In a much anticipated move, longtime Republican activist Patricia Phillips announced Nov. 8 that she is throwing her hat in what appears to be a crowded ring for the local state Senate seat in the 2011 elections.
“I’m running for state Senate because that is where we need more common-sense legislators who will judge the merits of proposed laws on the proper role of state government. I believe government closest to people works best,” Phillips said.
“I’m convinced that my consistent, pro-liberty, conservative message will resonate with voters,” Phillips added. “While Virginia’s executive branch is in good hands and we have a conservative majority in the House of Delegates, the Virginia state Senate blocks many good pieces of legislation, such as meaningful charter school legislation and limiting how quickly and by how much taxes can be raised.”
Phillips, a Sterling resident, is targeting the seat currently held by incumbent Democrat Mark Herring, of Leesburg.
Herring has stated his intention to run for reelection to the 33rd Senate district, which covers much of Loudoun County from areas around Leesburg east into the far western edges of Fairfax County, and also portions to the south toward South Riding and Chantilly.
The big question hanging over candidates for the 2011 state house elections is redistricting, the process that redraws political boundaries every 10 years as dictated by the U.S. Census findings. It is likely candidates for the 33rd State Senate District won’t know how the lines will be drawn until well into the 2011 campaign season, once the General Assembly completes the process and it is approved by GOP Gov. Robert McDonnell.
If Phillips were to secure her party’s nomination for State Senate, a general election match-up with Herring would be an interesting rematch. In the 2007 elections, Herring defeated Phillips 57 percent to 43 percent to win his first full term in Richmond. Herring also out-raised Phillips by a 4-to-1 margin during the campaign.
Phillips’ path to a hoped-for Part 2 head-to-head against Herring is complicated by the re-emergence of former state Del. Richard “Dick” Black, who represented the Ashburn-Sterling corridor in eastern Loudoun in the state House of Delegates from 1998 until he was defeated in a bid for re-election, 53 percent to 47 percent, in November 2005 by Democrat David Poisson.
Black is already running a full-throttle campaign for the State Senate, handing out campaign literature at polling stations in Sterling during the Nov. 2 elections.
In addition, he notified Loudoun media on Nov. 4 of a Nov. 11 “Black for Senate Campaign Kick-off” event in Ashburn, where a formal campaign announcement is expected. Phillips is holding a campaign event of her own on Dec. 6 in Leesburg.
“Tuesday’s dramatic victory steers America from a dangerous course,” Black said in a media statement. “Voters repudiated massive debt and spending.”
“We’re two seats from controlling the State Senate,” Black added. “I promised Gov. McDonnell that I’d win one of those two seats. I’ll work with him to restore jobs and the economy. People want work and they’re tired of waiting.”
Phillips also picked up on the gains Republicans made in Virginia and nationally in her statement of candidacy: “This is just the beginning of re-orienting our federal, state and local governments back to the original design by the Founding Fathers. Nineteen state legislative houses changed from Democratic to Republican majorities, and next year Virginia will have its chance to change the State Senate to Republican control.”
A third candidate, Michael “Spike” Williams, is also in the race as a Republican.
Williams, a resident of Oak Hill in Fairfax County, declared his run in February. He is an officer with the Fairfax County Republican Committee, though he ran unsuccessfully for the Fairfax Board of Supervisors in 2007 as an Independent.
It’s unclear what State Senate district Williams will be a part of after redistricting. He says, “I am on the border of three districts and none of the incumbents are right for Northern Virginia.”
Despite the fiscal focus of Black’s comments, his tenure in Richmond was marked by controversy and a tendency to speak to and legislate on divisive social issues, such as abortion and attacks on the gay community.
Recently, Black was interviewed on military issues by the founder of the group “Americans for Truth About Homosexuality,” which was posted on their website, americansfortruth.com and aired on a Chicago radio station. In the two-part interview, Black revisits his attacks on gays, which has come to define his political persona, along with abortion issues. His latest audio interview raised many local eyebrows, and incited a flurry of comments on well-known Loudoun websites.
