JGFitzgerald -- July 17th, 2009
Not quite Alaska quality, but the DNR reports Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, is dropping out of the race for re-election to the House of Delegates. With $58,000 in the bank, incumbency, and name recognition (he was mentioned for Senate and co-chaired McCain’s Virginia effort) his odds of winning re-election were good.
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Friendly City Food Co-Op, Harrisonburg’s consumer-owned grocery, invites the community to come see its new destination for natural, organic and locally-produced products at the store’s grand opening 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 9 at 150 East Wolfe Street. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. with Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Matt Lohr, Harrisonburg Mayor [...]
HARRISONBURG, VA — Friendly City Food Co-op, slated to open this month in Harrisonburg, Va., has become the newest member of the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), a business services cooperative serving 120 consumer-owned food co-ops nationwide. NCGA helps unify food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately [...]
May 2: Harrisonburg was honored when the League of American Bicyclists announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) designations over the weekend to kick off May as National Bike Month. Out of the 45 new applicants that the program received, 21 communities received awards. Harrisonburg was given a bronze‐level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. [...]
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Odd, considering the News Leader is running this story today.
Either the News Leader dropped the ball, or someone is playing a joke on Mellott.
Odd indeed. But local gossip and at least one statewide blog seem to back it up. What does it mean that two people assume a practical joke on a writer before they assume he’s landed a scoop?
Moreover, Mellott scooped Myron, who was hangin’ out with Saxman just last week.
“Saxman, reached by phone Thursday evening, confirmed that he is withdrawing from the race with Democrat Erik Curren of Staunton in the Nov. 3 election to follow other pursuits, including advocating for school choice.”
OMG, maybe Saxman is going to become the new headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Interesting that he (Delegate Saxman) has spent $100,000.00, already in this campaign.
Brent, I’m glad you finally realize I am a source of breaking news. I’m sorry to disappoint you on this occasion. This does prove that you expect ground breaking political analysis, breaking news stories, insight, religious commentary, and opinions from The Republitarian. Ya’ll come back now, ya hear!
I get the feeling a job offer was made in the last week because he is putting his replacement at a disadvantage and this is an odd time to make a decision like this.
I also spent time with Saxman, this week, for a story feature that we’re doing for the New Dominion Magazine on school choice. We talked for probably an hour and a half. Looking back on it, I remember expecting him to ask me a question or two about the campaign, given my new role in Democratic Party politics. He didn’t once mention the campaign. And again, we talked for an hour and a half.
FYI, the campaign finance reports, on Saxman and everybody else, are available at vpap.org. There are a lot of stories there if you have the time and can figure them out.
His smug arrogance will be missed!
Looks like they may have already named his successor. Staunton councilman Richard Bell.
The Bell appointment sounds like a done deal of mammoth proportions even by the standards of the GOP. I wonder how many Pubs in the district would have sought that seat if they’d known it was available, and if the nomination were not being decided the day after the abdication.
Saxman just posted a note on Facebook, but avoids getting too specific about reasons for leaving and plans for the future.
FWIW, I follow Saxman on Twitter, and he made no indication of plans there, either.
No disconnect there: Saxman was raising money because he knew that the new guy was going to need a jump start. Watch it all slide to this boy Bell.
After talking to a local elected official this morning who, this was a spur of the moment decision.
Notice the missing word in that statement? Republican.
A pol with aspirations, and this is one, knows when to step off.
Is there a or two missing from Myron’s comment?
FWIW:
Richard P. “Dickie” Bell
Saxman’s School Choice Virginia organization is about to hit its first birthday.
I guess he just really wants to focus on advocating the use of vouchers for private schools. I’d be interested to know how he feels about the idea of tax money paying for an Islamic school, or an all-Spanish-language school, or a gay-friendly high school.
Saxman solicits feedback for this question posed on his site:
“What do you think about Governor Sarah Palin’s announcement that she will be stepping down as Governor of Alaska, and what impact do you think her decision will have?”
Maybe he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Yeah.
It was suppossed to read ..”who had a conversation regarding campaign strategy for Rockingham last week with Chris. This was….
Sorry about that. Must have hit something I shouldn’t have.
GOP holds off on appointing someone to run instead of Chris
PalinSaxman.A public forum is the right move here. Provoking the “grassroots” in SWACistan would surely become ugly—it may still. The normally vocal and tenacious group of party activists has been oddly silent. This is the calm before the storm.
Local blogger, David Karaffa wants the Republican nomination in the 20th
Is this code for something I’m not hip to?(Show your support for David Karaffa and wear a red shirt to the Forum)
http://strictlyva.blogspot.com/2009/07/david-karaffa-for-20th-district.html
http://www.nbc29.com/global/story.asp?s=10764866
You can read more about Karaffa here, where he explains his core conservative principles. He offers a seven step manifesto that includes Individual and Fiscal Responsibility, Belief in God, and Respect for the United States Soldier.
Update
At least four interested in GOP’s 20th District nomination
Only Bell and Karaffa are public