Bruce Kicks Bob's Butt

Roemmelt Puts Marshall on Defensive During First Debate

Manassas, VA - Former Prince William County firefighter and House of Delegates candidate Bruce Roemmelt (D - Haymarket) took the lead in setting the tone and issues discussed during the first debate in the election for the 13th House of Delegates district, held by the Prince William Committee of 100 in Manassas.

"You can vote for me and my desire to stop the Dominion power line and use this fight as a terrific opportunity to change the way we produce, transmit and consume energy," Roemmelt said. "Or you can vote for Delegate [Bob] Marshall who has not publicly opposed the power line and has no energy conservation policy that I can see."

Throughout the entire evening Marshall was on the defensive and forced to react to Roemmelt's pointed questions as to why he voted against the first transportation bill in twenty years, especially because it passed a Republican-led legislature with bi-partisan support and was signed by a Democratic Governor. Roemmelt also questioned why Marshall has failed to provide adequate school funding and transportation infrastructure during his 16 years in office.

Roemmelt promised to "work for pragmatic, common sense solutions that truly affect all of us in the 13th District. Moreover, I will work with all members of the General Assembly - Democrats, Republicans and Independents. In addition, I will work with the Senate and the Governor."

Marshall became visibly angry after Roemmelt asked Marshall to explain a March 2006 Leesburg Today article where Marshall was quoted saying, "The Loudoun Chamber didn't give me a dime for my reelection. They didn't help me get elected so I have no obligation to them."

Marshall called the attack on his character "callous" and to the dismay of audience members refused to answer the question, saying it had no place in the debate. He also declined to ask Roemmelt a question, a tradition in the Prince William Committee of 100 debates.

In a modern twist, the Roemmelt campaign "live blogged" the debate posting real-time updates on its volunteer website, teamroemmelt.com, allowing supporters and voters not able to attend the debate the ability to follow the exchange and weigh in with comments.

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