As many of you know, 2007 is shaping up to be a year of major changes for me professionally. As such, I believe that it would be most appropriate to set aside this blog in order to focus my attention and energy. This is a decision that I am making of my own volition, something that I choose eagerly as there are many new roads ahead.

For over a year-and-a-half, I’ve had the good fortune (or misfortune) of musing about culture, media, politics and such from my perch on this side of the river. It’s been an interesting facet of what turned out to be a 2-year plus stint hanging out in alternative media and grassroots community activism circles. Despite some hiccups along the way, this wild and crazy ride has been tons of fun.

As President Eisenhower once commanded, “Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage.” SOTJ served as an outlet for creative expression motivated by a desire to maximize my contribution to our democracy. When added to my other volunteer work, it’s been quite a journey into civic engagement. As clichéd as it sounds, I hope that this blog made a difference to someone, somewhere.

Before I drop the mike and leave this particular stage, I want to thank all of the readers, comment-makers, and fellow travelers who promoted my work and offered criticism, the dozen or so guest writers who lent me their voices on occasion, as well as the established media outlets that published my “random acts of journalism.” I also owe a debt of gratitude to my wife, family, and friends for their moral support and for telling (or admitting to) everyone they knew that I was one of those blogger people. Without you all, I’d basically be that tree that fell in the woods when no one was around.

My father constantly tells me to never tell people “good bye,” so I’ll take his advice this time. After all, I’m not going away forever, just taking my leave of this particular forum. So, I’ll see y’all later!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jessica Smith

c: 202-236-3002

jsmith@webbforsenate.com

January 3, 2007

Washington, D.C., January 3 – Senator-elect Jim Webb announced today the appointment of several members to his senior staff.

“Over the course of the past several weeks, we have been working to assemble an experienced staff of professionals who can help advance the agenda I articulated in the fall campaign,” Senator Webb stated. “I am extremely pleased that this outstanding team has agreed to serve Virginia and our nation in the coming six years.”

Webb’s additional staff members include:

Michael Sozan – Legislative Director. As Legislative Director, Sozan will coordinate all committee and floor activities for Senator Webb and assist in establishing legislative priorities. Sozan has served since 2004 as Legislative Counsel in Senator Bill Nelson’s (D-FL) office. He grew up in Clifton, graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1991 and George Washington University School of Law in 1994. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, he was an Associate at Arnold and Porter.

Kathryn M. Wilmoth – Administrative Director. The Administrative Director is responsible for office accounts, personnel policies and technology systems. Wilmoth is a 21-year veteran of the Senate, having served in similar capacities for Senators John H. Chafee (R – RI) and Lincoln D. Chafee (R – RI). She grew up in Arlington County and is a 1985 graduate of Northern Virginia Community College.

Louise F. Ware – State Director. The State Director will manage Webb’s regional offices and coordinate constituent casework. Ware has a long record of public service in Virginia government and at the federal level. During the administration of Governor Mark Warner, she managed the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. She has also served in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and on the Democratic National Committee. Ware is a native of Lynchburg and holds a B.S. from Lynchburg College and a M.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gordon I. Peterson – Military Legislative Assistant. The Military Legislative Assistant will serve as the key staff person for Webb on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Peterson is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy. He is currently a strategic communications specialist with General Dynamics supporting the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater Program. His previous positions include Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the Naval Sea Systems Command, and Deputy Chief of Information for the Department of the Navy. He is a naval aviator with more than 500 combat missions during the Vietnam War. Peterson, who is long-time resident of Virginia, holds a B.A. from the United States Naval Academy and an M.S. from George Washington University. He also graduated with highest distinction from the U.S. Naval War College.

Lisa Marie Stark – Director of Scheduling. Stark is currently the Deputy Scheduling Director for Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. As Webb’s scheduling director, she will coordinate state travel and his daily activities in Washington. Stark holds a BA. in International Relations from Michigan State University and is a candidate for a masters degree at the University of Michigan.

Conaway B. Haskins, III – Deputy State Director. As Deputy State Director, Haskins will assist in managing Webb’s regional offices and in coordinating constituent casework. He will also focus on economic development and special projects. Haskins currently serves as a Senior Program Officer for the Cameron Foundation, a non-profit organization in the Petersburg area that focuses on regional development. He holds a B.A from George Mason University and a M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Michael “Mac” McGarvey – Legislative Assistant for Veterans Affairs. McGarvey will serve as Webb’s principal aide for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. McGarvey has long been involved with veterans’ issues. He served in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a prosthetics specialist from 1985 to 2001. He served as a Marine infantryman in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Phillip Thompson – Executive Assistant. As executive assistant, Thompson will handle Webb’s personal correspondence, help coordinate long range planning, and support the communications staff. Thompson served in a similar capacity in Webb’s campaign. Thompson, who is a long-time resident of Virginia, is a former Marine combat veteran and journalist. He is a native of Mississippi and a graduate of Ole Miss.

Webb noted that additional staff members will be appointed over the next several weeks.

Paid for by James Webb for U.S. Senate

Congratulations to Jon Henke on his new gig with the Senate Republicans. Jon’s a good guy, virtually a neighbor (for a little while more), and he’s an elite blogger. Democrats would be wise to watch his moves as he helps Sen. McConnell navigate the closely-divided Senate.  At any rate, to the extent that Jon’s blogging will decrease, Virginia’s loss is will be Beltway Republicans’ gain.

The Carytown NYE was fun and funny. It was a large outdoor festival in the misty confines of the River City’s finest shopping district. I feel bad for the folks who went to Can-Can looking for a nice, sophisticated, francophile way of ringing in the new year. What they got was a raucous, free-champagne, American version instead. It was off “le crochet“(I took Spanish…sorry).  Big kudos to my man Albert for the coffee and bread hook-up as one of Richmond’s best-designed restaurants played host to the most unusual NYE I’ve ever had.

With the recent “Bash Waldo” fiesta that ensued after Mr. Jaquith yanked a blog from his aggregator, I’m beginning to rethink my earlier comments regarding the nonpartisan Media Bloggers Association (which is full of Pajamas Media, thus it can’t be a liberal ploy to attack Republicans, folks). This situation – regardless of the motives involved – demonstrates why 2007 may bring days of reckoning to the blogosphere in terms of teasing out the quality among the quantity. After striking it rich in the brave new world of 2006 politics, blogland may be reaping a bit of what it has sown, particularly as the MSM and political establishment (right and left) signal that they have wised up to the goings-on and reach of our community. The golden age is over, folks. It’s time to think outside the text box…

At any rate, though it’s not yet a full day old, 2007 promises to be a very interesting year…

A few years back, I sampled my first glass of Chenin Blanc at Downtown DC’s Chef Geoff’s during a business dinner. Ever since, I’ve been intrigued with this unheralded white wine because it is not readily found on most wine lists or in retail outlets. It’s basically a Left Coast underdog that does not originate in the ubiquitous Napa or Sonoma regions of California, with the grapes of this particular version grown in the Sacramento area.

