General Assembly 2011

Among the major issues: The state's continuing efforts to provide services with fewer dollars and Gov. McDonnell's plan to privatize liquor stores. Session ends Feb. 26.

The latest

Follow the Blue Ridge Caucus blog and @BlueRidgeCaucus on Twitter.

• Va. Senate votes to restrict local government land grabs
• House advances “personhood” and abortion ultrasound bills

From today's paper

• 'Personhood' bill set for vote today
• Eminent domain bill passes in Virginia Senate
• General Assembly Notebook: House advances capital punishment bill
• Follow state and local political coverage from The Roanoke Times

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• Live video and audio streams broadcast from each chamber every day of this year's session

Who's your legislator?

• Find out who represents you (and how to contact your legislators).

More resources

• How to track a bill
• How bills become laws

Two more Republicans are entering the race to replace William Fralin, R-Roanoke, in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Chris Head, a Botetourt County business owner, and Bill Cleaveland, a Botetourt County lawyer, both have indicated their intentions to run for the GOP nomination in the 17th District.

They join a crowded Republican field that already included Josh Johnson, 29, a Roanoke lawyer with the firm Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore; Melvin Williams, 36, a Roanoke lawyer with the firm Grimes and Williams; and former Roanoke County Supervisor Mike Wray, 59, of Clearbrook.

So far, the lone Democratic candidate in the race is Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason, 49.

Head announced his candidacy Tuesday, while Roanoke Republican Committee Chairman Adam Boitnott reported that Cleaveland had filed paperwork to run for the seat.

Cleaveland did not return phone calls to his office.

Head, 46, owns Home Instead Senior Care with his wife.

Like other candidates in the race, Head said he intends to focus his campaign on economic issues.

"I believe I am the only one of the five candidates who has actually created jobs," Head said. "I know how to do that. We've grown our business from zero over the past eight years to two offices and upwards of 250 employees."

Head said his business has given him experience both in dealing with state business regulations and in working with state officials and legislators to implement needed regulatory changes.

"We had some awful regulations when I started, and I worked closely with the department of health and members of the legislature to implement regulatory changes and get them through," Head said. "I got that done. Those are the kinds of issues we're facing again and again, learning how to operate efficiently in state government and taking a business-minded approach."

The 17th District includes portions of Roanoke, Roanoke County and Botetourt County. Each party will nominate their respective candidates in a June 9 primary.

Fralin served six years in the General Assembly before announcing his retirement from the legislature in February.