Thursday, March 08, 2007
Rare, intraparty primary challenges both set for June 12
Sen. Brandon Bell and Rep. Onzlee Ware both face challenges in their respective districts.
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roanoke.com/politics
Both of the Roanoke Valley's intraparty state legislative contests will be settled in a June 12 state-authorized primary.
Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, announced Wednesday that he's selected the primary for his nomination battle against former Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith, who now lives in Botetourt County. The 22nd Senate District includes Botetourt County, the cities of Radford and Salem, and parts of Montgomery and Roanoke counties.
"I am confident that when the voters examine my record, they will be convinced that I am the candidate to best represent their values and interests in Richmond, and will nominate me to represent the Republican Party in November," Bell said.
State Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, already had chosen the June 12 primary as the nomination vehicle in his race against former Roanoke City Councilman Mac McCadden. Ware's 11th House District includes parts of Roanoke and parts of Roanoke County.
In Virginia, incumbents choose the nomination method in intraparty contests, whether it be a party mass meeting, convention, party-run "firehouse" primary or state-run primary.
There's been speculation for weeks about the method Bell would choose. Bell said Wednesday that he had discussions with party leaders about a potential firehouse primary -- the method with which he secured the GOP nomination in 2003, when he was later elected to the Senate. But Bell said an agreement couldn't be reached on specifics, such as the number of voting sites and staffing.
Smith, who was Roanoke's mayor from 2000-04, said he expected Bell to choose a full primary, because Smith believes that gives Bell the best chance to try to appeal to independent and potential Democratic Party voters who can participate in the Republican primary.
One of the focal points in the Bell-Smith race is a general perception among the party's rank and file that Bell is the moderate candidate and Smith the more conservative one.
Bell said he's obviously not going to turn away any support, but considers the primary a Republican nomination battle.
"I'm not going to actively pursue someone who is identified as a Democrat," he said.
In a firehouse primary, a limited number of voting locations are chosen within a legislative district and ballots are cast on one day within a set amount of time, usually shorter than a regularly scheduled election. The party that chooses a firehouse primary is also responsible for organizing, staffing and monitoring such an election.
In comparison, a state-authorized primary is conducted just like a regular election. Registered voters in Bell's and Ware's districts will be able to cast ballots during typical election hours at their usual precincts. The voter registrars in the localities involved will plan, staff and conduct the primary.
It's unusual to even have one intraparty challenge to an incumbent in Western Virginia, but this year the region has two. So far, no Democratic candidate has officially emerged in Bell's 22nd District, nor has a Republican candidate in Ware's 11th District.
However, Democratic Party leaders have said they will have a candidate to oppose the winner of the Bell-Smith primary.
All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and 40 seats in the Virginia Senate will be on ballots across the state Nov. 6.
Bell said, "2007 is going to be a busy year."