When I dashed off to the store for one last NYE grocery run, I was pleasantly surprised to see some bottles of 2005 Dry Creek Vineyards Dry Chenin Blanc. I figured that it was worth trying, especially since the price was south of $10. Well, it was a good choice. This baby came in at 12.5% alcohol and 100% good taste. It had flavors touching on honeydew and little bit of pineapple.

Sadly, Chenin Blanc’s are not terribly popular in the US which is a shame since it’s a really versatile food partner (we did it with chicken & seafood), and it is pretty inexpensive in the range of $9-12 per bottle. The 2005 rated an 86 by Wine Enthusiast, keeping with the pattern of the last few years for this varietal, and the San Francisco Chronicle dedicated a weekly podcast to it as a “wine of the week” in August 2006.

With a great taste and great price what more can you ask for to end 2006?

Wine and holiday season seem like natural fits. Sipping a nice glass of quality vino can be a joyful way to spend time with loved ones, or it can be an absolute necessity to coping with them. Or both, depending on the family member(s) in question. Well, this Christmas happened to trend more toward the former, and during one of the Christmas events that I went to, I spied an interesting bottle of wine sitting on a rack. The label indicated that it had been produced “organically,” and the owner of said bottle encouraged me to pop the cork and try it out.

Now, I’ve always been a sucker for learning about how wine is produced, and thanks to Virginia’s own wineries, the plethora of good wine books, and researchers who put good information on the Web, it’s pretty easy to bone up on the complexity of viticulture and enology. But, when it comes to organic wines, I know much, much less. As a result, I nursed a healthy skepticism about whether high-quality wine could be made organically. Well, let’s just say that Santa brought a little education my way this Christmas.

The wine in question – Frey Vineyard’s 2004 Organic Zinfandel – is produced in a burgeoning organic wine and food hotbed, Mendocino County, California. Frey is regarded as the nation’s oldest organic winery, and the organic status is blasted all over the bottle. The labels also note that the wine “contains no detectable sulfites” and “no sulfites added,” which is terribly important to those who are really sensitive to the chemicals. For good measure, the 2004 Zin was certified organic by both USDA and the California Certified Organic Farmers, thus it’s legit.

This particular Zinfandel has a dark ruby color and a fruity taste which the label describes as hints of blackberries and raspberries. Personally, I tasted cherries, plums and prunes, and an interesting aftertaste of apples. but to each his/her own. The Zinfandel will probably pair well with Italian dishes, pork tenderloin, prime rib, and maybe even a piece of salmon cooked medium to well done. It does have a rather high alcohol content (14.3%), and probably should be aerated in the bottle for about 20-30 minutes for full enjoyment.

It rated in the mid-high 80’s by several reviewers (I’d concur with that assessment) and it’s won several medals in competition. From the looks of things on-line, you can probably snag a bottle of the 2004 Organic Zinfandel for between $15-18. That’s not bad for good wine. Maybe I’ll use that Total Wine gift card that I got for Christmas and pick up a few bottles. What a great way to ring in 2007 – stepping back in time to 2004.

By Krysta Jones

Guest Writer

Krysta Jones is a government relations representative for the American College of Obstetricians where she handles a variety of women’s health issues. In May 2006, she founded the nonpartisan Virginia Leadership Institute to increase the overall number of black elected officials in the Commonwealth, focusing its efforts on Northern Virginia. Krysta serves on the Arlington County Multicultural Advisory Commission and was a 2006 Political Leaders Program Fellow at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She earned a master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida.

The Virginia Leadership Institute (VLI) aims to correct a longstanding ill in our society- the lack of African-American elected officials. African-Americans come from a strong history of leadership and activism. From Senator Blanche K. Bruce to Representative Shirley Chisholm to Representative John Conyers, African Americans have understood the importance of political empowerment as a means to ensure justice and provide opportunity for all people.

I started the VLI to continue this tradition in Virginia. Having more qualified black elected officials is critical, and the VLI aims to find out how to increase this number, and provide training and networking opportunities to those interested in serving as public officials. Generally African-American officials tend to better understand the unique needs of blacks in America, just as representatives of any group are likely to have common experiences as their constituents. More blacks in Virginia deserve the opportunity to have a representative who shares these experiences.

Electing more blacks to office could be a measure of the progress that we have made in society. No one is assuming that blacks always vote the same, or that a black official would always represent the desires of all African-Americans in their district. But because of our bleak history of denying blacks the most basic level of participation in the political process, we would be able to see the fruits of our legislative initiatives of the 1960’s which aimed to increase black representation.

Having a black perspective, in our city councils and state legislatures is just as important as having a white perspective, Latino perspective, wealthy perspective or gay perspective. Our representatives are each unique for the experiences that they bring to policy making, and we should strive to continue to diversify our policy making bodies so that we have a greater chance of building bridges within our communities and proposing new policies and solutions.

Lastly, we should elect more black officials because we can. I have met so many qualified and experienced African-Americans throughout the state that any American would be proud to have as their representative. In order to continue down the path that our forefathers started, we must move Virginia fully forward by increasing opportunities for African-Americans qualified to represent us as constituents of the great commonwealth of Virginia.

For more information on the Virginia Leadership Institute, please visit www.virginialead.org.

VLI Board of Directors

Krysta Jones Chair, Arlington County, Democrat, Lobbyist American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology

M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure, Arlington, Democrat, Press Secretary, U.S. Senate

Davon Gray , Prince William, Republican, lobbyist at the American Hospital Association

Sheena D. Franklin, Alexandria, Independent, Campaign and PAC Compliance Specialist, Perkins Coie LLP

Charniele L. Herring, Alexandria, Democrat. Attorney

Yvonne Johnston, Louisa, Independent, Assistant Vice President Relationship Manager at Wachovia

Christopher Lewis, Alexandria, Democrat, Grassroots organizer for GenerationEngage

Christopher L Turner, Arlington, Democrat, Government Affairs Consultant

Terron D. Sims II, Arlington, Democrat, Senior analyst for ASM Research, Inc.

Updated at 8:30pm on December 26, 2006

For the past month or so, I’ve had a page up on the blog simply titled “Virginia Society of Bloggers” in order to generate positive discussion about the idea of an association of some form and a common ethical code. In light of the sad, but not unexpected brouhaha over the VPB, I’m taking this page down and instead posting the comments contained therein and in the initial Bacon’s Rebellion piece (sans hyperlinks…sorry, I’m still a little slow on the techie end) that started the SOB discussion as a separate post in hopes of generating some discussion.

For those who aren’t already familiar, several “codes” exist that various bloggers adhere to, some of which have been mentioned before. Check them out for yourselves.

