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Regional news: Northern Va. GOP update

Republican activities in 8th District and Northern Virginia.

July 2008

• July 20 - Alexandria School Board candidate Bernie Schulz held his campaign kick-off in Parkfairfax for the Aug. 12 special election. Schulz is a former GOP candidate for City Council. The School Board election is non-partisan. (See the Schulz campaign.)
• July 19 - GOP nominee Jim Gilmore scored points against Democrat Mark Warner in the first Senate candidates debate, by pressing Warner on his opposition to energy exploration to lower gas prices. (See campaign news and video clip.)
• July 9 - Congressional nominee Mark Ellmore will open a fundraising reception on Wed,, July 23, in Kingstowne. The campaign will open its new headquarters in Tysons Corner on Mon., July 28. (See calendar for details.)
• July 7 - A special election for Alexandria School Board will be held on Tue., Aug. 12. Voters in District "B" of the City will elect a member to fill out the term of Claire Eberwein, who resigned and moved out of the area. School Board elections are non-partisan.

• June 27 - The McCain campaign appointed Mike Reynold as Virginia campaign director. Reynold comes from the political staff of state Attorney General Bob McDonnell.
• June 24 - The Republican National Committee announced that Nick Meads will head up the RNC's "Victory 2008" program for coordinated support of GOP Presidential, Senate and Congressional campaigns in Virginia, Meads had been working for Cong. Tom Davis (R-Fairfax).
• June 23 - Arlington Republicans sadly report the passing of longtime local activist Frances Finta on June 18. Finta ran the GOP headquarters in Arlington; she had been elected this year to the 8th District Commtitee, and also to serve as president of the Arlington Civic Federation. A funeral mass will be held on June 27 in Arlington (see details).
• June 17 - GOP Senate nominee Jim Gilmore announced his support for expanded drilling for oil and gas in the U.S., as an important step to help bring down soaring gasoline prices. See news articles.
• June 16 - Former Sen. Fred Thompson will be featured speaker at a fundraiser for the McCain for President fundraiser on Tuesday, July 24, at Westwood Country Club in Vienna.
• June 10 - Mark Ellmore won the Republican nomination for Congress in the 8th District, with a 56%-44% victory over Amit Singh. More than 5800 Republican voters participated in the primary. Ellmore goes on to face discredited incumbent Democrat Jim Moran in November. (See more on the 2008 campaigns.)

• May 31 - Former Gov. Jim Gilmore won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate at the Republican State Convention in Richmond. He'll face Democrat Mark Warner in the fall. (See more on the 2008 campaigns.) The convention also elected Del. Jeff Frederick as the new state GOP chairman.
• May 19 - The McCain for President campaign and Republican Party of Virginia opened their joint Virginia Victory/McCain 08 headquarters in Arlington (Crystal City). The office will serve as a phone bank for the GOP ticket and is open to volunteers. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis and RPV Chairman John Hager spoke at the opening event.
• May 17 - Several Republican candidates addressed the 8th District GOP Convention:
  • Former Gov. Jim Gilmore and State Del. Bob Marshall, who are running for U.S. Senate (nominee to be selected at the State Convention);
  • Mark Ellmore and Amit Singh, who are running for Congress in the 8th (nominee to be selected in the June 10 primary);
  • Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell, the likely GOP nominee for Governor in 2009;
  • three candidates for Attorney General in 2009: State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, former Arlington School Board chairman Dave Foster, and former U.S. Attorney John Brownlee.
  Also speaking were John Hager, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, and Amy Frederick on behalf of Del. Jeff Frederick, who is challenging Hager for the chariman's job (to be selected at the State Convention).
• May 17 - The 8th District Convention was held in Arlington, with 350 delegates in attendance. The convention elected Mike Ginsberg as the new District Chairman, along with other party officials and delegates to the national convention. Several statewide candidates also spoke. (See more on the 2008 convention and candidates elected.)
• May 13 - Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine proposed a new wave of statewide tax increases for transportation. Republican legislative leaders and RPV Chairman John Hager expressed GOP opposition to the plan. The issue will be debated at a special legislative session in June. (See more on transportation taxes.)
• May 1 - Former Arlington School Board chairman Dave Foster said he's considering a run for Attorney General in 2009. (See more on Campaign 2009.)