Both Black and Phillips are considered very conservative Republicans. They are positioned well to the right in the Republican Party – potentially splitting the conservative GOP primary (or convention) vote and leaving room for another Republican candidate to emerge from the internecine party fracas with slightly more than a third of the vote late next spring, when the local GOP is likely to choose its nominee.
Phillips touched on the notion of a hard-fought nomination battle in her announcement: “Even though my intention to run for State Senate has been public for over a year, that does not entitle me to the nomination. A party nomination contest allows party members to select the best candidate as well as hone the candidate’s skills before the general election.”
Though the Loudoun County Republican Committee has not announced whether it will use a “firehouse primary” or a more closed party-convention process to select its State Senate nominee, Phillips clearly made her preference known in her statement: “I believe the people are the best judge of a candidate’s ability to earn the votes of the population, not party officials … Government works best with the decision-making closest to the people, and I believe that is how the Republican Party should function as well.”
As Phillips and Black begin a months-long battle for the GOP nomination, Herring will likely be comforted by the expectation that he will face no Democratic primary challenger. Plus, he has had a head-start in organizing and fundraising for his reelection, though he will need to place any campaign money-chasing on hold during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session, as required by state law.
Herring is likely to be a formidable general election candidate as well. He won spirited election contests in the special election against Loudoun Board Supervisor Mick Staton for State Senate in January 1996, and his convincing win over Phillips in 2007. He has accrued a moderate reputation in his first full term in the State Senate, and has cultivated close ties to the technology and business community in Loudoun in recent years.
Herring’s successes and his reputation as a policy wonk and someone with a strong work ethic, has seen his name placed on many political soothsayers’ lists as a potential statewide candidate in 2013 – though Herring has repeatedly denied any interest in higher office.
Regardless, the contest for the State Senate – in light of the GOP’s string of victories at the local, state and national levels in 2009 and 2010 – is likely to create sizable ripples in Herring’s plans for re-election. This should make the race for the 33rd State Senate District more competitive than many would have thought after various Democrat electoral successes in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
In a statement, Herring appears to take the challenge in stride: “When the campaign ramps up next fall, I’ll be running hard on my strong record of delivering results for the district. Right now, I’m completely focused on the upcoming General Assembly session, getting needed transportation funding for our area, and working to create jobs and strengthen our state and local economy.”
It would nice, so very nice, if everyone were required to tell the truth, back up their statements with facts and be held liable for
everything they say.
If you want someone to represent you who is strong, reliable, firmly placed on the fundamental ground of our constitution, with limited government and basic recognition of the power and rights of the citizens to whom the government is supposed to be responsible, then you are looking for Patricia Phillips.
It is SO obvious that the person stuck on typing DICK BLACK is the same person using different screen names!
Eric, I think you have your answer to the question “why does any mention of Dick Black inevitably lead to arguing about homosexuals and/or Jesus?” Because Black and his base can’t stop thinking and talking about sex and abortion, even though some are now trying to slap a coat of paint over that reality with canned chatter about “transportation.”
Like I said, his record as an extreme and ineffective legislator is documented. Most of his time in Richmond was in fact devoted to his obsessions with reproductive biology and gay people, and many of the bills he introduced were either killed in committee because they were so outlandish, or were heavily opposed by the business community because they interfered with the free conduct of business. To Mr. Black, It’s more important to find ways of punishing people in same sex relationships than it is to allow businesses to determine their own benefit policies (instrumental to their competitiveness), for example.
Mr. Black was removed in part because his constituents finally became appalled at the degree of intrusiveness in their personal lives he was willing to engage in. Everyone remembers the plastic fetus stunt, but may not be aware of some of the details of Black’s proposals. In one case, he tried to insert language in the VA code that would have changed the definition of pregnancy to the moment of “fertilization” which is medically not the same thing as “conception.” This language would have effectively defined the common birth control pill as a form of abortion. Imagine the implications of that for Virginia women, and for tax-payers in general. The cost of Black’s library censorship lawsuit would be small change in comparison.
