In six months the voters of the 5th Congressional District will participate in a primary to nominate a Republican candidate run against U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, the district’s GOP leaders decided today.

Leaders voted 19-13 today in favor of a primary rather than a convention, said Republican district Chairman Tucker Watkins.

The primary will be held June 8. So far, a crowded field of potential candidates include: state Sen. Robert Hurt of Chatham; Kenneth Boyd, a member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors; Jim McKelvey, a Franklin County businessman; airline pilot Mike McPadden; Feda Kidd Morton, a high school biology teacher from Fluvanna County; and Laurence Verga, a Charlottesville businessman.

It's the largest pool of candidates the party has ever had to choose from in the 5th, Watkins said.

A large crowd representing the Tea Party attended the meeting at the Appomattox Community Center, Watkins said.
While he believes members of the two parties have a lot in common, Tea Party members -- who favored a convention -- left disappointed with the decision, Watkins said.

“We all came together with one purpose in mind,” he said. “Perriello must go.”

Perriello, D-Albemarle County, was elected last year, upsetting incumbent Republican Virgil Goode.