• Apr. 30 - Nearly all Republican leaders in Virginia, including GOP members of Congress and state legislators, GOP district chairs and state party officers, endorsed the Bob McDonnell/Bill Bolling ticket for 2009. (See the complete list of endorsers.)
• Apr. 29 - Arlington Republicans elected Mark Kelly as the new County GOP Chairman at a party canvass election. (See more on the Arlington canvass.)
• Apr. 20 - Republican women's clubs in Northern Virginia elected Frances Finta of Arlington as their new representative to the 8th District Republican Committee.
• Apr. 12 - Fairfax County Republicans re-elected Jim Hyland as GOP Chairman at the County Republican convention. Candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress (8th, 10th and 11th Districts) also spoke at the gathering.
• Apr. 12 - Two candidates filed for the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District seat by the deadline (April 11): Mark Ellmore and Amit Singh. Voters will select the nominee in the party primary on June 10. (See more on the 2008 campaign.
• Apr. 3 - The two GOP Congressional candidates announced their campaign kick-off plans: Amit Singh on Friday evening, Apr. 4, in Old Town Alexandria; and Mark Ellmore on Tuesday evening, April 22, in Baileys Crossroads. (See details on our events calendar.)
• Apr. 1 - Sen. John McCain spoke at Episcopal High School in Alexandria (his alma mater), on Day 2 of his "Service to America Tour". (See more on the national campaign tour.)

• Mar. 31 - State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax Co.) announced that he's running for Attorney General in 2009. (See Campaign '09 news.)
• Mar. 26 - The Arlington County Republican Committee voted to reopen the filing period for County Chairman (until April 10), and reschedule the canvass election for Tue., Apr. 29. Two candidates have announced: Mark Kelly and Landey Patton. (See more on the Arlington canvass.)
• Mar. 25 - Two candidates filed for Fairfax County Republican Chairman: Jim Hyland and Kamal Nawash. The position will be elected by the County GOP Convention on Sat. Apr. 12; delegates to the convention must file by Sat., Mar. 29. (See more on the Fairfax filing rules.)
• Mar. 24 - Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced he'll run for re-election next year. That leaves Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell as the likely GOP nominee for Governor. (See Campaign '09 news.)
• Mar. 19 - Arlington Republican Chairman Rafael Béjar announced he won't run for a full term, in view of new job commitments. The matter will be discussed at the Mar. 26 meeting of the ACRC; and the canvass election (which had been scheduled for Mar. 29) will be rescheduled.
• Mar. 8 - The Republican State Central Committee voted to select the party's nominee for statewide offices in 2009 by convention rather than by primary. (See Campaign '09 news.)
• Mar. 4 - Sen. John McCain clinched the GOP nomination for President after winning four more primaries. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee withdrew from the race.

• Feb. 29 - The State Supreme Court struck down the 2007 transportation package, which set up a regional authority to impose taxes and fund highway/transit projects. (See news coverage.)
• Feb. 27 - Two candidates filed for Arlington Republican Chairman: Rafael Béjar and Landey Patton. A canvass election will be held on March 29. (See more on the Arlington canvass.)
• Feb. 23 - Alexandria Republicans re-elected Chris Marston as City GOP Chairman at a canvass election. (See details on the Alexandria canvass.)
• Feb. 18 - Two candidates filed for Alexandria Republican Chairman: Chris Kachouroff and Chris Marston. A canvass election will be held on Sat., Feb. 23.
• Feb. 15 - Prince William County Board Chairman Corey Stewart announced that he's running for Lieutenant Governor in 2009. Former State Sen. Jay O'Brien also announced for the position.
• Feb. 13 - The Fairfax County Republican Committee adopted a filing deadline of Sat., Mar. 29, with district canvasses (if needed) on Apr. 5 and the County Convention on Sat., Apr. 12. Filing forms should be available shortly. (See Reorganization 2008.)
• Feb. 13 - Amit Singh of Arlington announced that he's running for Congress in the 8th District. Also, Bob Berry of Fairfax County announced that he's running for U.S. Senate.
• Feb. 12 - Se. John McCain won the Virginia Republican Presidential primary (see details).
• Feb. 9 - Falls Church Republicans held a mass meeting and elected Jonathan Krive as the new City GOP Chairman, to succeed Shayam Menon. Republican Senate candidates Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall also addresed the gathering.
• Feb. 7 - More than 30 candidates filed for the 11 positions to be elected at the 8th District Republican Convention in May. There will be contested races for District Chairman, for three seats on the State Central Committee, and for three Delegates and three Alternate Delegates to the National Convention. See full list of candidates. Those wishing to vote at the District Convention must sign up through their local committees by the local filing deadline.

