Former AG Jerry Kilgore replaces Snyder as RPV Finance Chair

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore is no stranger to Virginia politics, and now he will again actively step in to help the Republican Party of Virginia as their new Finance Chairman.

Kilgore, who has served the Republican Party in many capacities throughout his almost forty years of activism in Republican Party politics, was instrumental in precinct organization in Scott County before being elected to serve as the Ninth Congressional Committee Chair in Southwestern Virginia. He served as RPV Counsel for four years, engaging with Party leaders and activists on organizational and legal issues.

He has served as a Finance Chair and Co-Chair for many statewide candidates, including former Governor Bob McDonnell and gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli. Kilgore was the State Co-Chair for the presidential campaigns of former President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John McCain, and most recently supported presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Throughout the years he has served in leadership positions in a number of other local, state, and national campaigns.

During the administration of Governor George Allen, Kilgore served as Secretary of Public Safety, overseeing the eleven public safety agencies in Virginia. In 2001, he was elected attorney general, and was the Virginia Republican nominee for Governor in 2005. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor at McGuire Woods Consulting, co-chairing the Multistate Practice area.

Jeb Bush’s Virginia campaign announces 60 additional heavy hitter supporters

By Lynn R. Mitchell

From the Jeb Bush for President 2016 campaign:

Today, the day before the deadline to submit signatures for the Virginia ballot, the Washington Post reported, “Republican heavy hitters join Jeb Bush’s campaign in Virginia.”

This strong show of support for Jeb Bush comes after he submitted over 10,000 signatures on November 18, twice the amount needed to qualify for the Virginia ballot. The full list of support is below.

“Jeb Bush is the leader this country needs, and the Commander in Chief I want in the Oval office to protect my family and this nation,” said State Senator Ben Chafin, of Russell County.  “Further, Jeb understands Southwest Virginia and the challenges our families are facing.  He has an energy plan that embraces domestic coal production and will put people back to work.”

Governor Bush has been to Virginia three times in the past few months, including an appearance in Bristol in September to help raise money for the Senate Republican Caucus.  He also recently attended a candidate’s forum hosted by Pat Robertson at Regent University in Virginia Beach.

“When the primary is over, there is only one candidate who is capable of defeating Hillary Clinton, and that is Jeb Bush,” said State Senator John Watkins, from Chesterfield. 

This support comes in addition to Jeb’s previously announced Virginia Co-Chairs: Kay Coles James, former Virginia Secretary of Health; Eric Cantor, former House Majority Leader; and John Hager, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and other lawmakers including Jerry Kilgore, former Attorney General of Virginia.

I am proud to be part of the Jeb Bush for President team of supporters in Virginia.

Additional Jeb Bush Supporters in Virginia:

·      Veronica Angulo, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Graves Anthony, Chair, Hampden-Sydney College Republicans

·      Peggy Armentrout, Chair, Charlotte County GOP

·      Barbara Bowie-Wittman, Grassroots Activist, Alexandria City

·      Conrad Brinkman, College Republicans, Longwood University

·      James Burton, College Republicans, UVA

·      Victor Cabral, Business Leader, Arlington County

·      Brenda Campbell, Fmr. President, Virginia Federation of Republican Women, Henry County

·      Delegate Jeff Campbell, Virginia House of Delegates, Smyth County

·      Senator Ben Chafin, Virginia Senate, Russell County

·      Spencer Chaplain, College Republican, Ferrum College

·      Maggie Cleary, Vice President, Federalist Society, UVA Law

·      Linwood Cobb, Fmr. Chair, 7th District GOP Committee; Fmr. Member, State Central Committee, Henrico County

·      Ray Connor, Commissioner of Revenue, Chesapeake City

·      Chandler Crenshaw, Fmr. Chair, William & Mary College Republicans

·      Richard Cullen, Business Leader, Richmond City

·      Alex Owen Davis, Grassroots Activist, Radford City

·      Tom Farrell, Business Leader, Henrico County

·      Peter Finocchio, Former Chairman, UVa College Republicans, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      David Fonseca, College Republicans, Liberty University

·      Renee Fonseca, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Heywood Fralin, Business Leader, Roanoke City

