Courtesy of the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club:
The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club has announced a third round of endorsements for 2007 legislative races in Virginia, urging voters to elect 9 supporters of equality to seats in the Virginia Senate and 3 to seats in the House of Delegates. A variety of reasons was given for the endorsements.
Incumbent Senators *Mamie Locke*, *Yvonne Miller*, *Henry Marsh*, *Louise Lucas*, and *Richard Saslaw*, as well as incumbent Delegate *Chuck Caputo*, are being endorsed because of their votes in 2006 against the Marshall-Newman anti-gay-marriage constitutional amendment."None of these 6 individuals sought or received endorsements from Virginia Partisans the last time they ran, and some of them are not seeking our endorsement this time around," noted Charley Conrad, President of the group. "Yet their
courage in standing up against this hateful amendment, in spite of the climate in Richmond, has earned them the gratitude of all people of good will who support equality in Virginia."Virginia Partisans has previously announced endorsements of 25 other Democratic incumbent Delegates and Senators who voted against the
Marshall-Newman Amendment. The only Republican who voted against the amendment, Del. Harvey Morgan, is running unopposed for re-election
this year. The group has also already endorsed Bruce Roemmelt, who is challenging Bob Marshall, sponsor of that amendment, for a Senate seat.Other endorsees announced today are:
- *Donald McEachin*, current Delegate and the nominee for a now-open Senate seat from Richmond, having defeated incumbent Senator Benjamin Lambert in a primary. McEachin voted for the amendment in the legislature, but by the time the public campaign began had become a forceful spokesman against it, leading the effort within the black community in Richmond to bring the churches onboard in opposition. "We too believe in redemption," said Conrad, "and Del. McEachin certainly redeemed himself in our eyes during the summer and fall of 2006. We heartily endorse his
candidacy for the state Senate."- *Chap Petersen*, former member of the House of Delegates who is challenging incumbent Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis. "Petersen was not a member of the House of Delegates at the time of final passage of the Marshall-Newman amendment," Conrad points out. "However, he opposed the amendment during the ballot initiative campaign last fall, and that clearly makes him the preferable candidate in this race. Devolites Davis represents a district where the public voted against the amendment, yet she voted for it and campaigned for it alongside then-Senator George Allen. She's out of step with her district, and needs to be replaced."
- *Janet Oleszek* and *George Barker*, challengers to incumbent Republican Senators, and *Jay Donahue* and *Jeanette Rishell*, challengers to incumbent Republican Delegates.
"Based on responses to our surveys, as well as other information, we believe each of these candidates will be fair-minded in dealing with issues affecting the LGBT community in Virginia," Conrad asserted. "Equally important, LGBT voters should look at the incumbents they would be replacing - incumbents who collectively have a horrendous record of opposition to equality." Oleszek is challenging Republican Ken Cuccinelli, Barker is taking on Jay O'Brien, and Donahue is vying to replace Tom Rust, all in Fairfax County districts that are far more progressive than their incumbent representatives. Rishell is running against Del. Jackson Miller in a Manassas/Prince William County district; she narrowly lost to him in a special election earlier this year to fill a vacancy and is thought to have a very good chance in a rematch.
"The Virginia Democratic Party believes it has a good chance of taking back control of both houses of the General Assembly this year," Conrad added, "and Virginia Partisans is clearly part of that '21-51' effort. A Democratic-controlled legislature will be far better for our community
that a Republican-controlled legislature like we have now. But Virginia Partisans is going even further. We're not supporting just any Democrat. We're looking at individual candidates. We want not just a Democratic majority, but a pro-equality Democratic majority."The complete list of Virginia Partisans endorsees to date (including those announced today), with their relevant campaign information, are:
*State Senate*
Sen. Mamie Locke (D-2) - running unopposed
Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-5) - running unopposed
Donald McEachin (Running for Open Seat, Dist. 9) - opposed by Luis Pantophlet (I)
Sen. Henry Marsh (D-16) - opposed by Robert Owens (I)
Sen. Louise Lucas (D-18) - running unopposed
Sen. John Edwards (D-21 - Roanoke) - running unopposed
Sen. Patsy Ticer (D-30 - Alexandria) - opposed by Yasmin R. Jones (I)
Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31 - Arlington) - opposed by Samuel Burley (I)
Sen. Janet Howell (D-32 - Fairfax County) - tunning unopposed
Chap Peterson (Challenger, Fairfax City & County) - vs. Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-34)
Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-35) - opposed by Mario T. Palmiotto (I)
Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Janet Oleszek (Challenger, Fairfax County) - vs. Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-37)
George Barker (Challenger, Fairfax/Prince William) - vs. Sen. Jay O'Brien(R-39)*House of Delegates*
Del. Jim Shuler (D-12 - Blacksburg/Southwest Virginia) - running unopposed
Bruce Roemmelt, (Challenger, Manassas area) - vs. Del. Bob Marshall (R-13)
Del. Shannon Valentine (D-23 - Lynchburg) - running unopposed
Del. David Poisson (D-32 - Loudoun County) - opposed by Lynn Chapman (R)
Del. Ken Plum (D-36 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Del. David Bulova (D-37 - Fairfax City) - running unopposed
Del. Bob Hull (D-38 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Del. Vivian Watts (D-39 - Fairfax County) - opposed by Laura Clifton (I)
Del. David Marsden (D-41 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Del. Mark Sickles (D-43 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Del. Kris Amundson (D-44 - Fairfax County) - running unopposed
Del. David Englin (D-45 - Alexandria) - opposed by Mark Allen (R)
Del. Brian Moran (D-46 - Alexandria) - running unopposed
Del. Al Eisenberg (D-47 - Arlington) - running unopposed
Del. Bob Brink (D -48 - Arlington) - running unopposed
Del. Adam Ebbin (D-49 - Arlington) - opposed by James Ronald Fisher (I)
Jeanette Rishell (Challenger, Manassas) - vs. Del. Jackson H. Miller (R-50)
Del. Jim Scott (D-53 - Falls Church) - running unopposed
Del. David Toscano (D-57-Charlottesville) - running unopposed
Del. Chuck Caputo (D-67 - Fairfax/Loudoun) - opposed by Marc Cadin (R)
Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-71 - Richmond) - running unopposed
Jay Donahue (Challenger, Fairfax/Loudoun) - vs. Tom Rust (R-86)
Del. Jeion Ward (D-92 - Hampton) - running unopposed
Del. Mayme BaCote (D-95 - Hampton/Newport News) - running unopposed