By Michael Sluss

Archives Reprint

    RICHMOND - Virginia Republicans have decided to hold an open primary to nominate their 2005 slate of statewide candidates.

    The state party's central committee voted overwhelmingly Saturday to hold a primary to determine the GOP nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The party's presumptive gubernatorial nominee, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, has long favored a primary election over a party-controlled convention.

    The party last used a primary to pick its statewide candidates in 1997, when Mark Earley won a four-way race for the attorney general nomination. The party swept all three races in the fall general election with a ticket headed by gubernatorial nominee Jim Gilmore, who faced no opposition for the GOP nomination. The party nominated its 2001 statewide candidates at a Richmond convention.

    Kilgore appears likely to win the party's 2005 nomination for governor without opposition. But the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general already are heating up.

    State Sen. Bill Bolling of Hanover County already has declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor, and three other Republicans have expressed interest in the seat - Del. Joe May of Leesburg, Prince William County Supervisor Sean Connaughton and Fairfax County lawyer Gil Davis.

    Del. Bob McDonnell of Virginia Beach and Richmond lawyer Steve Baril are seeking the GOP nomination for attorney general.

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