·      Dennis Free, Ret. Undersheriff Virginia Beach City; Ret. VBPD Police Captain, Virginia Beach City

·      Marvin Gilliam, Business Leader, Washington County

·      Bill Goodwin, Business Leader, Henrico County

·      Barbara Greiner, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Marianne Horinko, Fmr. Acting Administrator of the EPA under President George W. Bush, Fairfax County

·      Tyler Johnson, Fmr. Chair, William & Mary College Republicans

·      Rear Admiral Jack Kavanaugh, Ret. USN; President, Downtown Norfolk Republican Club, Norfolk City

·      Harry Kelso, Grassroots Activist, Henrico County

·      Jay Lacano, Fmr. Chair, ODU College Republicans

·      Caroline Lane, Ret. USN; Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Ethan Lane, Grassroots Activist, Alexandria City

·      Anna Lee, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Jorge Lozano, Grassroots Activists, Fairfax County

·      Shirley Miles, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Elizabeth Minneman, Immediate Past Chair, College Republican Federation of Virginia

·      Lynn Mitchell, Fmr. Member, State Central Committee, Grassroots Activist, Augusta County

·      Tim Nank, Grassroots Activist; Fmr. Candidate, Virginia House of Delegates, Fairfax County

·      Sheila Noll, Member, Board of Supervisors, York County

·      Nina Ovieda, Community Leader, Arlington County

·      Eric Philipkosky, Grassroots Activist, Richmond City

·      Susan Ralston, Fmr. Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, Culpeper County

·      Dan and Sonia Runde, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Isabel “Izzy” Santa, Fmr. RNC Hispanic Communications Director, Arlington County

·      Colin Sapko, Treasurer, George Mason College Republicans

·      Don Scoggins, Fmr. Candidate for Occuquan Supervisor, Prince William County

·      John Scott, Immediate Past Chair, Young Republican Federation of Virginia

·      Kathy Simmons, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Gerrie Smith, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Mark Smith, Grassroots Activist, Loudoun County

·      The Honorable John Snow, Fmr. Secretary of the Treasury, Richmond City

·      Theresa Speake, Fmr. Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy, Fairfax County

·      Phillip Stucky, College Republican, UVA

·      Mauricio Tamargo, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      The Honorable Nick Taubman, Fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Roanoke City

·      Breccan Thies, College Republican, University of Mary Washington

·      Greg Thies, College Republican, UVA

·      Tamara Thies, Grassroots Activist, Charlottesville City

·      Thomas Turner, Chair, Western Tidewater Young Republicans; Vice-Chair, Suffolk City GOP, Suffolk City

·      Rick Valentine, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Adam Washington, 1^st CD Young Republican Representative; Fmr. Chair, Fredericksburg-Area Young Republicans, Stafford County

·      Senator John Watkins, Virginia Senate, Chesterfield County

·      Kristi Way, Member, State Central Committee, Henrico County

·      Rick West, Member, City Council, Chesapeake City

·      Fay Williamson, Fmr. President, Virginia Federation of Republican Women

·      Neb Yegezu, College Republican, NVCC, Fairfax County

Previous Endorsers

• State Co-Chair, Eric Cantor, Fmr. Majority Leader, United States House of Representatives
• State Co-Chair, Kay Coles James, Fmr. Member of the Virginia State Board of Education
• State Co-Chair, John Hager, Fmr. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
• Jerry Kilgore, Fmr. Attorney General of Virginia
• Delegate David Yancey, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Terry Kilgore, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Will Morefield, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Bobby Orrock, Virginia House of Delegates
• Sheriff Ken Stolle, Virginia Beach City
• Debbie Ritter, Member, City Council, Chesapeake City
• Stephanie Zemanek, College Republican, University of Richmond

 

*titles for identification purposes only

Jeb2016.com

Governor Jeb Bush to file double the needed signatures for Virginia

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Showing his strong support in Virginia, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will officially file twice the necessary number of signatures today to qualify for the Virginia Primary ballot. To qualify, presidential candidates for 2016 must file a minimum of 5,000 signatures statewide and a minimum of 200 signatures in each of Virginia’s eleven congressional districts by the December 10 deadline.

The Bush campaign is submitting more than 10,000 signatures weeks before the deadline.