• Media Bloggers Association

• Bacon’s Rebellion

• Martin Kuhn’s “Interactivity and Prioritizing the Human: A Code of Blogging Ethics” (featured on Bacon’s Rebellion.

Notable Blogger Responses

Adam Sharp: “I’m in.”

Bruce Roemmelt: “…reporting for duty sir.”

Liberal Pi: “I’m in too.”

Greg Bouchillon: “Did someone order a whackjob? Right behind you Conaway.”

F.T. Rea: “Would this supposedly responsible bloggers society’s members be able to hide their identities? Or, should those onboard be obliged to be accountable for their posts by making their verifiable identity known?”

Greg Bouchillon: “I think that’s an important point. Can someone agree anonymously to a code of ethics? I like how Bacon does it.”

Badrose: “I have no problem with legally changing my name to Badrose. I’m down. Also, I hope we can use this society as a conduit for networking as most of us also have “real” jobs!”

Josh Chernila: “You know I’m an SOB.”

Waldo Jaquith: “Sign me up for the information superhighway. But with a different name, I hope.”

Bryan J. Scrafford: “I’m not ambivalent about this — it’s a GREAT IDEA!!! I most definitely would like my mumblings to be part.”

Alton Foley: “Of course. I’ve been on board since Conaway first mentioned the idea.”

Kevin (Tom Joad’s Place): “You down with SOB…yeah you know me!”

Norm Leahy: “I think this idea is worth pursuing — and the ‘SOBs’ does have a nice ring to it. It does seem to me that I’ve seen something along these lines elsewhere — a code of conduct that any blogger could agree to, link to and, it’s assumed, abide by. There also is the possibility of adapting the Media Bloggers Association code of conduct for our own uses, or a version of the code which would suit our particular needs. A simple page with a code, an icon and perhaps a list of signatory blogs would be a good first step.”

Jim Bacon: “…all in favor of establishing a confederacy of bloggers to look after blogger interests…After the first (Sorensen) blogger conference, I started agitating for a statement of basic standards as a way to establish the blogosphere as a credible alternative to the Mainstream Media — don’t libel people, don’t repeat unverified rumors, that sort of thing…At a minimum, an association of bloggers could continue to put on blogger summits and allow for the continued interaction of the bloggers face to face.”

Shaun Kenney: “If anyone is interested or inclined to help, I have reserved a URL — www.blogcodeofethics.com/org/net for precisely this purpose – a voluntary code of ethics with a button of some sort one could post on their website… self-imposed.”

Vivian Paige: “…sounds good…It’s going to be hard to get the diehards on both sides (of the partisan divide) to come together.”

Ben Tribbett: “…sounds like an awesome idea. Let me know how I can help!”

Claire Gastanaga: “Conaway, Count me in.”

Greg Letiecq: “I’m going to keep an eye on this and lend some input from time to time. I’ll make a decision about participating when the particulars become a little more developed. In general the idea has great merit, but as always it’s the actual implementation which will determine the worthiness of an S.O.B. Regardless of my level of participation, it should be interesting to see some of the commentors in this thread attempt to comply with a code of ethics. If they do however, this exercise would have been well worth it.”

Conaway Haskins: As one who beats the drums in the blogosphere for the “Society of Bloggers” idea, I am well aware that I have fallen short and will continue to fall short of the very notions of ethics that I an others are promoting. As one who laments some of the seedier elements of media & political activism, I am also guilty of countenancing and sometimes participating in the very actions that I criticize. While it may make me a hypocrite on occasion, it also makes me quite human.

And, so it’s time to put the blog away for a winter’s nap until after Santa does his thing. Also, it’s time to do some last-minute shopping, and thinking about “content,” “page views,” “hit counts,” and all that jazz simply gets in the way. For those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, enjoy your time off. Be sure to watch out for a jolly old elf driving a reindeer-powered sleigh. We wouldn’t want to lose anyone over the holiday season.

Regardless of whether you’ve been naughty or nice, check out yesterday’s NPR feature on Richmond’s very own Tacky Lights Tour tradition. If you haven’t done the TLT, you should give it a try. Granted, it’s a lot more fun if you’re on a bus with a group, especially when there are libations to make the season bright

Merry Christmas!

By Mike Harton & Marleen Durfee

Guest Writers

Mike Harton is the president and Marleen Durfee is the executive director of the Responsible Growth Alliance of Chesterfield. The mission of the RGAC is to “protect and secure a high quality of life and economic development in Chesterfield County by encouraging policies and programs that improve our communities, and to educate citizens on the methods and processes they can use to achieve livable, sustainable community in partnership with residents, public and private agencies, businesses and elected officials.”

The past year was quite an active one for our organization!

Most notably, after months of deliberations and soliciting feedback from you, we made several significant changes. First, our organization is now known as the Responsible Growth Alliance of Chesterfield (RGAC). This name was selected based upon widespread sentiment that “Task Force” implied a temporary status. As you all know, there is nothing temporary about us – we are a permanent fixture within the Chesterfield community, and the new name reflects this. Second, we clarified our mission statement to explicitly reinforce our desire for increased commercial growth in the county, as well as our position as a resource for citizens, businesses, and county leaders. Third, in an effort to solidify our base of support and develop organizationally, we defined the terms through which county residents can be “members” of the RGAC. Fourth, we launched a new blog – our new home on the Internet – which allows us to keep you informed about key happenings affecting quality of life and economic development in Chesterfield. The blog also allows for interactive comments from members and concerned citizens, thus giving us instantaneous feedback from you. You can find it at http://www.responsiblegrowth.org.

On the advocacy front, we continued working diligently to inform public policymaking and media coverage in Chesterfield by attending and speaking at over 50 public hearings held by the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, School Board and the Richmond Times-Dispatch and through hosting representatives of leading county agencies at our monthly meetings. We encourage commercial development and have been in favor of mixed-use development like the Watkins Centre. We led the effort for the revision of the Upper Swift Creek Plan that is now closer to completion. We reached out to surrounding jurisdictions and gave a voice to regional growth and development issues as a founding member of the Partnership for Smarter Growth. Finally, we are putting the finishing touches on the first-ever county-wide Community Image Survey, the results of which should be available in the coming months.

None of this work would have been possible without the dedication of our members and supporters. Going forward, your moral and financial support will be critical in helping us fulfill our mission, to protect and secure a high quality of life and economic development in Chesterfield County by encouraging policies and programs that improve our communities, and to educate citizens on the methods and processes they can use to achieve livable, sustainable community in partnership with residents, public and private agencies, businesses and elected officials.”

In short, we need your help to sustain our efforts at representing your interests to policymakers, the media and other community leaders. We ask that you consider contributing a modest annual gift of $30 for Voting Membership in order to defray some of the costs of our activities. Additionally, we wholeheartedly encourage those of you who wish to donate in a greater amount to do so at your pleasure. You can rest assured that your contribution will be money well-spent as we continue to give voice to the citizens of Chesterfield.

