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Chichester foe gaining support

Area GOP leaders split on primary choices

By CHELYEN DAVIS

Date published: 5/18/2003

Some GOP chiefs back Rothfeld

RICHMOND--Veteran state Sen. John Chichester is facing opposition from some Republican party leaders in his primary race against conservative Mike Rothfeld.

In the primary battle for the 28th District Senate seat, Rothfeld has managed to gain the backing of at least three local party chairmen against Chichester, the senior Republican in the state Senate.

Rothfeld has been endorsed by 1st Congressional District Republican chairman Russ Moulton, as well as Fredericksburg GOP chairman Shaun Kenney and King George County Republican chairman John Headley.

Chichester has the support of Stafford County party chairman Steven Apicella, Westmoreland County's Robert Fountain and perhaps others; not all local unit chairmen could be reached for this article, and Chichester said most local chairman in the district are supporting him.

The divisions among the local party chairmen reflect the growing schism within the Republican Party itself, between the moderates, such as Chichester, and the conservatives, like Rothfeld.

The moderates' mantra is fiscal re-sponsibility, while conservatives have zeroed in on making low taxes and pro-life legislation their central passion, and they have no qualms about trying to take down powerful moderates who don't toe the anti-tax line and who don't care as much about social issues.

Taxes and abortion appear to be the driving forces behind Moulton's, Kenney's and Headley's decisions to support Rothfeld.

Moulton announced his support for Rothfeld in a news release last week in which he invited voters to three "meet and greets" with Rothfeld, praising the challenger as a "passionate and articulate conservative who will lead the fight to cut taxes" and oppose abortion.

Moulton wrote that Chichester has "put our great Republican party in crisis."

"His record during the Gov. Allen and Gilmore administrations opposing tax cuts, supporting growth in state spending, and opposing pro-life legislation has put him at odds with our grassroots and our core values," Moulton wrote. "Republicans must choose between loyalty to an incumbent focused on the trappings of big government, or loyalty to the key principles that make us Republican."

Chichester was unfazed by Moulton's endorsement of Rothfeld.

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Date published: 5/18/2003