Most Important Events in Virginia by Month: March 2007

By: Lowell
Published On: 12/19/2007 2:19:21 PM

3/2: Gov. Kaine says he would back building a Metro tunnel in Tysons Corner if local governments voted for it.

3/3: Del. Vince Callahan (R-34th) announces that he's retiring.

3/4: Ralph Northam announces his candidacy for the 6th Senate district.  

3/5: Sen. Webb introduces legislations limiting unilateral military action against Iran.

3/12: Sen. John Chichester (R-28th) announces that he is retiring.

3/13: The Fairfax County board of supervisors unanimously asks Gov. Kaine to reconsider the tunnel option for Metro through Tysons Corner.
3/14:  Senators Webb and Warner rebuke Gen. Peter Pace for his anti-gay remarks.

3/15: The Washington Post reports that Fairfax will become a "Cool County" environmentally.

3/15: Webb campaign wins "Golden Dot" award for the "macaca" video.

3/16: Gerry Connolly's St. Patrick's day party results in Margi Vanderhye, Rex Simmons, and George Barker winning the annual straw poll.

3/17: George Barker kicks off his campaign for state Senate in the 39th district.

3/19: Albert Pollard announces for State Senate in the 28th district.  Eric Ferguson kicks off in the 9th House district.

3/21: Sierra Club calls on Gov. Kaine to fix the electricity re-regulation bill.

3/22: Gov. Kaine signs tax relief and energy efficiency bills into law.  Jim Webb speaks at the National Press Club.

3/23: Janet Oleszek kicks off campaign for state Senate in the 37th district.

3/26: Webb staffer Phillip Thompson arrested for allegedly carrying a gun into the Capitol.

3/26: Gov. Kaine vetoes two death bills that would have expanded the death penalty in Virginia.  Kaine also amends a bill to ban smoking in all Virginia restaurants and amends the transportation bill.

3/27:  Sen. Webb introduces amendment to limit the length of overseas deployments of the Army, Marine Corps, and National Guard.

3/27: Gov. Kaine amends Dominion re-regulation bill.

3/28: Donald McEachin announces for state Senate in the 9th district.

3/28: Gov. Kaine vetoes Terry Kilgore's bill on telecom deregulation.  Kaine announces that he opposes embryonic stem cell research.

Comments



March 4 was a wonderful day indeed (Randy Klear - 12/20/2007 2:50:24 PM)
and I'm thrilled as heck to know that I will have a real state senator for the next four years.  It is worth noting, though, that Ralph Northam began laying the groundwork for his campaign in January 2006, when he began systematically networking with DPVA people and the local committees in the 6th Senate District, getting to know the people in the party infrastructure and getting his resume out there for people to examine.

A lot of would-be candidates wait until election year begins before starting to make their interest known.  All too many of them end up disappointed that people and money don't appear on their doorsteps just because they're running and no one else is.  If you want to run for office, it pays to think long term.  Get your name out early, well before the campaign year starts.  Better yet, get involved with your local Democratic committee and let people see your qualities in action.  When election year rolls around, you don't want to be introducing yourself to the activist core; you want them looking forward to your candidacy.