Your contribution can be mailed to us at P.O. Box 5747, Midlothian, VA 23112, or you can leave it with us at one of our regular meetings held at 7pm on the third Thursdays in each month at the Hampton Inn located 3620 Price Club Blvd, Midlothian, VA 23112, just off of Hull Street Road.

We thank you for your time and support. We look forward to working with you and for you in the future. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us via email at responsiblegrowth@gmail.com. You may also contact RGAC President Mike Harton at mike@harton.net or Executive Director Marleen Durfee at marleenk@msn.com

With the county’s population in the 300,000 range, Chesterfield’s 5 magisterial districts may soon be on par with House of Delegates districts in terms of size. As Virginia’s 4th-largest jurisdiction, discussions about enlarging the board of supervisors to 7 seats has ensued in corners of the community, and some have talked of having an at-large BOS chairmanship. This is not unprecedented as Chesterfield’s counterparts among Virginia’s largest municipalities have moved in this direction. However, there are legal concerns over civil rights and representation that are often mentioned in the debates.

As it stands, Fairfax has a 10-member BOS with an elected chairman, Virginia Beach has an 11-member City Council with an elected mayor and 3 at-large seats, Prince William has an 8-member BOS with an elected chairman, and Loudoun has a 9-member BOS with one at-large seat. Our northern neighbor, Henrico, maintains 5 district seats like Chesterfield.

Over a year ago, RGAC board member Bob Herndon asked, “Would you like to elect the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors? Do you see the benefits of a Chairman with a four year term v. one year? Do you want the leader of your County government directly accountable to all the voters of Chesterfield County?”

It would be interesting to know what citizens and observers of the county think of this issue. Chime in.

She’s the foodie, I’m the wine guy.

Not content to stop with applecake, the lovely Mrs. Haskins gives her year-end take on the culinary delights that you’ll find just across the Appomattox from our dear Chesterfield. With her blog post “In the Heart of Dixie: A Year in Review in Petersburg,” the runaway star of my Sorensen graduation weekend tells you about eating good in this fascinating and friendly neighborhood. According to her:

“Unlike the Crater, Petersburg seems to be on the rise and dining is leading the way. As Style Weekly noted last week, Petersburg is the home to another culinary upstart with the opening of Old Towne Marketplace in Historic Petersburg. This past weekend I had the chance to stop by for a quick visit, and the friendly owners were more than eager to share their wares and assist. For those of you who know Old Towne, this is great news since it means not always having to schlep to Richmond to purchase good meats and cheeses. MORE“

Ok, for those of you who’ve read my wife’s blog (this means you, Alton), you’ll be happy to know that she’s finally gotten around to posting that applecake recipe that caused quite a stir in my household Well, she tried it, whipped up a batch, and it turned out pretty darn good.

Take a look at it, try your hand at cooking one up, and then go tell her what you thought about it.

The Responsible Growth Alliance of Chesterfield (RGAC) has moved its blog to WordPress. Blogger just didn’t cut it any more. You can now find us at: http://responsiblegrowth.wordpress.com or http://www.responsiblegrowth.org.

Please note this change in your weblinks and update your blogrolls if you don’t mind. Thanks!

– The Publisher (me)

Today, the Media Bloggers Association highlighted an AP article featured on the Mercury News about the groups direction. Apparently, MBA head Robert Cox wants to increase the professionalism of blogs and blogging, elevated the craft to similar stature as the traditional media. The article notes that “Cox is about to unveil new membership policies designed to help bloggers who see themselves more as journalists than freeform diarists…Among the planned criteria: Members would have to take an online course offered by the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, covering legal issues related to blogging.“ 

Trying to write like journalists is one thing, and having a baseline of conduct is fine. But, adopting similarly stringent rules as the MSM operates under is another kettle of fish entirely.

The MBA may be heading down the road toward greater self-regulation, thus increasing the chasm between the various styles of public affairs blogging. Having applied for membership to this group back in May, I had no problems adopting their existing code of ethics. I even recommended it as a model for the Virginia SOB project. Having not heard back from them yet as to whether my application was accepted, I’m beginning to question whether I’d want to go through such rigorous membership rituals.

Though I’m not yet giving up on the SOB idea (in spite of the tepid response to date), I do have a greater understanding of the feelings of those bloggers around Virginia who heartily lambasted the notion when it was proposed. There is a point at which self-policing leads to sterilization of the medium’s uniqueness. From the looks of things, the MBA may be headed down that very road. With the article also noting that a fee-structure is in the offing for the organization, I have my doubts as to whether its worth the price of admission to go that far. For now, I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

This was published by Style Weekly on December 13, 2006. by Conaway B. Haskins

With the 2006 elections dead and gone, one of the biggest beneficiaries of the final tallies may well be a man found nowhere on the November ballot. While bloggers and media types are enthralled with the latest installment of “Mr. Webb Goes to Washington” or the gnashing of teeth among Virginia Republicans as they regroup, the 2007 elections loom. On that front, several story lines are developing, including the future of Richmond-area House of Delegates member A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico).

Amid the backdrop of Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III’s defection to George Allen’s corner and the curious tale of African-American ministers who joined him, McEachin, by demonstrating a high degree of loyalty to his party’s candidate, actually may be in the best position to take advantage of the prevailing political winds.

Before the 2006 election, McEachin had an interesting image in Democratic Party circles. Though his ideological and policy positions were well within the Democratic mainstream, some of his electoral moves as he moved up the political food chain ruffled feathers. Generally speaking, Virginia Democrats have been cautious about waging hearty primary battles, preferring consensus. In 1995, McEachin pushed the envelope a bit by challenging and defeating a leading legislator to earn the party’s nomination for a House of Delegates seat. He waged and won an aggressive battle for the Democratic nomination for attorney general in 2001, and he raised a few more eyebrows when he successfully reclaimed his old House seat last year. In the contact sport of politics, McEachin has been a willing competitor.

Though it may seem unfamiliar to Virginia’s chattering classes, McEachin’s actions are in line with the emerging paradigm of younger African-American Democratic politicians being more aggressive and less tradition-bound than their predecessors. In Virginia, McEachin has ridden the same wave that brought bright stars like Barack Obama; Harold Ford Jr.; and Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty to the forefront in their respective arenas.

In the Democratic primary, McEachin energetically threw his support to Jim Webb, once concerns over Webb’s affirmative-action writings were relieved, sensing that Democrats had a unique opportunity. He says in an e-mail that he “believed it was very important that the Democratic Party put forth the strongest challenger to George Allen. Clearly, the public was and is disenchanted with the policies of the administration in Washington, and I believed this was an opportunity to make a change, for Democrats to strongly challenge George Allen and the Bush Administration.”

