Virginia legislative endorsements

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When Virginia voters go to the polls Nov. 6, all 140 seats in the General Assembly will be on the ballot. While the Democrats have an outside shot at capturing the House of Delegates, they have a real opportunity to pick up the four seats necessary to retake the Senate, where Republicans hold a 23 to 17 advantage. This would result in a dramatic shift to the left on important issues such as crime, taxes, regulatory policy and, in particular, illegal immigration.

In January, when the new General Assembly meets in Richmond, the powerful Senate Courts of Justice Committee will take up as many as 17 recommendations from the Virginia Crime Commission dealing with illegal immigration, which include giving new financial incentives to localities that add jail space to house illegals awaiting deportation and denying bail to illegals. Sen. Richard Saslaw, Fairfax Democrat, who is in line to become majority leader if the Democrats pick up four additional seats, derided the very idea that the legislature has a significant role to play in fighting illegal immigration in an interview with Seth McLaughlin of The Washington Times. Sen. Henry Marsh III, the Richmond Democrat who would be in line to chair the Courts of Justice panel, has introduced bills each year opposing the death penalty and the abolition of parole. If Democrats win control of the Senate, veteran liberals like Mr. Marsh and Mr. Saslaw will likely become the most powerful politicians in Richmond.

The balance of power in the Virginia legislature (and the Senate in particular) will likely be determined by the outcome of a number of key races in Northern Virginia. Following are the endorsements of The Washington Times for the 2007 Virginia General Assembly:

• In Fairfax County, incumbent Republican Sen. Ken Cuccinelli is locked in a very close race against Democratic challenger Janet Oleszek. The contrast could hardly be more stark: During his five years in Richmond, Mr. Cuccinelli has been tireless in fighting for conservative principles, while Mrs. Oleszek, a member of the school board, comes across as a triangulating liberal politician in the Hillary Clinton mode (but with considerably less political skill). Whether the issue was reforming the state's antiquated eminent-domain laws to protect property rights, cutting taxes or cracking down on illegal immigration, Mr. Cuccinelli has been a leader in every sense of the word. By contrast, it is painful watching Mrs. Oleszek struggle to come up with declarative sentences explaining her current positions — like whether she still favors petitioning Richmond to institute a local income tax. The Washington Times endorses Ken Cuccinelli for Virginia Senate.

• In a Fairfax-based district that includes Fairfax County, Occaquan and parts of Manassas, incumbent Republican Sen. Jay O'Brien, a strong conservative, has been a leader in combatting illegal immigration. He wrote the bill (now the law of the commonwealth) requiring proof of legal Virginia residence in order to obtain a driver's license. And he has also written legislation that would allow the state to turn over to federal authorities illegal aliens arrested for violent felonies. His Democratic challenger is George Barker, a health-care planner, who boasts a laundry list of endorsements from liberal groups including NARAL, NOW, the Sierra Club, the Virginia Education Association, as well as the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union — two of the most aggressive advocates of mass amnesty for illegals on the national level. The Washington Times endorses Jay O'Brien for Virginia Senate.

• In Manassas and Prince William Counties, Democratic state Sen. Charles Colgan, a 32-year incumbent, faces a stiff challenge from Republican Bob FitzSimmonds, a strong conservative. Mr. FitzSimmonds is challenging the incumbent's support for tax increases and his weak record on illegal immigration — which included opposing efforts to close a legal loophole that could have permitted illegal aliens to register to vote. The Washington Times endorses Bob FitzSimmonds for Virginia Senate.

• In a district that includes Loudoun and Fauquier Counties and points west, Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel, an attorney, is the best choice for this open seat. She is a conservative who will fight illegal immigration and tax increases. Her opponent, Karen Schultz, is much tougher to pin down: At times she talks like Mrs. Vogel; more often, however, the Democrat sounds like an ally of Gov. Tim Kaine and assorted liberal and feminist groups who support her. The Washington Times endorses Jill Holtzman Vogel for Virginia Senate.

• Also in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Herring, a "moderate" in the Tim Kaine mode who won a special election last year, is facing a stiff challenge from Patricia Phillips, a conservative and former Virginia state director of Concerned Women for America, who is criticizing Mr. Herring's liberal votes, including his opposition to reform of eminent domain. The Washington Times endorses Patricia Phillips for Virginia Senate.

The Washington Times also makes the following endorsements for the House of Delegates:

• In Fairfax County, Republican Dave Hunt, the underdog, may be able to upset Democratic frontrunner Margaret Vanderhye. Mrs. Vanderhye, a self-described "social progressive," seems obsessed with finding new social programs to spend money on and fighting the scourge of global warming. Mr. Hunt is much more concerned with real-world problems such as transportation and curbing illegal immigration. The Washington Times endorses Dave Hunt for House of Delegates.

• Also in Fairfax County, incumbent Republican Delegate Tim Hugo has been a tremendous leader in fighting illegal immigration and working to keep taxes low. His Democratic challenger Rex Simmons is best known for his scurrilous campaign to link Mr. Hugo's lobbying firm to prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib — a campaign described as "sleazy" by columnist Marc Fisher of The Washington Post. The Washington Times endorses Tim Hugo for the House of Delegates.

•In Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, incumbent Democratic Delegate Chuck Caputo faces a stiff challenge from Republican Marc Cadin — an impressive candidate who will take tough stands against illegal immigration and raising taxes. Mr. Caputo, by contrast, has voted against virtually every proposal to curb illegal immigration, and has been a reliable vote for abortion rights and liberal causes in general. The Washington Times endorses Marc Cadin for the House of Delegates.