The interview with AFTAH represents typical Dick Black fare - a shared session of cartoonish name-calling and discredited attacks on a community with a tiny fringe hate group. It’s also typical fare in that 80+% of people disagree with the position he’s taking.
That’s the real Dick Black, no matter how many times the same three people post comments trying to cover it up. We remember.
I HAVE WATCHED dick black FOR YEARS. WATCHED HOW HE USED THE LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO FURTHER THE POLITICAL AIMS OF dick black AND NOTICED THAT IT COST THE COUNTY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. dick black WILL GET HIS REAL KICK-OFF EVENT ON ELECTION DAY, WHEN VOTERS KICK dick black OFF THE STAGE.
DICK BLACK brought millions in transportation funds to Loudoun. He is honest and experienced. He will help get Loudoun’s economy moving again.
I remember when Mark Herring first ran for office. He promised he was going to create jobs and support Loudoun’s economy. He said he was going to improve roads. What has he done? Nothing.
I was at the campaign kick-off event of DICK BLACK too. What a great event! There must have been four-hundred people there. Everyone was polite and well-mannered.
What a gracious person DICK BLACK is. He has a very strong pro-business record. He has done so many practical things for Loudoun as a Delegate.
I can’t imagine he would have much trouble running against any Democrat. The Democrats are really out of favor and most of them are now running away from what they have done over the past couple of years. They have not done that much for roads. The economy in Loudoun is really hurting.
What’s with all this DICK BLACK all caps stuff? No one likes this nasty hate monger other than a very few religious nuts. Herring will destroy him, and couldn’t be happier that this guy came back. This will indeed be an easy race for Mark Herring.
It is so sad that supporters of Mark Herring say such nasty lies. Nobody would believe them.
I met DICK BLACK for the first time last night at his campaign kick-off.
What an event! What a gracious person he is. There were several past and current members of the House of Delegates at the event all praising Mr. Black for his legislative accomplishments.
I checked it out myself and it turn our DICK BLACK has secured millions in transportation funds for Loudoun. He has also won major legislative victories for Loudoun’s business communities.
No wonder the Democrats are trying to say nasty and false things about Republicans. It’s because the Democrats now have to run again their ant-business, anti-jobs, high tax agenda.
Mike P.
Loudoun
Hate-filled liberals resort to lies. Herring is running against his record.
DICK BLACK is a formidable campaigner with a strong legislative record that is part of the public record. He would beat Mark Herring today in a general election.
If I were Herring I would be scared out of my wits. Herring is scrambling to try to reposition himself as someone who suddenly cares about jobs and the economy.
BLACK is a hero who was wounded in battle for his country.
Herring and the Democrats have frittered their time in office, courting the abortion and gay lobby. They have cultivated a strongly anti-business environment in Loudoun.
BLACK secured millions in state and federal funds for Rt. 28 expansions. With Rep. Frank Wolf, BLACK secured $1M for Rt. 15 improvements.
The tides have changed and are running strongly in favor of fiscal prudence and common sense leadership.
In a Black vs. Herring match-up, I hope you hate-filled Democratic minions resort to more childish and transparent yarns. People in Loudoun are tired of the Democrats and their unbelievable tactics.
—BR
Dick Black jumped on the Route 28 bandwagon after Charlie Wadell got it started. What a joke this guy is, and his supporters are the nastiest bunch of people you would ever have the displeasure of coming across. Herring will beat his pants off.
Hate-filled liberals must resort to making up lies. But the voters are on to you. Radical Dems like Obama, Kaine and Herring are bankrupting the nation, Virginia and Loudoun.
BLACK is a hero who was wounded in battle for his country. His legislative record on roads and business is exceptional.