While other members of the Legislative Black Caucus backed Webb’s primary opponent or remained neutral, McEachin stepped out on a limb to help Webb early and often. As they stood side by side at events, the large-framed, eloquent African-American attorney and rock-jawed white ex-Marine cast an intriguing visual image, one that was not lost on observers. While McEachin’s actions may not have moved hordes of black voters to Webb during the primary season, his move sent signals to black and white Democrats alike that post-primary, Webb would not be easily pigeonholed on racial issues. It was a prescient move.

Despite maintaining a full-time law practice and his legislative obligations, as the general election swung into gear, McEachin served as a surrogate for Webb at events, introduced the neophyte candidate to key political players and helped craft outreach to the black community. The delegate also loaned his time, energy and name to the Commonwealth Coalition’s bid to defeat the marriage amendment, after expressing “serious regret” for having voted for the measure in the previous General Assembly sessions. Again, he threw himself into this role, providing leadership on the Coalition’s efforts to reach out to African-American ministers and congregations about the potential ramifications of the amendment on their families and communities. A Virginia Union University divinity school student, McEachin echoes similar sentiments to those expressed by his party’s leader, saying in his e-mail, “Like Governor Tim Kaine, whom I greatly admire, I believe my faith informs my choices.”

With Webb now headed to Washington, McEachin has become a close adviser to the senator-elect, serving on the new senator’s transition team. The elephant in the room surrounds what lies ahead for 2007. McEachin lives in the district represented by state Sen. Benjamin Lambert, whose endorsement of George Allen angered many loyal Democrats. “I was shocked and dismayed by Bennie Lambert’s actions,” McEachin says. “I know that George Allen has actively opposed all of the principles and values we Democrats hold.” As for whether he will challenge Lambert, he says, “Many people, in the district, in the Richmond metropolitan area and throughout the Commonwealth have approached me about running. I am humbled by their confidence in me and their offers of help and support.”

McEachin basically set aside his own campaign activities, fundraising included, to help elect Webb to the Senate. With Gov. Kaine headlining a December fundraiser to help with McEachin’s 2007 General Assembly race, the gentleman from Henrico seems entitled to reap some rewards for his loyal service. As a rising voice inside his party, one who gave so that Democrats might get, it would be fitting for McEachin to get more than a little help from his friends no matter what General Assembly chamber he seeks membership in. Having been declared a “winner” by The Washington Post and having recently been given space to share his post-election thoughts by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, if he can successfully cash in some of his newfound political capital, McEachin may emerge as Virginia’s next African-American power player of note. Lord knows he has earned it. S

Conaway B. Haskins III is a writer and Democratic activist who lives in Chesterfield County and publishes the blog www.southofthejames.com.

Over two years ago, I set out to try my hand at journalism on a part-time basis. At the time, I was a news junkie full of opinions and assessments of the state of the world. Instead of focusing on politics, I figured that I would start out in another arena that has had my unrequited love and affection since Coach Daniels first showed me the proper way to shoot a basketball – sports.

Being a fan of more intellectual sports scribes like Greg Easterbrook or and thinking-man ex-jocks like Jason Whitlock, it seemed like a pipe dream at the time. Who was I to give my opinion from the cheap seats of life? My biggest ax to grind was that a lot of sports-writing was redundant and stale, be it overusing or misusing words like “vaunted,” “athleticism,” and “class” (short for “classy,” not for those things that some talented athletes routinely skip) or trumping up quirky milestones as “records” (ex: “Joe Smith is the first running back to gain 50 yards, catch 3 passes, drink 27 oz of Gatorade and get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop in the 3rd quarter of a divisional playoff game”). What also struck me was the dearth of black voices opining about sports in the MSM, Whitlock and Mr. Wilbon notwithstanding. After running across a few African-American themed athletic sites, and running the idea of actually researching and writing stories past She Who Married Me, I gave it a shot. I was lucky that the gang at the Black Athlete Sports Network took the bait, giving me room to spill some digital ink from my perch south of the James River here in Metro Richmond.

That first year of exploring the wide world of sports was incredibly interesting and entertaining. I got to talk with rising professional golfers, DC political operatives, and medical researchers among others. The highlight of this work was a phone interview with Eddie Payton, the golf coach at Jackson State U. in Mississippi, the nation’s top HBCU golf program. Coach Payton, a former NFL player, is the brother of the greatest man to ever put on a football uniform, and although our conversation was short, it was oh so sweet (I promise to get through this post without tearing up at the thought of #34’s untimely death). The writing bug started buzzing with my first article which ran on December 12, 2004, nine months before starting South of the James.

While journeying into sports, I also dabbled in politics a little and after several months pondering Terry Neal’s piece on the lack of diversity among political pundits, I got into the blogging game and have occupied my corner of the blogosphere since August 2005. Political writing has surely been good to me, taking me to places that I never imagined when I signed on to this crazy little thing called blog, adding something fun to my community activism. For the most part, I like what I do, and I hope that I do it well (you be the judge). But, as politics has its limits of rationality, when the aperture is narrowed specifically to the pesky politics of one particular state and region, it becomes strangling at times.

Between bouts of cynicism, idealism, and optimism that define that “Real World” that they tell us about as kids, it’s good to get back in touch with pieces of life we enjoy. Life is too short not to ride good waves. That’s why I ventured out into wine country two weeks ago, earning a few offline comments about my being a dreaded “wine snob” from people who read that piece (OK, I’ll concede having a hint of wine pretense with an occasional aroma of stuffiness when it comes to my grape expectations). Blogging and writing about activities unrelated to Ds and Rs is just plan fun, and because of that, I will consciously broaden my units of blog analysis as times goes by here and elsewhere. Some of you readers may enjoy it and others of you may develop a visceral distate for it, but in the end, I gotta be me.

Happy reading!

Today is the first day of the rest of the lives of the 2006 class of the Sorensen Institute’s Political Leaders Fellows. The speeches are done, the sessions have concluded, and now we have our lapel pins, certificates, and secret handshakes. It was a fascinating experience, traveling all over Virginia to learn about different conceptions and misconceptions of leadership, the myriad of issues facing our diverse communities, and meeting with key players in the Commonwealth’s government and politics.

Interestingly, this year’s group decided to contribute to the decline in Virginia democracy by electing a blogger – that scourge of politics – as their Class President. I truly hope they know what they’re getting themselves into by giving the keys to the kingdom to a loudmouth like me! I promise to be on my best behavior and represent the highest values of our class…well, most of the time

On a serious note, this experience has definitely informed my approach to public service, and I know that it will affect my writing as time goes by. You cannot go through the Sorensen program and leave untouched by the recurring themes of principled partisanship, intelligent ideology, and open-minded opposition. As one who beats the drums in the blogosphere for the “Society of Bloggers” idea, I am well aware that I have fallen short and will continue to fall short of the very notions of ethics that I an others are promoting. As one who laments some of the seedier elements of media & political activism, I am also guilty of countenancing and sometimes participating in the very actions that I criticize. While it may make me a hypocrite on occasion, it also makes me quite human.

