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Last time Sen. John Chichester left a political party, it was of his own free will.
Now he's being disinvited, and he's having none of it.
"I'm perfectly at home with the Republican Party, perhaps not the splinter groups of it," Chichester said. "With the vast majority of Republicans, I'm very much at ease."
The 1st Congressional District Republican Committee has passed a resolution suggesting that Chichester should leave the Republican Party because of his proposal to increase taxes.
Chichester has introduced a tax package that would raise the sales, cigarette and gas taxes, while cutting the food and car taxes.
The resolution was approved at the committee's meeting on Jan. 23.
It lists, at length, quotes from Chichester during his primary race against Mike Rothfeld last spring, during which he promised to "hold the line on taxes," be a "leader in the fight for lower taxes" and was "not going to favor raising taxes."
"We request Senator Chichester explain how he can propose such high tax increases after such a clearly-advertised anti-tax position to the voters in the June election," the resolution says.
It concludes by saying that if Chichester continues to support a tax increase, "we regretfully request he switch his affiliation to a more suitable political party for such an agenda."
Chichester said he has no intention of responding directly to the committee, but he did prepare a statement for the media in which he explained his reasons for introducing the tax package and scoffed at the resolution, which he called "embarrassing to the party and offensive to many individuals who usually vote Republican.
"Had the leaders of the 1st District committee chosen to make an informed decision, they would have seen that the budget is structurally out of balance," Chichester wrote. "As a fiscal conservative in every way, I have examined our options, and as chairman of the Senate Finance committee, it falls to my lot to make the decision. With the information that I possess, which I have checked and rechecked, to do nothing, as the 1st District would have me do, would be a gross irresponsibility."
Chichester has been under fire from others in his party for proposing tax increases. His package would create more revenue than one proposed by Gov. Mark Warner, and a showdown between the House and Senate is expected over the issue this session.
The 1st District committee is chaired by Spotsylvania County Republican Russ Moulton, who backed Rothfeld's primary challenge to Chichester.
Moulton could not be reached for comment last night.
Westmoreland County Republican Robert Fountain said he was one of the few committee members who voted against the resolution.
"I thought it was unlikely to have any positive effect," Fountain said. "My impression is that Senator Chichester enjoys very strong support in the Northern Neck, and he has served long and with a very distinguished career as a leader of our party. I have high confidence in John Chichester's judgment and balance. Even though I may not agree with him on this particular issue."
Fountain said the resolution was highly debated before it was voted on.
Chichester said he hasn't attended a meeting of the 1st District Republican committee in at least 10 years.
"The 1st District committee is made up of a small minority of Republicans and does not represent the views of all Republicans," Chichester wrote. "I was elected by the voters of the 28th senatorial district, not by a small group in the 1st District committee. I will not be deterred by a small, vocal minority of my party, whose apparent goal is to impair Virginia's traditions of excellence and example-setting capabilities."
To reach CHELYEN DAVIS: 804/782-9362 cdavis@freelancestar.com