Primary to determine GOP’s 2010 5th District candidate

The Republican unit representatives of the 5th District, including the Danville and Pittsylvania County chairmen, voted 19 to 13 Saturday in Appomattox for a June primary to determine who will challenge Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello in 2010.

Ronnie Mayhew, chairman of the Pittsylvania County Republican Committee, said he voted in favor of a primary because it was the only method that allowed for military participation. He also noted that both processes (not just a primary) had the potential for involvement from non-Republicans, and that a convention was not the only way to nominate the most conservative candidate.

“I also think that a primary sets us up to best compete against Tom Perriello,” Mayhew said, “because we will now begin courting the votes of the same population that will be going to the ballot box in Nov. 2010.

Nick Fowler, chairman of the Danville Republican Committee, was on vacation Saturday but sent a proxy to vote for him. Fowler’s vote was for a primary.

At a glance

• District conventions sometimes attract upward of 1,000 participants.
• Turnouts in the Republican primaries held around Virginia the past three years ranged from 5,000 voters to 20,000.

Source: Media General News Service

“You don’t want people saying the candidate was selected by a bunch of hand-picked delegates,” Fowler said Friday. “I think we need to give the people of the 5th District an opportunity to vote.”

State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, was the only candidate to favor a primary, although he stressed that the candidates did not have a say in that vote. The remaining six candidates sent a joint letter to party chairmen last week urging them to vote for a convention. Those candidates include Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd, businessmen Ron Ferrin, Jim McKelvey and Laurence Verga, airline pilot Michael McPadden and biology teacher Feda Kidd Morton.

Brad Rees, who in October dropped his candidacy for the Republican nomination and switched to the Constitution Party, said Saturday he still plans to run, although he could potentially support four of the Republican contenders if one of them is nominated.

“They have just chosen the best way to elect a RINO to that seat,” Rees said, using an acronym for “Republican In Name Only” that originated with the Republican Party’s most conservative members.

“We now have our work cut out for us,” Hurt said. “I’m humbled to — I mean this sincerely — humbled to be in the field of up to (six) good men and one good woman. The fact that there are so many candidates really does show the level of enthusiasm for changing the direction of this country and certainly changing the leadership in the 5th District.

“That said, I really look forward to earning the Republican nomination, earning the confidence of the Republicans in the 5th District.”

Mayhew responded to criticism that the National Republican Congressional Committee is pressuring the 5th District to create a favorable environment for Hurt to win the nomination. Mayhew said the only pressure he received was from the six other candidates wanting a convention.

“What happened today is the grassroots elected leadership voted by a healthy margin for a primary,” he said. “I think we’ve made it clear that we want the most open process and we want the most participation, which includes the Tea Party in our mind, and conservative independents.

“…We are the grassroots of the Republican Party, and I think we sent our message today.”

Media General News Service contributed to this report.