Falling short of the values that one espouses does not dilute the fundamental truths that one seeks to promote. As citizens and leaders – in the blogosphere, our political circles, and our communities – we must aspire to the highest levels of conduct even as we fall terribly short, and we must be honest about what we are doing. Otherwise, we may as well pack it in and cut out the lights on government, politics and even society at large.

The way I see it, if the Framers could wax poetically about a “more perfect union” while living graphically imperfect lives, the least we can do is to set lofty standards for ourselves in spite of our splendid limitations.

As this year’s Sorensen journey ends, and our alumni status begins, I look forward to seeing how our friendships and connections bloom well into the future. I expect to see many of my classmates on ballots across Virginia and even the nation sooner or later. For those who are departing the Commonwealth for professional opportunities, I wish you all the best. And, when the time comes, I expect for everyone to whip out those checkbooks and give us something to brag about at next year’s alumni dinner. See you around!

A comment on yesterday’s post regarding Lowell, plus the on-going blogger discussions of the future of the RPV, makes me wonder if the old “netroots v. grassroots” dichotomy has hit its expiration date. After years of throwing rocks, blogging is being accepted as a wonderful medium for both political communication and activism…at least on the Democratic side.

DPVA Chairman Dickie Cranwell gave a shout-out to blogs in his Richmond Times-Dispatch column on Sunday, saying that Democrats “engage in spirited blog debates activities a lot of people know as ‘people-powered politics.’ While online resources are not replacing typical campaign methods of engaging voters, they give us yet another tool to get people involved and give them a voice.”

Republicans are still struggling to figure out the blog world, but AG Bob McDonnell – who is Yo-Yo Ma to the blogosphere’s cello – sent out an email ahead of the RPV statewide shindig that said, “bloggers play an increasingly important role in political discourse in the Commonwealth.” Who knows the extent to which other GOP leaders (aside from Wayne Ozmore, that is), are getting the message.

When we take off the pajamas and tin foil, the the fact is that plenty of us are actually bridging the divide between the netroots and grassroots. A number of bloggers served as Webb or Allen campaign volunteers, joined or helped lead local party committees, or used blogging to facilitate a future run for office. Some of us have put the rocks away for the moment.

There is no way for me to chronicle each and every blogger’s grassroots activism, but it would be great to have a roll call of those – D’s, R’s, others – who walk the line between the blogosphere and the “normal” political world

Primarily a virtual community, the blogosphere exists as the land of avatars and pseudonyms, or for those who are “out of the closet,” it is the alter ego that appears quirky to our friends and family. Our “socialization” also includes regular comment-makers who virtually set-up shop on someone else’s blog, and the dreaded trolls. On occasion, our relationships extend a few feet deeper via emails, off-line phone calls, and variations on meet-ups and confabs. Defying Robert Putnam, our quickness to bond or battle creates its own special social capital that we spend or waste with the shifting winds. As such, we have found “friends” and “enemies” whom we often have never had significant in-person contact with.

The 2006 election season witnessed a transformation in Virginia’s democracy at the hands of its digital denizens. The lefty bloggers generated energy and attention for one of America’s unlikeliest politicians, defying logic and conventional wisdom to help send their man to Washington. The right-wingers tried valiantly to defend the character and record of a legendary retail politician seemingly hellbent on stunning, self-inflicted torture. Post-election, it is generally agreed that my side won. While a lot of hands stirred the pot that burned George Allen, one man was at the center of it all – Lowell Feld.

Love him or hate him, Lowell helped drive the blogosphere’s innovations, paving the way for an interesting model of political media & activism whose long-term effects will be sorted out in the months that follow. Even when we had our disagreements over message and/or methods, I respected the ultimate impact of his work. His dedication to his craft and commitment to his candidate were unparalleled, and he deserves plenty of credit for shaping the brave new world of Virginia politics. Now, it looks like Lowell may be leaving us to pursue other options, barring a Mark Twain moment.

Lowell’s exit would be a loss to the entire blogosphere, right or left. Given the previous departures of major conservative and Republican bloggers, maybe it is fitting that our side will suffer a big hit. For just as the Commonwealth’s political system finds itself in a realignment, its blogger subdivision will do likewise. If this is the end of the road for him, his presence will be missed. If he’s just recharging the batteries for the next big battle, I’m sure that his next adventure will keep us captivated.

With deepest apologies to Mr. Tribbett, Lowell Feld will be known as the most influential blogger of this era of Virginia politics.

Last week, I made my second appearance as a call-in guest on Coy Barefoot’s “Charlottesville-Right Now” radio program on 1070 WINA Newsradio. We talked about my Style Weekly piece from last month, the 2006 election, and the general yummy goodness of Virginia politics present and future. The 10-minute conversation was a lot of fun, tackling some rather serious subjects.

A best-selling author and journalist, Coy – also a senior Sorensen staffer – has opened up his show to quite a few bloggers over the past two years, providing us with a forum to explore another medium. Whether what I had to say is meaningful is up to you, the audience. The broadcast of my interview is hosted by the Charlottesville Podcasting Network, “the source for on-demand radio programs about Central Virginia.”

So, head over to the C’ville Podcast website, listen to the broadcast, and then come back over here and give me a piece of your mind.

The world of wine can be an imposing thing for many people. Sure, Sideways created a fine wine craze – and elevated Pinot Noir to cult status – for talk to any eager wine drinker, and he or she will eventually go on and on about the dreaded wine snob. Funny thing is, when you talk to wine snobs they go on and on about how they’re not really snobs, but that people really should take the time to learn to appreciate wine. Well, there’s more than a hint of truth in both camp’s sentiments.

As someone who enjoys a nice glass of wine every once in awhile (OK, there are like 50 corks in our kitchen from this year’s consumption alone – and we still have 5 weeks left in the year!), I sometimes shy away from the more haughty denizens of the noble drink. Frankly, whenever I try to talk about a wine’s “nose” or how a particular offering is very “fruit forward,” my imagination runs wild, and I start to giggle. But, being absolutely fascinated by the wine-making process (thanks to a number of tours from Virginia’s very own wine industry), I know that you have to go a bit further than, “this is real good” if you want to discover the veritas in the vino.

There are plenty of wine writers out there, including a few good wine bloggers around Metro Richmond. While, I won’t proclaim oenophile status a la Niles and Frasier Crane, Boone’s Farm just doesn’t cut it any more. Having attended the great Wine Festival in Norfolk a few months back, I decided that I’d eventually put my thoughts out there just to see what happens. So, in the spirit of my favorite upcoming season, I’ve got recommendations about a few delectable white wines (yes, you can drink whites when it’s cold) that will help turn the next few months into your own winter wonderland. These are typically available at your average wine shop or larger retail outlets like Total Wine, Costco, and better grocery stores (Kroger, Harris Teeter, etc).

