Welcome to campaign season! While we all work year-round preparing for the November election, Labor Day marks the beginning of campaign season for most voters. It is now when most of our preparations for victory are put into action. Also, I know this begins the busiest time of the year for candidates, campaign workers, and volunteers.
I kept a busy schedule during the month of August, including both legislative and campaign duties. Legislatively, I spoke to both the West Point and Oyster Point Rotary Clubs in August. Like most legislators, appearing before Rotary, Kiwanis, and Ruritan clubs , as well as Chambers of Commerce, occurs regularly for me. I consider it my responsibility as a Senator to get into the community I serve to provide updates on our work in the General Assembly, learn about local issues, respond to questions, and hear concerns. I enjoy addressing Republican, civic and community groups year round.
In the middle of the month I spoke to the Sorensen Institute's Emerging Leaders Program, lecturing on leadership and public policy. Former Lt. Governor John Hager, a longtime friend, who is the current Chairman of the Institute's Advisory Board. Sorensen's Emerging Leaders Program is one of several programs they conduct to shape Virginia's leaders of tomorrow.
With so many folks vacationing in August, many of the legislative boards and commissions on which I serve took the month off. But I did have a month full of meetings with constituent groups like Project Discovery and state agencies like the Virginia Port Authority to begin preparing for the 2014 session. While the 2014 session seems far away - with critical elections between now and then - much of the leg work to prepare bills and craft a new budget is already well underway. This work will get more intense over the next four months and such meetings will occur with greater frequency.
As we move into the campaign season, there is also a greater emphasis on political events. In August, Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan McDougle and I met with Ken Cuccinelli to discuss his campaign. We discussed how the Senate Republican Caucus will work with his campaign on voter ID efforts in critical parts of the state and we laid the groundwork for how we will work together once he is elected. After Ken Cuccinelli is elected Governor, he will have less than two months to build his administration and transition before the General Assembly session begins. While no one wants to get too far out in front, an aspiring Governor cannot wait until after the election to begin laying the groundwork for their administration.
As an indication that everyone is preparing for the expense of this fall's campaign, three of my campaign appearances last month were at fundraising events. I spoke at a fundraiser for my Senate colleague (and our next Attorney General) Mark Obenshain in York County. It's been 24 years since Virginia elected a Democrat Attorney General, and we need to keep that streak going. Both Mark and his Democrat opponent serve with me in the Senate. Being familiar with both, I can assure you there is no contest over who would make the better Attorney General - Mark Obenshain, hands down.
Also, I attended the New Kent County Republican Committee's "Summer's Eve on the Pumunkey." There, I had the honor of introducing my long time good friend, United States House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the event's headliner. Majority Leader Cantor is very generous with his time in helping his fellow Republicans, and headlined an important event for Senate Republicans during the 2011 campaign. I wrapped up the month with Glenn Davis, our party's nominee in the 84th House of Delegates District once held by Governor McDonnell, who had me as the featured speaker for his August fundraiser. It is important that we maintain our majority in the House this year and we cannot take that for granted.
As Senate Majority Leader, I have responsibility for the entire Republican Caucus. I spent two days this month on a road trip to Northern Virginia where I met with dozens of business leaders to share the Caucus's message and to raise some funds. I am pleased to report that even in a part of Virginia that many people consider "deep blue," I found very receptive audiences and folks who are committed to electing conservative candidates.
I hope you will join me Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 p.m. for my Annual Pig Pickin' at Carlton Farms in James City County. It's a free event featuring BBQ, hot dogs and great bluegrass music and is always a good time. I hope you and your family will join me. Please click here for the invite and directions to the event.
I hope to see you at the Pig Pickin' or on the campaign trail over the next few weeks. If I may ever assist you please contact my office at (757) 259-781o or by email at District03@senate.virginia.gov . As always, it is an honor to represent you in the Senate of Virginia, and to have the privilege to serve our party and the Commonwealth as Senate Majority Leader.
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