Melvin should know - he's been struggling to cancel out Johnny Roadblock's increasingly conservative voting record for years.
For example, when Gov. Mark Warner proposed a plan to fix the state's unfair tax system, Johnny Roadblock countered by voting for a proposal to give millionaires a tax cut. Ken Melvin voted against Johnny Roadblock's tax cut and for Warner's tax plan. (HB 4 and HB5018, 2004)
When the Republicans tried to reduce African-American voting strength in the General Assembly with a special session redistricting scheme, Johnny Roadblock was one of its biggest backers. Melvin again voted no. (HB1 Special Session, 2001)
A GOP-driven law to target senior citizens and African-Americans by forcing them to show ID at the polling place? Johnny Roadblock was right there with an enthusiastic "Yes!" Ken Melvin voted "No!" (HB 425, 200)
And Mark Warner's plan to boost funding for public schools, health care, and public safety? Thumbs down from Johnny Roadblock, thumbs up from Ken Melvin. (HB 5018, 2004)
No wonder Portsmouth Republican Committee chair Bryan Meals gushes about Johnny Roadblock. "You can't get much more Republican than the positions he takes," Meals says. (Virginian-Pilot, 2/2/2004)