These recommendations are presented roughly in order by price range, and for more comprehensive tasting notes and ratings, check out the wineries’ websites or grab a wine magazine. The vintage years listed are the most recent available, as the winemakers produce and/or release versions of each on an annual basis.

Ironstone Vineyards, Symphony Obsession (2005) – Made from the Symphony grape, a 20^th-century hybrid of the Muscat and Grenache Gris, it has a crisp taste, is quite fruity, but not too sweet. You can drink this frequently because it’s inexpensive ($6-8), and goes great with poultry, fish, and even pizza (especially Hawaiian style). When you just need a bottle of white to drink, and you don’t want to make a big fuss or go on an adventure, head to your local grocer and grab it. You’ll see why they call it “Obsession.”

Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica Reisling (2005) – Supposedly, this is has a “slate” taste, but it’s kind of peachy to me, and it goes down smooth. It’s not terribly expensive ($15-25), thus it works really well for those times when you are a dinner party guest and need a bottle for your host. It also works well for when you have a limited budget but are hosting guests with diverse tastes in wine and food. The entire time I drank it, I just kept thinking, “Wow, this is nice, really nice.” Then, it was gone

Caymus Conundrum (2005) - Best. Wine. Ever. When I die, I want to come back as the bottle in which this wine is stored. Seriously, this might be the perfect white blend. The winemaker keeps the recipe a secret, but I swear there is some magic pixie dust in there somewhere. This stuff has a cult following in some wine circles, and once you’ve had it, the real conundrum is knowing when to stop. I’ve seen grown men nearly brought to tears after a few sips of this. For you singles out there, this is the perfect wine to impress a date or to make a bad date bearable. For you married types the $20-30 product is Barry White wine…baby-making time!

Rubicon Estates Winery Blancaneaux Viognier (2004) – Acclaimed film-maker and Nicholas Cage’s uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, offers up this doozy, named after his estate in Belize. I had this in San Diego last year, and I’m been itching to fly back just to drink more in that setting. Maybe it was the great seafood pairing, or maybe it was the very nice waiter who made me an offer I could not refuse, but this was velvety smooth with incredible complexity that virtually massaged my tongue. Fair warning: this stuff is usually in $30-40 range for retail, thus it’s not everyday drinking. But it sure is worth it.

Hollywood & Vine Cellars 2480 Chardonnay (2005) – I’ll admit it – I’m not a Chardonnay fan. Maybe it’s because everyone and their mama orders it and California is basically awash in the stuff, but usually it tastes too much like the love child of Granny Smith apples and an oak tree for me to be happy. But, 2480 is different. I was introduced to this over a year ago, and I was hooked. The aging is close to perfect, and it has just enough oak to give it character, but not enough to overpower the flavorful apple hints. The great thing about it is that you can hold on to it for a few years (say 2-3) and it will change subtly but enough to give you a different experience every time. The price tag on this is hefty (usually north of $35), so make this your “I need to impress the in-laws or future in-laws” wine and read up on the story about how it goes its “2480″ moniker so that you can appear charming.

Okay, so there you have it, my first attempt at wine writing. Granted, I’m no Robert Parker, Fess Parker, or even Tony Parker (the French brother in the NBA), but I like wine and I like writing, so I figured that I’d pair them up. I hope you enjoyed what I had to say, but I really hope that you try the wines and enjoy them as much as I do. Remember, if you didn’t like what I had to say, then you got your money’s worth!

Today’s Style Weekly offers a fascinating portrait of two of Metro Richmond’s leading black megachurch pastors, Steve Parson of Richmond Christian Center (searching for a live weblink) and Bishop Gerald Glenn of New Deliverance. Delving into their political conservativism and increasing comfort with the Republican Party, the article goes down the familiar road of how some leaders in the African-American community believe that the Democratic Party is taking black votes for granted, thus they are playing ball with the Republicans. The writers proclaim that we are witnessing a political shift in Richmond and Virginia – “the face of a new power in the black community: the Republican minister.”

The piece provides several salient points, touching on the Rightward tendencies of the black community on certain social issues, and highlighting recent efforts to them by the GOP and nonpartisan Family Foundation to target black voters in the 2006 elections, and it offers interesting counterpoints from some of Glenn’s and Parson’s own parishioners who remain in the Democratic fold. The two men are not exactly in the same boat, however.

As the River City Rapids blog notes, Style Weekly has long chronicled Parson’s struggle with Chesterfield’s Republican leadership over the purchase of the Cloverleaf Mall site. Political dalliances aside, the part-time televangelist’s Republican identification has not yet proved beneficial south of the River as the county’s actions are driven in part by a fear of lost tax revenues (as nonprofits, churches are afforded different tax treatments than for-profit businesses). With footprints in Richmond and Chesterfield, Parson has the potential to become a political player in the region, especially if articles like the one in Style generate more attention for both his earthly and heavenly pursuits.

Looking at Rev. Glenn, the story becomes even more interesting, not so much for what was said but for what was left out. For whatever reason, Style failed to explore the fact that Glenn’s politics don’t fit that neatly into the “Blacks (Heart) Republicans” box. He has a much longer engagement in the political game than Parson, and is a rather deft practitioner  in blending politics and religion. But, the larger point is that until Allen v. Webb, Bishop Glenn was also rather close to the Democratic Party. The article describes Glenn as:

“An Army veteran who worked as a police officer in his previous life — he also served as director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice under former Gov. Jim Gilmore — Glenn is a steadfast conservative. He believes in reinstating the draft, thinks longtime Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott doesn’t care much about churches and is fond of Ronald Reagan. Glenn says the Democrats have taken the black community for granted.”

However, history shows that Rev. Glenn has butted heads with Chesterfield’s GOP-dominated Board of Supervisors on race issues over the years. Sure, he was cozy with Jim Gilmore, but he tossed his hat in the Democratic ring during the 2005 special election to replace Del. Fenton Bland (D-63), a race that Rosalyn Dance eventually won. Glenn also donated $1,000 to Democrat Mark Warner’s 2001 campaign (compared to $350 for the Gilmore inaugural), and just last month he admitted voting and working on behalf of Tim Kaine in 2005, John Kerry in 2004, and Mark Warner in 2001. A month ago, after endorsing Allen over now Sen.-elect Webb, Glenn said, “I am neither a registered Democrat nor Republican. I vote for the candidate I believe will act in ways best for all Virginians.”

