has made jump-starting the economy a top priority.As a pro-business legislator, he has favorable ratings from Virginia FREE, a non-partisan organization dedicated to ensuring Virginia’s long-term leadership in economic growth and business-friendly government. Northam is ranked 1st out of the 10 first-term senators in legislative effectiveness and 2nd in overall business rating for the 2011 General Assembly session. Virginia FREE also ranked him, out of all 40 senators, 6th overall for his business-friendly voting record and 10th overall in legislative effectiveness.
Protecting Virginia’s natural resources
Senator Northam believes in the Second Amendment and has worked to ensure Virginia’s hunting and fishing traditions live on for future generations. Equally important is protecting the environment. Senator Northam has been a champion for the Chesapeake Bay, working to improve water quality standards and resource management practices. He has supported efforts to rebuild our blue crab populations and ensure that non-native oysters would not be introduced into the Bay. More recently, he co-sponsored legislation to ban phosphorous, a key nutrient pollutant, from most lawn fertilizers sold in Virginia.When it comes to environmental standards and economic development opportunities, Senator Northam does not believe there has to be a choice between the two. He has supported efforts to promote alternative energy solutions such as wind, solar, and biodiesel, worked to promote low impact development and improvements to wastewater treatment plants, and searched for ways to advance sustainable agriculture and aquaculture.
A doctor who puts patients first
As a physician who treats young children, Senator Northam knows better than anyone the challenges that both patients and doctors face with modern medical care. He has been an advocate for more affordable and more accessible health care focused on health outcomes, not insurance company profits. Partnering with the Virginia Foundation for Health Youth Board of Trustees, Senator Northam has helped dramatically reduce teen smoking rates in Virginia, and also sponsored legislation allowing the Foundation to take on childhood obesity, which is becoming an epidemic in our country. He sponsored the Student Athlete Protection Act, which requires new guidelines for protecting young athletes from brain damage due to sports related concussions.Public safety advocate
After working hard to shield first responders, including sheriff’s deputies, police officers, emergency medical personnel and fire fighters, from detrimental budget cuts, Senator Northam was recognized in June with the “Outstanding Legislative Service Award” by the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, an organization whose membership approaches 9,000 sheriffs and deputies. Northam also sponsored successful legislation to protect first responders from blood borne pathogens.A veteran who understands sacrifice
As an army veteran, Ralph Northam knows first-hand the sacrifices the men and women of the armed forces and their families make. With Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, located in the 6th Senate District, Senator Northam is committed to helping government work for the thousands of active duty and retired military personnel living in Hampton Roads and across Virginia. He co-sponsored legislation to eliminate property taxes for 100% disabled veterans and their spouses, and has been instrumental in securing state funding for BRAC-related projects around NAS Oceana.Background
Ralph Northam was born and raised in Onancock, Virginia, and is third-generation native of the Eastern Shore. At an early age Ralph learned the value of hard work as a farmhand, grocery store clerk, and mate on an offshore fishing boat during his teen years. After graduating from Virginia Military Institute and later from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, he completed his pediatric residency and a child neurology fellowship, working at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.Northam served 8 years active duty in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Major. Stationed in Landstul, Germany during Desert Storm, Northam treated wounded soldiers returning from the front lines. He was honorably discharged in 1992. Since that time, he has worked as a pediatric neurologist in his Norfolk-based practice at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.
Senator Northam resides with his wife Pam in Norfolk, where they raised their two children, Wes and Aubrey.
The 6th Senatorial District includes all Accomack and Northampton Counties and parts of parts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Mathews County.
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VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Lapetina was definitely the better choice. We would have seen a clean, collegial campaign based around issues actually facing the district. With Loyola, we get someone who’s just not realizing he’s running for the State Senate and not Congress. Northam is definitely not a liberal and every time I confronted a Tea Party member at the convention with the facts about his voting record they looked like a dear in the headlights. Being in touch with reality is definitely not one of their strong points. It’s sad that Norfolk is going to be put through such a dirty campaign over the next four months, but at least we all know it’s going to end in a crushing defeat for Loyola. Even his own consultants were very unsure if he could win and that’s coming from the guy who ran the last winning campaign in the district.
