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Ashburn man has sights set on Congressman Wolf's job
When running against a popular 14-term incumbent, it's a challenge just to be taken seriously. Ashburn's Vern McKinley learned that early in his attempt to upend U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) in the upcoming Republican primary, when he struggled initially to find someone willing to design his campaign's Web site.
“I don't think they want to cross Congressman Wolf,” he said. “He is very powerful in this district.”
For this political neophyte, winning in the June 10 primary looks to be a daunting task. In his first run for public office, McKinley, 44, faces a congressman who has rarely been politically tested since his first win in 1980. Wolf also has a decisive lead in raising money: $715,000 on hand, to McKinley's $17,250, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Still, McKinley said he thinks Wolf is vulnerable in 2008, because, he said, the congressman has “drifted” away from the Republican party by supporting big government and securing spending earmarks for local projects.
But, according to Wolf spokesman Dan Scandling, money Wolf has secured, including funding for the Dulles Metrorail project, has only aided the district, which includes Loudoun and Clarke counties and parts of Fairfax, Fauquier and Prince William counties.
“Does this mean that Mr. McKinley does not support transportation improvements in the district?” he asked. “Does he not support the widening of Route 66? Does he not support a gang task force? He is criticizing things that make the community better.”
McKinley, married with two children, did not always count himself as a Republican. He was born and raised in the Democratic stronghold of Chicago in the 1960s. Like many other “young Americans,” he was eventually won over to the party by Ronald Reagan.
McKinley, who has lived in area since the late 1980s, decided to make a run at a House seat soon after Wolf won re-election in 2006. Spurring the decision, he said, was a survey he took online (www.votesmart.org) that showed he agreed with Wolf on only about 25 percent of the votes he has made in Congress.
On the hot topic of the economy, McKinley, who works as a consultant for other countries on economic matters, opposes the stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year, which he thinks will put the government further in debt. Also, he supports a hands-off approach by the government with respect to the housing meltdown.
Dealing with social issues, he said he is pro-life and a supporter of gun ownership.
On Iraq, he said: “I don't think we should have been going there in the first place.” He wants U.S. spending overseas curtailed.
Meanwhile, more locally, McKinley is firmly against the federal government contributing money to the Metrorail extension out to Loudoun. The main reason, he said, is that voters need to get away from thinking of members of Congress as “ATM machines and Santa Clause.”
“Your oath as a congressman,” he said, “is not to get as much money for your district as possible.”
Like the Republicans, Democrats also will hold a 10th district primary on June 10 to select their candidate for the fall. Their primary pits Waterford's Michael Turner against McLean's Judy Feder.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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