It is doubtful that many card-carrying RPV or RNC members have a similar voter profile as Glenn, thus deeming him a Republican – as the Style article does – is a stretch. He seems more like a disaffected Democrat or an Independent free agent jockeying for position with whom he feels gives him the best shot at accessing the lever of power. If he is now claiming Republican status, it is likely due to the fact that Democrats – especially Chesterfield Democrats – are much less likely to welcome him back with open arms after he put himself out there for Allen. Forgiveness may indeed be divine, but plenty of Democrats will be reminded that Jesus rode a donkey…

By the way, the break is over, folks. There’s just too much yummy goodness going on to chill out for much longer. Thanks for all the kind words and for putting up with my short bout of self-reflective navel-gazing. Now you get to put up with the public version! Bwahahahaha!!!

Update: Does that make her Beyonce, Bobby or Britney?

With all of this “sabbatical” talk, in the background my wife is teasing me about being the Jay-Z of blogging. 

Seriously, it was only like 10 days with only 1 post in between (oh, the drama). Still, it dawned on me that I was swinging for the fences way too much here. Trying to hit homers every time I was up at the plate was not only tiring, it was boring. Sure, I plan to keep submitting stuff to the traditional media (note: in the world of public health “MSM” apparently has a different meaning that what we’re used to…), but for this day-to-day “citizen journalism” gig, pithy is the word of the day…starting with the next blog post

Ok, now my wife is calling me the “Pam Ewing of Blogging” which really hurts because Dallas was like my favorite show and that was a shark-jumping moment…wait, she just demoted me to the Justin Timberlake of blogging…

Update 2: And then there were…?

The landscape of Chesterfield blogging has expanded a bit as the county’s leading pundit (and some-time Democrat) Rick Gray has ventured into the jungle with “Gray’s Gazette.” Rick has a unique voice, a suburban sophisticate of sorts, and he also has a voluminous knowledge of the “Virginia Way.”

Tomorrow’s Chesterfield Observer officially kicks off the 2007 campaign for Chesterfield County with official word that embattled Matoaca District Supervisor Renny Humphrey is stepping aside at the end of next year. An open secret for over a year, definitive word of Humphrey’s decision will surely start the ball rolling on what can (understated) be deemed an interesting year ahead. So far, there is no shortage of candidates for the Matoaca seat, with 3 candidates having declared their interest and one sitting on the fence.

On the Republican side, retired fire chief Steve Elswick and former CCRC official Kevin Salminen are likely to vie for the nomination. Elswick is known to be close to the current leadership regime, and Salminen is an up-and-comer who made local headlines earlier this year due to his eagerness to elevate Dickie King to the BOS chairman’s post a few weeks ahead of schedule. On the Democratic side, educator Bill Hastings – who nearly knocked off Humphrey in 2003 – has long stated his desire to have at it again. However, it is quite likely that other Democrats will toss their hats in the ring.

Interestingly, the most talked about and arguably highest-profile candidate to replace Humphrey has yet to commit to the race. Despite being pestered by local newspapers and taunted by certain high-ranking Republicans as to whether she plans to enter the fray, Marleen Durfee – executive director of the Responsible Growth Alliance of Chesterfield – is keeping her cards close to the vest for now. As it stands, she is not a member of either political party, and it is entirely conceivable that she would launch an independent bid for the Matoaca seat. Such as move would add some sizzle and spice to what promises to be a heated election season.

At any rate, with Humphrey’s not-so-new news, voters can expect to hear some rumblings about how this race will play out in the coming months. With this blogger being close to the scene of the crime, 2007 will surely be decidedly different for readers.

Side Note: It’s a real shame that the Observer requires readers to pay a subscription fee in order to read the most current stories, unlike the Village News or Media General’s Midlothian Exchange. This political season would surely be a boon to Chesterfield’s largest community newspaper if it provided instant access to the hottest county headlines. In the long run, it would seem like such a short-term financial sacfrice would prove to be a sound long-term investment for skipper Greg Pearson and his western Chesterfield-focused journalism team.

The shadow of the Valley

The post-Cinderella ride of my beloved Patriots is getting off to a rocky start as they have endured 2 losses to Missouri Valley Conference rivals Wichita State and Creighton. Both games were close, but the bottom line is that Mason lost. Granted, the Shockers will be a constant occupant of the Top 25 for the remainder of the year, and Blue Jays will probably chirp their way into the NCAA Tournament come March, but these are games that Mason could’ve won. Moral victories are cheap and the only meaning that can be found is that losing these games by a total of 8 points to emerging powers gives the young Pats something to learn from in the future.

Campbell’s soupy win…umm-umm good

This was a trying game to watch, but in the end, the Redskins won. Jason Campbell gets the win, and Joe Gibbs continues his love affair with Maalox. Maybe after 17 QB changes since Gibbs’ last go-around, the franchise realizes that drafting a guy and developing him in-house (Congressman Heath Shuler notwithstanding) is a good idea. Hell, the “throw money at washed up veterans” strategy hasn’t worked all the well for The Danny has it?

Given how weak the NFC East is this year, with Donovan hobbled and the Giants imploding, the Skins could actually end up close to .500…or not. On a related note, Tiki Barber is surely going out with a lot of class, ripping his coach in public and all that. It’s ironic that when Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, and other lesser intellectual lights expressed their grievances in public, they were ridiculed, but when Tiki holds forth, he seems shielded from the same standards of loyalty. Interesting…

Can the Wolfpack “steele” a Super Bowl Coach?

ESPN is reporting that NC State has fired Chuck Amato, after 7 disappointing seasons in Raleigh. Oddly, the barrel-chested, squeaky-voiced coach managed to produce two top draft picks – Charger’s QB Philip Rivers and Titans DE Mario Williams – but his teams seemed to underachieve, defying the expectations of his resume. A former top assistant at Florida State (a program with its own problems), Amato’s tenure has been topsy-turvy with a combination of big wins and embarassing losses.

Speculation on NC State message boards and blogs will surely turn to his replacement, and an intriguing name for consideration would be current Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, and NC State alumnus, Bill Cowher. Cowher is also married to a former star basketball player for the Lady Wolfpack. The victorious Super Bowl coach did not extend his contract as usual with the Rooney’s and had hinted at retirement last year. One of the better players in Wolfpack history, Cowher has a 1-1 Super Bowl record, has averaged 10 wins per year, is hte longest-serving NFL coach (15 years), and is a likely Hall of Fame candidate. Really, what is there left for him to prove in the Steel City?

Currently, Cowher seems a bit out of sorts, turning this season into a human trial experiment testing the effects of constant ass-whippings on a young quarterback’s mind and body. He’s gotten what he can out of Pittsburgh and vice versa, and maybe a change would do him and the team some good.

At the very least, he would spruce up the NC State football program, bringing his NFL experience to a town craving top-flight athletic talent but always playing second fiddle to Carolina or Duke in attention or prestige. With Butch Davis taking over the Tarheels, NC State could at least claim that they have a winning NFL coach as their head man. Also, tobacco Road could use his blue-collar spunk.

Nonetheless, the Steelers’ season is not quite over. With 5 games left in the season, there is still time for defensive lineman to chow down on some Roethlisberger.