As reported in the Washington Post, State Senator William Mims (R, 33rd District) has accepted a job as Chief Deputy Assistant Attorney General. To take this position, Mims will resign from his seat on the first day of the General Assembly, January 11, leaving decision over the actual election date to Senator John Chichester (R) (an earlier resignation would have allowed Governor Warner to decide the date).Democrats have announced their decision to have Mark Herring, a lawyer and former county supervisor, for the slot. According to the Washington Post:
Herring said he has hired [Delegate David] Poisson's campaign manager to run his own effort and emphasized the same themes yesterday that Kaine and Poisson rode to victory -- easing traffic congestion, investing in education and limiting development.
Two Republicans--Mick Staton Jr. (Supervisor for Sugarland Run and political consultant) and J. Randall Minchew (Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman and land-use attorney) seek nomination as the Republican candidate on the ballot. Additionally, Leesburg Today also reports that Larry Beerman, (former Dulles District supervisor and Loudoun County Planning Commission Chairman) also is seeking the Republican nomination.
The election is expected to take place either January 24 or 31. Recent election votes favoring Tim Kaine in this region will probably make it a competitive race, even though the Republican nomination is still shaping up. Recent electoral rejection of far-right candidate Richard Black may not favor another far-right candidate on the Republican side. Any clues on how things will turn out?
Ben--Great posts from last Friday and Monday on your site. Things continue to develop though--I really wonder what Beerman does to the situation. Probably we'll know soon when the Republicans decide just whom to field.