Mark Cole Can Be Booted!!

By: Dianne
Published On: 1/12/2007 9:46:36 AM

(This was a comment to Lowell's diary but I thought about it and decided it should merit a diary of its own.  I'd like to see this race targeted and supported.) 

Mark Cole (of the infamous "droopy drawers" legislation) represents parts of Spotsylvania, Stafford and Fauquier counties, which are fast absorbing folks from Northern Virginia.  This District (88th) desperately needs to find a candidate to run against him again and we need to support that candidate in every way we can and boot Cole OUT.  Looking at 2005, Cole lost substantial ground to the Democrats.  The Dems gained 9% in Stafford County (where it looks like the bulk of the voters are), getting 40.1% of the vote!  And his opponent had a mere fraction of the money that Cole had ($15,870 to spend versus Cole's $79,711)!!!  That looks like unbelievable progress to me.  Let's help that District get a Dem in office and one more Dem in the General Assembly.  It looks like it could be very, very doable if the resources were put to it!!!! 

(UPDATE: According to the comments, Carlos Del Toro has stepped up to challenge Cole).

Comments



got any candidate suggestions? (Rob - 1/12/2007 10:46:53 AM)


Cole can be beaten and the 88th D's has a candidate (Shawn - 1/12/2007 11:18:07 AM)
Carlos Del Toro of Stafford has come forward to run against Cole ... he's the CEO of a small tech company, a vet, and IMPO a very good guy..with a lot of help he can win


Carlos Del Toro Has Announced (MV Democrat - 1/12/2007 3:57:34 PM)
Carlos Del Toro announced for that seat and has been making the rounds in Northern Virginia.  He was at the last Northern Virginia Democratic Business Council breakfast with Gov. Warner and he was also at Chap Petersen's kickoff.


If ever there was a year to elect Democrats, it's 2007!!!!!!!! (Dianne - 1/12/2007 5:21:01 PM)
We have a tremendous opportunity in Virginia right now and we are so lucky that we have state elections this year when the voter's opinions about Republican performance (both nationally and locally) is so negative and low.  We don't have a Governor's race to sap resources.  We can concentrate our resources to turning the GA Democratic and give Kaine the support he needs to get his agenda through. 


Carlos Del Toro in the 88th - He's The Real Deal! (rockhill - 1/13/2007 11:59:13 PM)
At a very busy Democratic Party event held earlier today in Richmond, I had the pleasure of meeting Carlos Del Toro who is running as a Democrat in the 88th House District.

Carlos totally impressed me.  Warm, friendly, looks you in the eye when he speaks to you, is totally fire-in-the-belly, and serious about knocking off the incumbent Republican Del. Mark Cole.  Dead serious.

Great life story...get this:  Born in Havana.  Carlos' mom and dad packed up the family and a couple of suitcases, fled Castro's Cuba for the US and a tough life in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.  Think "West Side Story" only 100% tougher.  Carlos attended NYC public schools, then got admission to the U.S. Naval Academy.  That led to a 25+ year naval career and some really amazing assignments including a White House fellowship during the Clinton administration, and command of a state of the art Naval destroyer called the USS Bulkeley (spelling?) commissioned in New York Harbor just after 9/11. He retired as a Commander.  And since has built up a very successful defense engineering business.  I call that the AMERICAN DREAM!

Keep your eyes on Carlos!  My gut, this guy is going places!  Hopefully, his campaign for the 88th House District race will launch soon.



Carlos del Toro -- a winner!!! (Dianne - 1/20/2007 9:03:07 AM)
As I said in another diary ... http://raisingkaine..... his background is incredible and he's such an engaging man.  He also was a term member on the Council of Foreign Affairs, which is an incredibly prestigious  honor.  How could we get this lucky?!!