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TARGETED LEADER GENERAL ASSEMBLY >> CHICHESTER MAY HAVE A CHALLENGE
Chichester continues to draw wrath of conservatives in GOP
Date published: 2/19/2007
By CHELYEN DAVIS RICHMOND --Four years ago, when Sen. John Chichester had a primary opponent, the thrust of the campaign against him was that he wanted to raise taxes.Nothing seems to have changed in the past four years. With another election coming in November--and three years of Chichester-orchestrated tax plans behind them--anti-tax Republicans are again agitating to find someone to knock Chichester off his perch. Third District Republican chairman Mike Wade wrote a scathing letter published on a blog called "Bacon's Rebellion," in which he called Chichester a "pariah" who should be purged. "Chichester and his cohorts are the reason the Republican message has been lost and diluted in Virginia. If we are to maintain a majority based on Republican principles and the understanding of who owns the government then we must work statewide to remove this pariah," wrote Wade, who does not live in Chichester's district.
Other political bloggers have also denounced Chichester, and two bloggers--one a Spotsylvania Republican activist named D.J. McGuire, the other an anonymous "Not Chichester"--began a blog completely dedicated to defeating Chichester, titled "Chichester Must Go." Bloggers don't necessarily represent the views of the majority of voters, nor are there many of them. But they do reflect a vocal anti-tax, conservative wing of the Republican Party that has been after Chichester for years. In 2003, Chichester had a primary opponent from that wing, Mike Rothfeld. Chichester won easily, but it was a nasty campaign. Since then, Chichester engineered the 2004 passage of a budget package that raised several taxes, much to the chagrin of the anti-tax groups. In 2006, his push for a gas tax increase to help pay for transportation again drew the ire of those groups. And this year, he has again proposed tax increases for transportation. House and Senate Republican leaders joined forces to introduce a "compromise" transportation plan that included general fund money, instead of tax increases, and Chichester--with the help of Democrats and a small group of like-minded Republican senators--has managed so far to block it. Republican primary challenge expectedSo those who have always chafed under Chichester are calling for his head again. The Washington Times had reported that the 28th Senate District Republican Committee was going to meet and discuss the future of Chichester's seat.
Date published: 2/19/2007
Choice and change is sometimes best - especially in Senate
(posted by
WeimCity
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Unlike the previous poster, I believe that elections should not be uncontested. I would like to have an option to a legislator who has forgotten his constituents. Change is sometimes good to move issues forward and his opoinons can not be changed. I can not support Sen. Chichester for his failure to support changing the law to allow Sunday hunting. This would help VA. His continued attempts to raise taxes while Virginia reaps BILLIONS in additional tax revenue also does not help Virginia. Reason is needed
Chichester Stays
(posted by
Talisman
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Sen,Chichester is the leader of the moderate republicans and DOES represent the voice of Virginians better than the neo-cons might believe.Virginia is progressing Mr. Howell, we need transportation, we don't need you and your fellow conservatives leading this State down the road to 1955. This is 2007. Find someone to run against Chichester, we need someone to run against every one. There should be NO un-contested seats. Progress is going to win this next election.
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