Despite encouragement from many Virginia Democrats, former CD-1 nominee Shawn O'Donnell has withdrawn his name for consideration for the Dec. 11 special election to fill the seat. Shawn explained in an email to 1st District Democratic Committee members that if no other viable candidates stepped up to the plate, he would have gladly run again for the seat. But now that we have at least 4 qualified Dems seeking the seat, he decided it was time to pass the torch to some new blood. Shawn says he talked to 3 Democrats, not including announced candidate Phil Forgit, who plan on running. Those 3 names are believed to be Lana Ingram, US Navy Capt. Ted Hontz (ret.), and US Army National Guard Brigadier Gen. David L. McGinnis (ret.).
The 1st District Democratic Committee will meet from 2pm to 4pm, on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites to select a nominee to run in the Dec. 11 special election. The GOP will select their nominee on that same day at Caroline County High School in Milford.