The better choice? Based on what? You didn’t get a deer in the headlights look from this Tea Partier, Max. I was told often that Loyola would suffer a “crushing defeat” against Lapetina. In fact, Mr Harding called me personally to inform me that Loyola was going to “get blown away” at the convention. You both need new crystal balls. Ms Paige admits she has never spoken to Mr Loyola. I have, many times. Mr Loyola is a principled Constitutional conservative, as is Dr Lapetina. And yes, I’ve spoken to Dr Lapetina as well, even providing a public forum with the Norfolk Chapter of the Hampton Roads Tea Party, for her to demonstrate her knowledge of issues along with Mr Loyola. She is a fine person, and a gracious loser. She honestly admitted she had some homework to do on the issues. She has the respect of Loyola supporters because of these attributes. I doubt we’ll be hearing the same tired accusations about Mr Loyola, the Virginia Tea Party Alliance and the HRTP from Dr Lapetina, as we do from some of her supporters. At the convention, Gary Byler asked Lapetina (a conservative) supporters to now get behind Ben Loyola (also a conservative). Unfortunately, some will support Ralph Northam (a liberal Democrat) instead. This indicates they have personal axes to grind, rather than following any conservative values they supposedly hold. I only hope there is no anti-Hispanic sentiments in play from those who continue to throw sour grapes at Mr Loyola, who was born in Cuba. They should follow Dr Lapetina’s example, and realize one can be as noble in defeat as in victory. David Dwyer, HRTP – Norfolk.
You can call Northam a “liberal Democrat” all day long but it won’t make him one.
We never talked about Northam’s record, but like Vivian said, you can keep calling Northam a liberal all you want, but it won’t ever make it true. Everyone else I talked to was unaware that Northam only voted against the Property Tax Amendment in committee because he had already voted for it to be part of the VSC and thought it was superfluous to double-codify it in the State Constitution. He then voted for the amendment when it went to the full Senate.
Northam is by far the better choice to represent Norfolk and the Eastern Shore, that’s why I’m supporting him. Ben is only running because he wants power. When JR Hoeft asked Loyola what his plans were for the city in an interview after the convention he had no specifics and only talked about helping McDonnell. If he’s so well versed on the issues, why is it that he couldn’t come up with a single piece of legislation or a single issue that he was going to focus on in relation to Norfolk? Ben isn’t running for Congress and the sooner he figures that out the better.
As a fiscal conservative, I am pleased with Senator Northam’s past independent performance and efforts toward initiating bipartisan support. I am particularly impressed that he can disenfranchise himself from lobbyists that influence members of both parties by putting the concerns of Hampton Roads before out-of-state industries. Mr. Loyola, a competent, knowledgeable candidate, must articulate local issues rather appearing “tied to the hip” of the governor. From an independent point of view, if unanimous partisan control of the Commonwealth’s house, senate, and executive branch is the goal, then the citizenry is being ill served. We need legislators that tie their hips to their constituency not political bosses.
@Max…I was no deer in the headlights. I confronted you on the bogus residency issue. If you recall your reply was to complain about how Ben was still running for congress. I took that as a concession on your part he was more knowledgable on the issues. You then proceeded to complain the process was being hijacked by outsiders i.e. the HRTP. I corrected your error there too pointing out it was the Norfolk chapter. I even asked Dr. Lapetina in front of you if the forum provided her by the Norfolk chapter of the HRTP was fair. She said it was and I confirmed it privately later with her. After both candidates made their case the Norfolk chapter endorsed Ben. If you have sour grapes about anything it is towards the HRTP and your foil was Dr Lapetina. Your constant negative stance and derogatory comments towards real conservatives namely the HRTP speaks volumes for your actual positions. You profess to be a conservative yet tear down those who work tirelessly for conservative goals. You are a frustrated person screaming look at me look at me as if you are some fountain of wisdom. I have grown tired of refuting your naivete as have many others. I used to think by presenting facts to you there could be useful dialog. You have disuaded me of that with this latest act. Declare yourself a liberal and have done with it.
Again, Keith, we never discussed Northam’s record, so how you could ascribe that comment as being directed towards you is beyond me. As for the residency issue, I would certainly say you confronted me, but I would not say it was bogus. Moving clear across town for the express purpose of seeking a political office is troubling to me. It clearly isn’t towards you, I guess it’s just a difference of opinion. I never said the process was being hijacked by outsiders such as the HRTP, rather I was entirely focused on their lack of proper legal organization and campaign finance reporting, something they still have yet to sort out.
As for you talking about my “constant negative stance and derogatory comments” I’m sorry that the truth hurts. Get over it. The only difference between how I talk and the comments, facebook posts, and emails that come out of the various Tea Party organizations is that I actually base my diatribes on reality and thorough research. One need only look through a history of HRTP’s Facebook page to see how childish the whole organization is. Elections are about good public policy, not petty politics. I care about the former, that’s why I’m supporting Northam over someone like Loyola.
Interesting e-mail. Noticed some of the folks aren’t in the district, don’t know about the majority of them.
I think I would never be part of a party. I think a big part of the issues, at all political levels, are fully party related, rather than issue related.
But I think Dr. Northam gets it right. He puts his constituents first. He listens. Then, it seems he makes the decision he thinks best for the whole. You can’t ask for more from a representative. I won’t agree with him always, but I trust his decisions are made for the right reasons.
Which ones aren’t in the district?