Who’s Positioned for Democratic State Runs in 2013?

I suppose it’s never too soon to begin to speculate on exactly which Democrats might by getting a case of “Richmond Fever” for 2013. (Otherwise, we can only sit around and watch Bob McDonnell fiddle in the governor’s mansion while Ken Cuccinelli marches his army of troglodytes to the edge of his flat earth in order to stage another foot-stamping anger fit with a lawsuit attached.)

It’s hardly a secret that Terry McAuliffe is busy following in the footsteps of Mark Warner by working to bring jobs to areas of Virginia that need all the assistance they can get, in a scarcely disguised bid for a gubernatorial nomination. Recently,  McAuliffe announced that his green car company, Greentech Automotive, had purchased EuAuto Technology Ltd., a company that makes and distributes electric cars. Additionally, McAuliffe still has a bid alive to purchase the now-closed International Paper plant in Isle of Wight County and convert it to a biomass energy plant. Result? Jobs, jobs, jobs…and, if successful, a nomination.

Then, we can’t ignore how Del. Ward Armstrong has been acting of late. He has visited three Democratic events in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, plus making himself seen at a couple of congressional district conventions. He’s acting like an early gubernatorial candidate.

(I have to say something at this point. After 2009, I personally don’t want to see the Virginia Democratic party nominate another rural (Henry County), anti-abortion, gun-toting, health reform criticizing guy for governor. I hope we learned something from last year. If not, then the DPVA is hopeless.)

There are those who say that Jon Bowerbank, whose only political office to date has been on the Russell County (rural again) board of supervisors, plus his unsuccessful attempt to get the 2009 Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, could again seek that nomination.  Another possible candidate for lieutenant governor is Kenneth Alexander, delegate from Norfolk’s 89th House District.

For attorney general, will John Edwards, state senator from Roanoke, get his act together earlier next time and declare for office in a timely fashion? Last year, Edwards stated an interest in the office of attorney general, but he waited until it was far too late to actually vie for the nomination.

The only person who appeals to me for attorney general is State Sen.Mark Herring, who represents the 33rd District that includes Loudoun and Fairfax counties. Now, Herring is a very impressive candidate, at least to me.

I was especially interested in Sen. Herring’s bill last session, SJ 99, which would privatize rest areas on state interstates. This idea, one that has proven lucrative on the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Turnpikes, would recover the cost of operating rest areas, as well as expand commercial activity on state roads and generate additional revenue for transportation. You know, there are times to have governmental control and times to actually let private enterprise do its thing.

Does anyone have further thoughts? Let us know.