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Political Parties Plan for November Election

From staff reports

"A total of 17 candidates have filed
formal declarations of candidacy
paperwork with the Scott County
Registrar's Office. On Nov. 6, 2007,
Scott County voters will elect five
constitutional officers: Circuit Court
Clerk, Commissioner of Revenue,
Treasurer, Commonwealth's
Attorney, Sheriff; seven members
on the Scott County Board of
Supervisors and six members on
the Scott County School Board."

Scott County Republicans met last week to determine how their candidates for the 2007 election would be selected.

Meanwhile Scott County Democrats plan to hold a convention to select their candidates.

It was standing-room only inside the Scott County Courthouse last Thursday as party members decided what method to use to select Republican candidates for the 2007 county-wide elections. All seven supervisory positions, constitutional officers and school board seats are on the ballot this November.

For the past 20-plus years the party has held a convention whereby delegates selected candidates from each district to run as Republicans for the county’s governing board and also their choices for candidates for constitutional offices. Since 1975, the responsibility for candidate selection rested soled on the shoulders of delegates, who were chosen by party leaders.

Republicans were meeting to decide whether to keep the current method intact or to choose an alternative method. After a brief explanation of the three choices by party leaders, the 200-plus members in attendance suggested a new format that will allow more people to be involved in the selection process.

The Scott County Republican Party voted by majority to hold a mass meeting to determine candidates for the Nov. 6, 2007 General Election. During a mass meeting, all persons who assemble are considered voting members and will be allowed to participate in the process, if they meet the following requirements.

Michelle Jenkins, Vice Chair of the Scott County Republican Party, explained that any legal, qualified Virginia voter could participate in the meeting but would be required to agree to support nominees of the party.

Jenkins added that any person who attends the Republican Mass Meeting would take an oath, either orally or in writing, to pledge their support for Republican candidates.

A mass meeting is a type of deliberative assembly in which all present, meeting specified criteria, are considered voting members. The assembly meeting follows parliamentary procedure for making decisions.

Voting machines will be rented by the party for use at the mass meetings, which will be held in May.

The party also considered using the primary method to determine which candidates will represent the party. In a primary, voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election.

Jenkins said the primary method finished third among the three choices because voters are not required to take an oath to support party candidates.

Party members also voted to have all candidates seeking constitutional offices and board of supervisor candidates pay a filing fee. Jenkins said that persons wanting to run as Republicans are required to pre-file by April 19.

The mass meeting will be held May 19 with the time and place to be announced later.

Sherry Hilton, chair of the Scott County Democratic Committee, explained the rationale for having a convention, despite the party use of a firehouse caucus in 2003.

According to the local party regulations, Democrats will use the method of nominating that is requested by an incumbent. Hilton said one of the sitting supervisors asked that Democrats have a convention to determine their candidates for the supervisory board and constitutional offices.

Although the date of the convention hasn’t been set, Hilton said organizers are expected to finalize details at their March 19 meeting which begins at 6:30 p.m. in their headquarters, located at 115 West Jackson Street in Gate City.

She explained the party needed to choose candidates after May 11 and before June 12.

In 2003, Scott County Democrats used a very different method to decide candidates in districts or races where more than one person had announced they wanted to represent the party.

A firehouse caucus is also referred to as an unassembled caucus. The committee decides how many places will be available for people to vote and how long the caucus will last, but the participants do not have to stay the entire time. A meeting place was set up in each district for voters to select their candidate.

Hilton explained a firehouse caucus was a very efficient way to get more people involved in a particular political party.

A few candidates have already filed the necessary paperwork to run in November but many positions remain open. On the Republican side, four of the constitutional incumbents are seeking re-election.

Mark ‘Bo’ Taylor seeks his second term as circuit court clerk. Jerry Broadwater is trying for a fifth term as Scott County Sheriff but faces some competition this year. Steve Templeton has filed his intentions to race for the sheriff’s position.

Commissioner of Revenue Gary Baker and Commonwealth’s Attorney Marcus McClung are seeking second terms for their respective offices. Former Commissioner of Revenue C.H. Presley is seeking a return to office as he is running as an independent.

Long-time Scott County Treasurer Martha Bledsoe is not running for re-election and the field for her position is increasing. Kevin Helms, William ‘Ron’ Chapman and Don Frazier are hoping to become the party’s candidate for treasurer.

Three Republicans have announced for the board of supervisors, District 1 – Darrel W. Jeter, District 3 – Jonathan Paul Wallace and District 6 – W.E. ‘Harry’ Moore.

Only one Democratic candidate has announced and filed formal papers for his candidacy. Paul Fields, District 1 Supervisor, is seeking a second term on the county board of supervisors.

Four candidates are seeking seats on the Scott County School Board. In District 1, Lowell Campbell is running for his position while District 4 School Board Member Virgil Sampson is seeking another term.

In District 3, a previous board member and a current board member are both running for the seat. Incumbent Joe Meade is being challenged by former board member Mack Gilliam for the District 3 seat.

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