Herring’s time is up. He’s really done nothing but kissed the butt of the gay and abortion lobby. His silly leadership has choked the oxygen out of Loudoun’s business community.
We are fed up with the radical agenda of the Democrats and your immature discourse.
Even I had forgotten about Dick Black’s habit of bringing pornography featuring people and snakes to library meetings.
Patricia Phillips should thank Dick for entering the race. Dick almost makes Patricia seem reasonable. Almost.
Margie W, as much as you would like to make Black’s history disappear, you can’t. It’s all documented. We remember.
I was at the kick-off event of DICK BLACK last night.
It is so sad that Herring and the Democrats have wasted so much time doing nothing.
Did you know DICK BLACK created the funding mechanisms by which state and federal dollars were brought to Loudoun for same grade interchanges along Rt. 28?
Herring has been too busy kissing up to the abortion and gay lobby to focus on basics.
Plus all his supporters writing below are spewing hate-filled messages. Herring supporters for the most part lack civility.
Nearly all political observors expect Williams to be re-districted out of this seat. With the Dems controlling the Senate, Herring will certainly have a big say in how his district is drawn, and I would all but guarantee that both Black and Phillips will be drawn into it. This sets up a GOP primary that will surely produce all sorts of wackiness as those two race to be to the right of Atilla the Hun. With Herring looking possibly to a statewide run soon, his resulting big win will raise his standing and reputation greatly. Cue the crazy Black Brigade comments now.
Much anticipated? Ha! The candidate Loudoun and Fairfax is watching with bated breath to see if he will be redistricted out of the 33rd senate district is Spike Williams. The 20 or so people who are fighting between Black and Phillips is laughable. Neither can win a general election and our representatives and the voters know it. When Williams announces his official kick-off there will be some shocked reporters to see who has endorsed him. Too bad this reporter is so out of touch with the local political scene. Next time he may want to pick up the phone and ask someone other than Black or Phillips or risk being embarrassed… again.
She may have thrown her hat into the ring but when Dick Black throws his turban in there, we’re going see something:
http://bit.ly/cFtUSS
Eric - Because Dick Black is obsessed with sex, readily apparent in his record as delegate. (Phillips is just as guilty in this regard, but that’s another story.) I see Black is trying to hide that fact on his website, but he can’t help himself - hence the interview.
There’s a factual error in the article: the website that conducted the interview is not “pro-military,” but is rather a single issue, anti-gay hate website. The anti-gay activist universe has a lot of websites, but only a few of them manage to actually be designated hate sites by the SPLC. The guy who runs it is known as Peter “Porno Pete” LaBarbara, in honor of the avid interest he shares with Dick Black in “researching” porn. There is nothing on this earth more important to Pete than denying life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to gay people, and he makes apostates of any fellow “conservative” who fails to be as anti-gay as he is. The latest targets of his demands for repentance are Ann Coulter, CPAC, and a doctor who promotes anti-gay “therapy,” but who also suggested that bullying should be addressed by a student-led “golden rule” project. Pete feels that it’s “too affirming” to apply the golden rule to bullied gay students. He also says that “the gay agenda,” his phrase for the legal and social equality for all people the 14th Amendment requires, is more dangerous to the US than the prospect of Sharia law. Maybe we should get him and the guy from the Muslim community thread together and let them figure it out.
At any rate, no apostate who fails to put “stopping the GAY” at the very top of their list will be showcased on Pete’s website, but Dick Black is.
Why does any mention of Dick Black inevitably lead to arguing about homosexuals and/or Jesus? Too funny!
Colonel Black with the candlestick in the bedroom….. Oh, this isn’t the game clue. Something Dick needs to get a CLUE!. From a republican family that would never vote for Him.
Why isnt Spike Williams included in this article complete bull crap
I pray for thee my brother Black for he care not first for taxpayer dollars. Brother Black is righteous and pure and as such he demand so from thine libraries of Loudoun.
