It looks like Jim Gilmore may have Republican competition for the U.S. Senate nomination. That would be 42-year-old Del. Christopher B. "Chris" Saxman (Staunton), who says he is "strongly considering" taking on Gilmore. Saxman adds, "I just think people want to break out of the direction that the party has been going in and make changes."
Who is Chris Saxman? According to VPAP, he's a "a "bottled water executive" who "has served in the House since January 2002." According to Wikipedia, Saxman graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax Staunton. More from Wikipedia:
...Since the Spring of 2003, Delegate Saxman has served as Chairman of the House Cost Cutting Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to find cost savings in government.Saxman is currently a possible contender for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2009.
The Hotline listed Delegate Saxman as one of the top 20 "up-and-coming stars of Virginia politics", in November 2003. In their recent 2006 edition, The Hotline noted that "many consider him an up-and-coming star in the party."
Here are a few interest group ratings for Saxman courtesy of Project Vote Smart:
*Zero on abortion rights from NARAL.
*100% from the Family Foundation of Virginia.
*38% from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters
*7% from the Virginia AFL-CIO
*67% rating from GLBT group Equality Virginia. I can't figure out how Saxman scored so high on gay and lesbian issues while getting 100% from the Familiy Foundation.
Finally, a few key votes by Saxman in 2007 include:
*Yes on "Prohibiting Purposeful Miscarriage/Abortion"
*Yes on "Anesthesia for an Unborn Child/Fetus"
*Yes on the Transportation monstrosity (HB 3202)
*Yes on "Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment"
*No on banning smoking in restaurants
*Yes on "Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants"
*Yes on "Extension of 'Triggerman Rule'"
*No on "Traffic Light Cameras"
In sum, Saxman looks like a fairly standard issue conservative Republican. The major difference with Jim Gilmore, as far as I can tell, is that Saxman is younger and doesn't have Gilmore's baggage.
By the way, Saxman's top donors over the years have been William Saxman, followed by the Virginia Auto Dealers and the Virginia Association of Realtors. He doesn't appear to be a major money machine, but then again, in his safe Republican district, he hasn't really needed to be. The question is, can he crank up the fundraising to run for U.S. Senate?
Gilmore is Pro-Choice. That is a big difference.
* Abortion before 8 weeks not OK, but shouldn't be prohibited. (May 2007)
* Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided; good day when repealed. (May 2007)
BTW, when Mark dropped his candidacy for POTUS, people were disappointed. When Gilmore dropped his candidacy, people said, "he was running for President???"
Dick Leggitt: "...Dick Leggitt, the campaign manager for Colorado Republican Senate candidate Marc Holtzman admitted under oath that he had made up poll numbers and given them to a Denver Post reporter." (more on Leggitt here)
G. Bryan Slater: "From February 1997 to November 1997, Mr. Slater was the campaign manager for the Jim Gilmore for Governor campaign in Virginia."
I think so, too, but how is another down-the-line conservative any kind of new direction? His only advantage, as you say, is not having Gilmore's fiscal train-wreck baggage.
Born: Pittsburgh, PA, October 18, 1965
Gender: M
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Catholic
Education: Washington & Lee University (B.A., History, 1987)
Virginia Colleges and Universities:
Washington & Lee UniversityOccupation/Profession: General manager (Shenandoah Valley Water)
Membership & Affiliation: St. Francis of Assisi Church
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (board member)
International Bottled Water Association (board member)
Shenandoah Valley Kiwanis
***
Awards: Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year (2000)
Speaking of the destitute, Del. Chris Saxman found himself pressured by nursing home operators during a pre-session legislative breakfast. The Shenandoah Valley Republican opposes raising new revenue to meet the state's needs. "So what do we do when these folks [the elderly poor] outlive their resources?" a nursing home representative asked. "A lot of people are going to suffer.""[Should we] take a good look at subsidizing irresponsible behavior?" Saxman responded. "Should we say, 'Go ahead and not take care of yourself, and the government will pick up the tab'?"
The nursing home man kept coming. "Well, what do you want to do, euthanize them?" he asked.
"Of course not," said Saxman. "That's an absurd notion. This is why politicians don't like speaking in front of groups."
(If his wife is a Frick, remember that Henry Clay Frick was the villain in the Homestead Strike.)