Alex Davis with Governor Bush. (Photo by Jeb Bush for President campaign photographer)

Volunteers fanned out across the Commonwealth including Alex Davis in the 9th Congressional District who single-handedly collected over 500 signatures while attending dozens of events throughout the summer and fall, receiving overwhelming positive response. In September when Governor Bush addressed supporters in Bristol, he noticed Alex’s clipboard of petitions and talked with him about the process and personally thanked him for all his work.

Governor Bush was grateful for the effort of so many and commented, “I am humbled to have the support of so many grassroots activists here in Virginia.  The Commonwealth will help decide the next president, and I plan to compete here.  Thank you to all of the Virginia volunteers that spent countless hours gathering signatures.  I will not let you down.”

Jerry Kilgore headlines fundraiser for Chuck Slemp for Commonwealth’s Attorney

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In 2005 when Chuck Slemp was driving gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore to political events around Virginia, the University of Virginia at Wise graduate with the engaging personality and friendly smile had a goal. His plan was to attend law school and return to  Wise to open a law office and serve the citizens of southwestern Virginia. Now ten years later, Chuck’s dream came true and he is a successful and established attorney with law offices in Wise and Pennington Gap.

Married, he and his wife have two children, and he has a new goal: Commonwealth’s Attorney. His campaign is in full swing as he and his team of volunteers work toward election day. This week Chuck’s old boss will be in town to help. Former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore will headline a fundraiser dinner on Thursday, October 1, at the Inn at Wise.

The names of Republican officials who have been invited read like a who’s who and include Delegate Terry Kilgore, Senator Bill Carrico, Senator Ben Chafin, Delegate Todd Pillion, Delegate Israel O’Quinn, Delegate Will Morefield, and Delegate Jeff Campbell. Thursday’s event will be the place to be in southwestern Virginia.

See also Chuck Slemp to run for Wise Commonwealth’s Attorney.

If you’re going:

What: Dinner to support Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Slemp
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Time: 6-7:00 Reception / 7-8:30 Dinner
Place: The Inn at Wise, Main Street, Wise, Virginia
$50 per person/Dinner
$100 per person/Reception and dinner
Sponsorships available

Chuck Slemp for Commonwealth’s Attorney
Facebook / Twitter @ChuckSlemp

Former AG Kilgore joins Jeb Bush’s Virginia Team

   Jerry Kilgore (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

By Lynn R. Mitchell

“I am honored to join Governor Bush’s leadership team in Virginia. Governor Bush is the reform candidate that the country needs at this point in our history. His strong record of positive reforms in Florida gives certainty to the leadership he will provide as our President. His positive message is one that will resonate with Virginians.” –Jerry Kilgore, September 22, 2015

Welcome to Team Bush, Jerry Kilgore!

When the former attorney general joined Governor Scott Walker’s Virginia presidential campaign at the end of August, it was disappointing to not have the personable long-time public servant on Team Bush.

That changed today when it was announced that Kilgore had joined Jeb Bush’s Virginia team headed up by former Congressman Eric Cantor, Kay James, and former Lieutenant Governor John Hager whose son Henry is married to Jenna Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush who is Jeb’s brother (see 2016: Eric Cantor, John Hager, Kay James endorse Jeb Bush … will head up Virginia campaign). It followed Walker’s announcement Monday afternoon that he was ending his presidential bid.

Jerry Kilgore’s experience, contacts, and leadership will be a big help in Virginia. His addition and endorsement is good news and welcomed by Team Bush.

Virginia Republicans look to the future

Linwood Cobb and Eric Cantor

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s the Top 5 state offices: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, two U.S. senate seats. Add to that president.

Virginia Republicans saw all those offices turn over to Democrats the past few years including the back-to-back loss for president that marked the first time Virginia carried a Democrat for president since the 1960s.

Frustrated at the string of losses and looking at the 2016 presidential election looming right around the corner, more than 100 Republican activists gathered Saturday in Richmond from as far away as southwestern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Southern Virginia, and the Richmond area. Representing every congressional district and looking to the future during the day-long event, they met in a casual atmosphere to hear positive messages from respected leaders and to network with fellow activists.  The message was one of how to grow the party and work together, how to reach diverse communities, and how to move forward to once again win statewide and presidential elections.