• Jan. 30 - Cong. Tom Davis (R-11th) announced he won't run for re-election this year. Davis has represented the 11th District since 1994.
• Jan. 23 - The Arlington County Republican Committee adopted a filing deadline of Feb. 26 for ACRC offices and convention delegates, with a canvass (if needed) on Mar. 29. (See Reorganization 2008.)
• Jan. 22 - Congressional candidate Mark Ellmore announced that his campaign will be chaired by Gary Baise, the GOP nominee for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2007.
• Jan. 22 - Former State Sen. Jay O'Brien announced that he's considering a run for Lieutenant Governor in 2009.
• Jan. 8 - The Falls Church City Republican Committee adopted filing deadlines of Feb. 6 for City Chairman and Feb. 8 for City Committee and convention delegates, with a mass meeting to be held on Feb. 9. (See Reorganization 2008.)
• Jan. 8 - Former Gov. George Allen announced he won't run for Governor in 2009. (See Campaign '09 news.)
• Jan. 7 - State Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) announced for U.S. Senate. (See Campaign '08 news.)
• Jan. 4 - The 8th District Republican Convention will be held May 17 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington. (See Convention 2008.)

• Dec. 31 - 8th District Republican Chairman David Avella announced he won't seek re-election in 2008.
• Dec. 19 - Cong. Jim Moran (D-8th) launched another anti-war tirade on the House floor, accusing the U.S. of having "ethnically cleansed most of Baghdad".
• Dec. 14 - Six candidates filed for the Virginia GOP Presidential primary: Rudy Guilani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson. (See Presidential campaign 2008.)
• Dec. 11 - State Del. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) won an impressive victory in the special election for Congress in Virginia's 1st District, with more than 60% of the vote. He succeeds the late Jo Ann Davis, who passed away in September.
• Dec. 6 - The Alexandria Republican City Committee adopted a filing deadline of Feb. 14 for ARCC offices and convention delegates, with a canvass (if needed) on Feb. 23. (See Reorganization 2008.)
• Dec. 1 - State Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton) announced he won't run for U.S. Senate. (See Campaign '08 news.)

• Nov. 30 - The Republican State Central Committee withdrew the requirement for voters in the GOP Presidential primary to sign a pledge.
• Nov. 30 - The State Central Committee elected Kathy Hayden Terry as the Republican National Committeewoman from Virginia. She succeeds Anne Petera, who stepped down due to job requirements.
• Nov. 26 - State Senate Republicans elected Thomas Norment (R-Williamsburg) as the new GOP Senate Leader.
• Nov. 19 - Former Gov. Jim Gilmore announced for U.S. Senate. (See Campaign '08 news.)
• Nov. 18 - State House Republicans re-elected Bill Howell (R-Falmouth) as Speaker, and Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) as Majority Leader.

• Oct. 30 - The Washington Post endorsed GOP candidate Mike McMenamin for Arlington County Board.
• Oct. 25 - Cong. Tom Davis (R-11th) announced he won't run for U.S. Senate. (See Campaign '08 news.)
• Oct. 15 - The Washington Post endorsed State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax) for re-election.
• Oct. 13 - The Republican State Central Committee voted to select the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 2008 by convention rather than by primary. (See Campaign '08 news.)