Three special elections will be held in central and western Virginia next month to replace state lawmakers who are resigning their seats.Two are scheduled for Tuesday. In the 3rd House District, Republican Shea Cook will face Dan Bowling (D) for the seat being vacated by Del. Jackie T. Stump (D-Buchanan). Stump is stepping down for health reasons.
Del. Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover) and Democrat Roger G. Cavendish, a Caroline County masonry contractor, are running for the 4th Senate District seat being vacated by Lt. Gov.-elect Bill Bolling (R).
The third special election will be held Jan. 10 in the 23rd House District. Republican Michael Harrington and Democrat Shannon Valentine are running for that seat, being vacated by Del. L. Preston Bryant Jr. (R-Lynchburg). Gov.-elect Timothy M. Kaine (D) picked Bryant this month to be secretary of natural resources.
Reportedly, Cavendish plans to "push for more school funding and serve as an advocate for senior citizens on fixed incomes" if elected.
According to a profile in the Richlands News-Press, Bowling is "[a] professor of engineering and head of the CISCO program at Southwest Virginia Community College, Bowling said he will work for funding construction of a new library building for the college as well as additional money for teacher's salaries and public education."
Finally, according to the Lynchburg News and Advance, "Valentine is the former president of the Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity chapter and a recent graduate of the University of Virginia?s Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership, which has produced many state politicians." This race could be very close.
Anyway, please make sure you get out and vote on January 3 if you live in the 3rd or 4th House of Delegates districts, and on January 10 if you live in the 23rd District. And please make sure you vote Democratic, to keep our momentum going and to give Governor-elect Tim Kaine some more allies in the state legislature. Thanks.