I thank thee brother Black, for I needed not those funds. I needed library computers without smutted images of frolicking naked bodies. I needed DVDs without R ratings. One hundred fifty thousand dollars is nothing for this blessed county. I giveth gladly and so do my neighbors.
It’s amazing how ugly people have gotten.
People need to learn to respect others opinions and stop putting out sooooo much hate!
What a great example for our future generations! NOT!!
we don’t need DB again - ugh. like we need him mailing out plastic babies again
don’t forget people - it’s separation of church and state. or do you not remember it like your old friend Christine O’Donnell?? :)
Colonel Black has been annointed by the Holy Spirit to lead us back from the brink of complete disaster. Patricia Phillips should be a good Chritian woman and subjugate her ambitions to her superior. Col. Black will need all of his money and energy to defeat the traitor Herring.
This thread is hilarious! So which one of these characters do you all think will prove to be less embarrassing to the GOP in the long run, should one of them win election? Discuss. Bonus points if the discussion is between the multiple identities who are the same person.
Nice to hear from you LI. Good to know you’re keeping Dick Black straight (no pun intended).
Dick Black, still obsessed with gays:
www.tooconservative.com/?p=7734
Do you know if anybody has been carrying Dick Black’s luggage lately?
www.equalityloudoun.org/?p=879
And watch out, as you can see from the comments, Dick Black’s protectors are the LCRC’s best and brightest! They’ll eat you for lunch.
These comments really are something!
Jesus is my savior.
Obama, Kaine and Hering are bad for the economy. They support abortion and homosexual marriage.
Dick Black is really great.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.
Dick Black is a great legislator. Herring, Obama and Kaine are socialists.
You should be ashamed of yourself, Jonathan “Secular Jew” Weintraub.
I see, the 5th grade bullies are all riled up. Ok, it works both ways.
JESUS=SOCIALIST
HERRING=SOCIALIST
Herring has 100% rating from abortion and homo-sexual groups… while Loudoun roads are congesting and people are losing jobs.
How ‘bout a link to Obama, Kaine and Herrings endorsement of bisexual and transgender policies in taxpayer supported adoption and foster care programs?
see: http://www.gaycenter.org/
Read why Dems got thrashed last week.
BLACK, BLACK, BLACK!!!
Can somebody provide a link to former Delegate Black’s anti-gay comments? I’ve been too busy bettering the economy to worry about Loudoun’s anti-gays (and that includes both Phillips and Holtzman-vogel). Is it time for me to put down the important economic development work I’m involved in and to refocus on protecting my family? I sure hope not.
Anyways, a link would be appreciated to help me decide whether it’s necessary to fight, or to ignore.
The Democrats and the off-kilter policies of Obama, Kaine and Herring, just got defeated for a reason.
Dick Black has a record that is focused on transportation, jobs and economic development.
We need to get back to basics.
The Democrats are more interested in government bail-outs, socialistic health care, government take-overs of private corporations, promoting the gay agenda, etc.
Black was defeated for a reason. I’m a Republican who wants to see a few Republicans who are more “centered”, in more ways than one.
Dick Black has a proven track record of creating jobs and promoting economic development. He has brought funds for road improvements to Rt. 28 and 7. He is great.
The radical Democrats like Herring, Kaine and Obama have ruined the economy in the U.S., Virginia and Loudoun.
Black stands up for family values too.
He has my support and the support of my family.
I can only hope we have seen the last of Dick Black in Loudoun Politics. No re-election for him would be a blessing.
Please, Not Dick Black again. There is already enough dicks in Richmond!
Phillips should bow out, before a blow out. Virginia needs experience.
Updated: Thirteen-year-old pedestrian hit crossing Route 7 near Dulles Town Center
UPDATE: Missing Leesburg man drowns in drainage pond
Leesburg high schools switch things around
Loudoun inmate dies after suffering massive stroke in prison
Two Loudoun County residents involved in $1.5 million mortgage scheme
