5th District GOP leaders to vote on nomination process

As the political landscape of the 2010 congressional election in the 5th District begins to take shape, local Republican Party leaders are poised to choose a nominating process for the pool of candidates challenging Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello.

In Appomattox Dec. 12, the 32 voting members of the 21 party units across the district will vote whether to hold a convention, a primary or a party canvass to determine the party’s nominee. Currently, there are six declared Republican candidates.

The two most likely options are a primary or a convention. If the party chooses a primary, that would happen the second Tuesday in June. If they choose a convention instead, that would occur 32 days prior to the primary date, according to 5th District Republican Party Chairman Tucker Watkins.

In addition to the nominating process, the party will also decide on the location of a convention — if that is the elected method — as well as local party filing dates and fees. Candidates must also file with the Federal Election Commission within 15 days of raising $5,000.

Watkins said 15 unit chairpersons took a straw vote a few months ago, with 10 voting in favor of a convention. Primaries tend to cost more money, but not necessarily, he said.

“A primary, many people believe, has a bigger access to more people,” he said. “A convention is easier to limit it to just Republicans … You have to decide which you think is a better way to nominate the candidate.”

Watkins would not comment as to which method or candidate he preferred, but said he has been impressed with each of the candidates so far.

“Money does not buy you a nomination, not in Virginia,” he said. “… You want a conservative, period.”

Ronnie Mayhew, the chairman of the Pittsylvania County Republicans, said he would vote for a primary Dec. 12 because it is the only method in which military servicemen and women can vote absentee, and because a primary would reach the widest range of voters. Mayhew also said he supported State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, for the nomination.

“Whoever wins the nomination is going to have to campaign diligently,” he said, “take (Perriello) very seriously as an opponent and then just simply stick to our conservative values that we ran on this November and won handily across Virginia.”

Hurt is one of six declared Republican candidates that also include: Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd, party activist and biology teacher Feda Kidd Morton, commercial pilot Michael McPadden, private real estate investor Laurence Verga and businessman Ron Ferrin.

A seventh candidate, Bradley Rees, pulled out of the race to run as an independent; however, he has said if he supported the GOP’s nominee in the spring, he would drop his campaign and back that candidate.

Many grassroots Republicans have been critical of Hurt’s voting record — which includes his 2004 vote in favor of then-Gov. Mark Warner’s massive tax increase. There is growing speculation that Virginia’s 5th District could mirror New York’s 23rd District special election this year, with a split between Republicans and conservatives.

“I don’t even know what that means,” Hurt said in response. “I am a conservative; I am a Republican.

“I’ve been elected over the course of the last eight years with not less than 62 percent of the vote. I think for someone to suggest that somehow I’m not conservative enough is certainly not accurate, and I think it’s a slap at the people who have stood with me again and again.”

Bob Holsworth, political analyst and president of the nonpartisan VirginiaTomorrow.com, was skeptical about the idea of a party schism in Virginia’s 5th, given Hurt’s widespread support.

“This race is really fascinating because Hurt’s opponents are trying to frame it as a version of New York’s 23rd and … claim that Hurt is essentially outside the mainstream of the Republican Party,” Holsworth said. “I’m not sure that argument will be fully accepted by all Republicans.”

But whether the party decides on a primary or a convention, Holsworth said turnout would be relatively low. He said conventions typically benefit candidates who can effectively organize groups of supporters, while primaries benefit those with greater name recognition and resources.

Based on his experience, Hurt seems to be regarded as Perriello’s toughest challenger, Holsworth said, but he added that Morton — who has received a handful of endorsements from national Republicans — has also been very active, along with Verga and Boyd. Whatever happens, Republicans must unite behind their candidate to effectively challenge an incumbent with strong financial backing, he said.

“It’s a pretty good field they’ve managed to generate in a very short period of time,” he said, “which I think shows you the enthusiasm on the Republican side right now … This is gonna be a race that is extraordinarily well-funded.”

Andy Sere, regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the GOP is looking for a candidate with a strong record, the ability to put together a well-funded campaign and who can draw a stark contrast with Perriello.

“Having this process play out in public view and be debated by local Republicans, that’s something that’s healthy,” Sere said. “I think it’s healthy, but I think at the end of the day that everyone’s going to unite behind the Republican nominee simply because everyone recognizes what the ultimate goal here is — which is to defeat Tom Perriello.”