Wardrup RETIRES (maybe)
The most controversial member of the Virginia Beach Delegation is retiring after 15 years. Democrats have strong chance at winning this seat in November with former commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Station Joe Bouchard

The 74th House District Democratic Primary- tantamount to election- OPEN Don McEachin is challenging Sen. Benny Lambert. The race seems to be a free for all and will be incredibly interesting
People interested in McEachin's seat so far:

• Former Richmond City Councilwomen Jackie Jackson who was defeated in the last election by Reva Trammell
• - Benny Lambert's son, David Lambert
• - Former Commonwealth's Attorney, Joe Morrissey, a colorful character
• - Former Delegate Floyd Miles, lost to McEachin in the 05 Primary

The district includes Charles City County and parts of Richmond, Hopewell and Henrico and Prince George counties.

Del. Robert Hurt of Chatham has announced he will be running for the Senate- Charles Hawkins seat. Hurt was elected in 2001. He is the favorite to win the district. Now his HD seat is OPEN including Part of Pittsylvania County, Henry County and Martinsville....that one could get interesting if the Democrats nominate the right candidate

32 Year Delegate Paul Councill Died Yesterday of a heart attack at age 85. He served the House of Delegates in Southampton, Isle of Wight, Franklin, Greesnnsville/Emporia, Sussex, Surry, Brunswick, and Lunenburg until his retirement in 2005.

A Difficult Day for the Edwards Family

John & Elizabeth Edwards announced today that she has incurable breast cancer. There is no way to tell how long she will survive. The hope is she will live productively for many years.

“You can go cower in the corner and hide or you can go out there and stand up for what you believe in," John Edwards said. "We have no intentions of cowering in the corner."

HAWKINS RETIRES

Today the Roanoke Times is reporting that Senator Charlie Hawkins is retiring. He was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1981 and then to the Senate in 1991. The frontrunner for his seat is Delegate Robert Hurt- R-Chatham who was elected in 2001. This race will be worth watching if Democrats nominate a strong candidate. The 19th District= Danville, Pittsylvania, Franklin County, and Campbell (Part)

The silence is deafening in the 75th
In 2005, the seat was vacated by the retirement 30 year incumbent Paul Councill. Roslyn Tyler defeated 4 Democrats in the June primary. In the General Election she defeated little known Republican- Carson Saunders by only 232 votes out of 18,234 cast. Also, her campaign outspent Saunders 2-1. This cycle, rumors have been flying setting up several scenarios...That she will be primaried...that the Republicans will not nominate anyone and and an independent will run...or that Rupublicans will run a candidate and spend heavily. The District is roughly 50% white and 50% African American. It is considered a Democratic rural stronghold but the political dynamics fall largely along racial lines. The district voted Warner, Kerry, Kaine, Byrne, Deeds, Webb yet Tyler only eked out a 232 vote victory. This race will be interesting in the coming months. The 75th District= Southampton County(most), City of Franklin (most), Isle of Wight County (one precinct), City of Emporia, Greensville County, Sussex County, Brunswick County (most), and Lunenburg County (2 precincts).

RETIREMENT WATCH

Richmond sources are hinting that Henrico Delagate JACK REID is retiring. The outspoken legislator has represented the The 72nd District as a conservative Republican since 1990.

Albert Pollard is IN! and will run for the Northern Neck based Senate District. The seat is being vacated by John Chichester

BIG NEWS IN THE 62nd!

Riley Ingram is going to be challenged from the right and has even suggested he will run as an independent. His possible opponent is Joe Leming www.joeleming.com Chairman of the Prince George County Board of Supervisors. The 62nd District (Part of Prince George, Hopewell, Chesterfield, and Henrico) is heavily Republican, so the race will most likely be fought on the right. Ingram supported Mark Warner's budget and has staked out many sensible positions...which has infuriated the conservative base. Ingram, a well known real estate broker, was elected in 1992 over Incumbent Democrat Beasley Jones (deceased). This race will be a barnburner and will be one of the hottest intra-party contests in the state if it materializes.

UPDATE: No one who runs in the primary can file as an independent

DRAFT ALBERT POLLARD

Pollard is a Democrat who would win the seat vacated by the retirement of John Chichester in the Stafford to Norther Neck based district.

Virginia Statesman Retires

John Chichester was named 2004 "public official of the year" by Governing magazine. Today, March 12th he announced his retirement. He was elected in 1978. It becoming increasingly sad that the best Republican legislators in Virginia are retiring this year...Chichester, Potts, Callahan. The void left is huge and in many cases will be filled with inexperienced "the world is flat" Republicans.

Important Dates to Remember
2007 House and Senate nominations

Primary- Filing deadline April 13th
Shad Planking April 18th
Primary held June 12th
If no primary is held- Caucus must be held by 7:00 pm June 12

8 hours after this site announced a "Retirement Watch"

ALLEN DUDLEY will retire!!!!

Eric Ferguson starts out with the edge but everything will depend on who the Republicans nominate

Jo Ann Davis R-VA 1st District

A re-occurence of breast cancer- second time in two years. Our prayers are with the hard working congressman from Virginia's 1st district. For health reasons we have to put her on the Retirement Watch for 08