Filed under: State Government and Politics
Financial reports were due today for both state and federal contests. Some highlights:
-Bob McDonnell has so far blown the two Democrats competing for their party’s nomination for Governor out of the water, pulling in at $1.17 million. This dwarfed Delegate Brian Moran by nearly a quarter million and Senator Creigh Deeds by a half million. Bearing Drift has more, and points out that Moran is counting a transfer of over $400,000 from his Delegate account, meaning he’s actually raised far less than either candidate for this particular race. From the AG’s camp:
Richmond-
“McDonnell for Virginia”, the political organization of Attorney General Bob McDonnell, announced today that it has $1,168,877 on hand as of the most recent campaign finance report. The organization raised $878,492, with an overwhelming majority of the funds being raised over the past three months. The Attorney General is prohibited from raising funds during the General Assembly session which ran from January through March.
Speaking about the latest financial report, strategist Phil Cox remarked, “Obviously the current focus of everyone in the McDonnell organization is doing all we can to elect John McCain as the next President of the United States, and electing all of Virginia’s Republican Congressional candidates. At the same time we are preparing for the 2009 gubernatorial campaign. Bob McDonnell has earned accolades from both sides of the aisle and from private sector leaders for his record of results as Virginia’s Attorney General. That performance in statewide office now leads to the opportunity to run for governor of Virginia.”
Cox continued, “With nearly $1.2 million on hand, at this very early date, we are building an efficient organization that will be well-funded and well-prepared to run a strong, positive, innovative campaign next year. We look forward to sharing Bob McDonnell’s positive vision for Virginia with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in 2009.”
-Bill Bolling has also blown the Democrats out of the water:
In reports filed today with the State Board of Elections, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling reported raising $443,000 for his re-election campaign in the first six months of 2008. The vast majority of this money was raised in the past three months. Bolling was prohibited from raising money while the General Assembly was in session from January to March.
Bolling also reported having $664,000 cash on hand for his re-election campaign in 2009. Amassing this much money early in the campaign cycle indicates that Bolling is aggressively raising funds to prepare for his re-election campaign and the campaign is securing financial support from every part of the state.
Finally, Bolling’s report reflected broad based financial support for his re-election campaign. During the first half of 2008, Bolling received contributions from 657 donors. Of this number 408 were contributions of less than $100 from individual Virginians.
“I am very pleased by the fund raising success we enjoyed during the first half of 2008,” Bolling said. “I am honored that so many people have agreed to invest in my re-election campaign this early in the process. It takes a great deal of money to run a modern political campaign, and based on the strong support we have developed thus far, I am more confident than ever that we will be able to run a successful re-election campaign next year.”
“I am also very proud of the fact that our campaign has been able to develop broad based financial support,” Bolling added. “We have received financial contributions from 657 individual donors, 408 of whom are grassroots donors who have made contributions less than $100. This indicates that our campaign is already generating interest and excitement among everyday Virginians.”
Bolling was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2005. In a year that favored Democrats, Bolling received more votes than any other statewide Republican candidate. Earlier this year Bolling announced that he would seek re-election in 2009 forgoing an anticipated bid for Governor.
Democrat Jon Bowerbank, the only announced Democrat, has just $108k in the bank.
-The AG nomination race is looking like the conventional wisdom will hold and it will be a two man race between John Brownlee (who is reported to have raised $103k) and Ken Cucinelli (who has raised about $110k). Former Arlington County School Board Chair David Foster is reporting $35k for the same period.
Six stories you should know about. Lots of local news:
-In a stunning reversal of fortune, it appears that the bust of Peter Muhlenberg will be staying put right in front of the old county courthouse (well, once it gets back in place, that is). Town officials, the DAR, and the Board of Supervisors had been negotiating for months over the issue, but by June it appeared that both sides were deadlocked. Congratulations to the DAR for showing what a grassroots movement can do.
-Mt. Jackson Clerk and Treasurer Judy Fultz will be leaving the town as full-time treasurer effective November 1st, although it appears she will continue in at least a part-time capacity as clerk for a bit afterwards.
-The County has begun real estate reassessment. Put your garage on wheels before its too late!!
-The School Board is working on its capital improvement plan for the next five years. The total: nearly $54 million. A vote will take place next month.
Also considered urgent for next year is $235,000 in improvements to the Stonewall Jackson High School track, $120,000 for architectural changes to the entrances of buildings for safety and security reasons, $100,000 for school bus leases, $70,000 to resurface gym floors at W.W. Robinson Elementary School and $35,000 for the purchase of cars for student transportation.
Other major expenditures in the draft plan are $300,000 for network phone improvements to the middle schools and central office in 2010-11, and then the same amount for the elementary schools in 2011-12 and high schools a year later; $250,000 for new lights at Strasburg High School’s baseball and softball fields in 2013-14; and $200,000 for the completion of a wireless network update in all schools next year.
Of note: the article mentions that Robinson gym teacher Thad Hockman is leading parents in raising money for the floors there.
-Apparently, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is not being vetted as McCain’s veep.
-The Special Session called by Governor Tim Kaine cost taxpayers over $179,000. Thanks again Governor Kaine for calling a session with no realization that the Warner strategy wasn’t going to work–there’s a new sheriff in town.
