The main event at the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee (SCC) meeting on Saturday was the vote for a 2017 primary or convention with the final vote 41-40 in favor of a primary. Here is the roll call vote.
1st District: All voted for convention — Bob Watson, Allen Webb, Carol Dawson, Steve Albertson, Larry Kile, Eric Herr
2nd District: Stephen Corazza was absent. All others voted for primary — Ashley McLeod, Jeff Ryer, Carolyn Weems, Dennis Free
3rd District: All for primary — Bill Coburn, Carol De Triquet, Steve Trent, Jennifer Lee
4th District: Convention — Pete Burkhimer; Primary — Carey Allen, Kishore Thota, Janet Riddick, Barbara Tabb, Jack Wilson
5th District: Convention — JoAnne Holden, Renee Maxey, Ed Yencho, Travis Witt, Lynn Tucker; Primary — Clara Wheeler
6th District: All voted Convention — Nate Boyer, Joseph Sonsmith, Steve Troxel, Gene Rose, Anne Fitzgerald, Scott Sayre
7th District: Convention — Nancy Smith, Susan Lascolette, Dewey McDonnell, Mark Hile, Ben Slone; Primary — Ron Hedlund
8th District: Convention — Mark Kelly; Primary — David Foster, Sandy Liddy Bourne, Brian Rabbit
9th District: Convention — Susan Edwards; Primary — Michelle Jenkins, Corey Scott, Kevin Corbett, Marcy Hernick, Adam Tolbert
10th District: Convention — Heidi Stirrup, Julie Williams, Eve Gleason, Mark Sell, Jo Thoburn; Primary — Puneet Ahluwalia
11th District: Convention — Freddy Burgos, Paul Prados; Primary — Kyle McDaniel, Ryan Rauner
CRFV Chairman Ben Dessart: Primary
CRFV First Vice-Chairman Nadia Elgendy: Primary
CRFV Second Vice-Chairman Jack Koltisko: Primary
Eastern Vice Chairman Mr. Kevin Gentry: Convention
Eastern Vice Chairwoman Diana Banister: Convention
Finance Chairman Jerry Kilgore: Primary
First Vice Chairman Michael Thomas: Primary
House Caucus St. Cen. Rep. Hon. Jimmie Massie: Primary
National Committeeman Morton Blackwell: Convention
National Committeewoman Cynthia Dunbar: Convention
RPV Chairman John Whitbeck: Abstain
Secretary Jill Cook: Primary
Senate Caucus SCC Rep Hon. Siobhan Dunnavant: Primary
StCen Caucus Rep. Hon. John Cosgrove: Primary
StCen Caucus Rep. Hon. Jackson Miller: Convention
Treasurer John Selph: Primary
VFRW President Ellen Nau: Primary
VFRW SCC Rep Mrs. Miki Miller: Primary
VFRW SCC Rep Elizabeth Munday: Primary
Western Vice Chairman Wendell Walker: Primary
Western Vice Chairwoman Dr. Nancy Dye: Primary
YRFV President Dan Webb: Convention
YRFV SCC Rep Jeff Wernsing: Convention
YRFV SCC Michael Wood: Convention
The last State Convention was enough to convince me to support primaries. We got to see how a small group in power positions can over rule the majority. Conventions do not allow for poor, unemployed, working, suffering from health problems, elderly and MOST IMPORTANT, the brave men and women serving in the US military a voice in the candidate selection. Conventions have given way to primaries. Time to put the “smoke filled rooms” in the dustbin of history and move into the 21st century. I salute those voting for primaries.