House foes are far apart
Three Fredericksburg-area incumbents face challengers in House of Delegate races
Date published: 10/30/2009
BY FRANK DELANO
Catherine T. Crabill and incumbent Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr. both live in the Northern Neck's Lancaster County and in the 99th House of Delegates district.
But they are worlds apart on what they see as the issues of their campaigns for election Tuesday.
Pollard, 42, a Democrat from Mollusk who is seeking his fifth House term, said the main issues are the state budget, job growth in the rural district and his easygoing temperament that helps him make deals in the General Assembly.
Crabill, 53, a Republican from Irvington, sees the campaign quite differently.
"The most compelling issues in this race involve the wholesale conversion of our nation to socialism," she said. "Every aspect of our liberty is under assault at this time."
If elected, she said, she would work to make sure the federal government does not exceed its constitutional limits and "trespass against we the people of the great Commonwealth of Virginia."
The 99th District contest is the only House of Delegates race in the Fredericksburg area that pits candidates from the two major parties.
House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, is being challenged by Independent Green Party candidate Craig Ennis for the 28th District seat, while 30th District incumbent Ed Scott, R-Culpeper, is being challenged by independent Matt Carson.
Incumbent Dels. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania County; Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline County; and Chris Peace, R-Hanover County, are unopposed.
In the 99th District race, Crabill has grabbed more headlines than money in her campaign against incumbent Pollard.
Most famously, she was disowned by GOP leaders in August for telling a Heathsville Tea Party, "We have a chance to fight this battle at the ballot box before we have to resort to the bullet box."
CATHERINE T. CRABILL
Address: White Stone
Political party: Republican
Political experience: None
Age: 53
Family: Husband, four children
Occupation: Realtor; cook
Education: High school graduate; some college
Community activities: Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church
Honors: Numerous real estate sales awards.
Most important issues: Defending Constitution and combating conversion of nation to socialism; stand up to "mobocracy"; work to join more than 30 other states drawing a line and telling the federal government it cannot exceed its constitutional bounds and trespass against Commonwealth of Virginia.
Web site: catherinecrabill.com
ALBERT C. POLLARD JR.
Address: Mollusk
Political party: Democratic
Political experience: Four terms, House of Delegates
Age: 42
Family: Wife, Mariah, three children
Occupation: Owner of small business that manufactures and sells portable sawmills
Education: magna cum laude graduate, Virginia Commonwealth University
Community activities: Senior warden, Trinity Episcopal Church; member of several boards, including Connect Rappahannock and Lancaster Partners Foundation, which provides affordable housing for public and private school teachers.
Honors: 2004 Chesapeake Bay Foundation Legislator of the Year; 2004 Virginia Rural Healthcare Association award; League of Conservation Voters legislative scorecard of more than 96 percent.
Most important issues: Fiscal management and bringing more accountability and transparency to Virginia's budget; improve local job opportunities by creating "aquaculture zones": provide a reasoned and dignified voice in Richmond.
Web site: albertpollard.com
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MATT CARSON
Address: 12233 Hazel River Road, Rixeyville
Political party: Independent
Political experience: N/A
Age: 34
Family: Wife, Heather, one daughter
Occupation: Entrepreneur, owner BigTeams and SiteWhirks
Education: B.S., West Virginia University, political science and history
Community activities: Board member, LessCancer.org & Blue Ridge Fly Fishers
Most important issues: Responsibly rein in government spending without raising taxes and without trimming essential services: education, law enforcement, and fire/rescue; enact strict legislation that protects our environment; stand up to the federal government and declare Virginia a Patriot Act Free State.
Web site: carson4virginia.com
EDWARD T. 'ED' SCOTT
Address: 206 S. Main St. Culpeper
Political party: Republican
Political experience: House since 2003; past member and chairman, Madison County Planning Commission.
Age: 44
Family: Wife, Pauline, one daughter
Occupation: Director of Operations, EcoSeptix Alliance
Education: Culpeper County High; B.S., animal science, Virginia Tech
Community activities: Career Partners board; ex-officio director, Culpeper Chamber of Commerce; Hospice of the Rapidan board
Honors: Eagle Scout; Golden Apple Award, Culpeper County Education Association; Legislator of the Year, Virginia Horse Council; Legislator of the Year, Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association
Most important issues: Strong support for free enterprise and limited government to create jobs and revenue and cut state expenses; make sure education system provides best opportunities for success in the nation; continue to build, maintain multimodal 21st century transportation system.
Web site: delegateedscott.com |
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CRAIG ENNIS
Address: Stafford County
Political party: Independent Green
Political experience: Unsuccessful candidate for House of Delegates in 2007 and congress in 2008.
Age: 35
Family: Divorced, one son.
Occupation: New Horizon Electrical
Education: Attended Stafford area schools; received GED in 2005.
Most important issues: Oppose President Obama's policies, including gay marriage, tax increases and cap-and-trade emissions bill; restrain government spending; improve benefits for veterans and families of slain law enforcement officers.
Web site: craigennis.com
WILLIAM 'BILL' HOWELL
Address: Stafford County
Political party: Republican
Political experience: House of Delegates since 1987. Speaker of the House since 2003.
Age: 66
Family: Wife, Cessie, two sons, seven grandchildren.
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Law degree from the University of Virginia; bachelor's degree in business administration, University of Richmond, 1964.
Most important issues: Jobs and the economy, and how to improve those in Virginia; and the state budget, a new one of which will be written in the upcoming session and is likely to involve more budget cuts.
Web site: williamjhowell.org
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Date published: 10/30/2009
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