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Democratic primary is Tuesday

The next election in the City of Richmond will be a Democratic Party Primary election on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. The offices on the ballot will be for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.

Terry Mcauliffe faces no challenge for position as the Democratic candidate for Governor and will face Republican Ken Cuccinelli and Libertarian Robert Sarvis in November.

Lieutenant Governor

Ralph Northam vs Aneesh Chopra

Ralph Northam

Ralph Northam, MD lives in Norfolk and currently represents the 6th district in the Senate of Virginia. A VMI graduate, he served as a United States Army physician from 1984-1992 before establishing a pediatric neurology practice at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. He has served the 6th district since he first won office in 2007.

Northam is self-described as “conservative on fiscal issues and liberal on social issues” (reflected on Richmond Sunlight) His website details THE ISSUES as: standing up for women’s rights, preventing future gun violence, promoting health care and public health, promoting equality for all, and improving jobs and the economy.

Northam has been endorsed by The Washington Post and the Virginia Education Association.

Aneesh Chopra

An Arlington resident and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University, Chopra served as the first Chief Technology Officer of the United States (appointed by President Obama) from 2009-2012. Chopra previously served as Virginia’s fourth Secretary of Technology under Governor Tim Kaine from 2006-2009.

Aneesh Chopra would like to apply his experience as that “state government can run faster, smarter, better and fairer.” His site details the ISSUES as: education, energy and environment, healthcare, standing with women, LGBT issues, reducing gun violence, and economy and jobs.

Chopra has been endorsed by a number of individual office-holders, including Mayor Ward of Hampton and Mayor Jones of Richmond:

“Aneesh is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges that face the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and I know that he’s got what it takes to deliver real results for Virginians,” Jones said. “I know that Aneesh shares my vision for creating jobs and building a sustainable economy though investments in education and workforce development. I can appreciate his commitment to building an economy that invests in the jobs of the future.”

“As a former resident, Aneesh experienced all the wonderful things our city has to offer and is committed to making sure that we protect the James River, create jobs to get Richmonders back to work, and make sure that all of our children have an equal opportunity to succeed,” Jones continued.

The official responsibilities of Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor are to serve as President of the Senate and preside over the Senate. The Constitution of Virginia also provides that the Lieutenant Governor is first in the line of succession to Governor.

The office is currently held by Bill Bolling. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican candidate E.W.Jackson (selected last month at the Republican convention).

Attorney General

Mark Herring vs Justin Fairfax

Mark Herring

Mark Herring lives in Leesburg and represents the 33rd district in the Senate of Virginia. A graduate of the University of Virginia and University of Richmond, he served on Loudoun County Board of Supervisors 2000-2003, was the Town Attorney for Lovettsville 1992-1999, and is the principal with The Herring Law Firm, P.C., in Leesburg.

Herring is self-described as someone who puts aside politics and works for solutions. His record asreflected on Richmond Sunlight indicates a he tends to co-patron bills with Democrats only 10% more often than with Republicans. His website details THE ISSUES as: keeping families safe, defending civil rights, fighting to protect consumers and ensuring a level playing field for businesses, protecting natural resources, improving transportation and infrastructure, and supporting our service members, veterans and their families.

Herring has been endorsed by former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC, Virginia Education Association, Del. Delores McQuinn, Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody, Richmond City Councilman Chris Hilbert, and Sen. Henry Marsh (Richmond) .

Justin Fairfax

Justin Fairfax lives in Springfield, and is a graduate of Duke University and Columbia Law School, Justin Fairfax is a former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He’s also worked in the Washington, D.C. office of WilmerHale LLP where his legal practice focused primarily on white-collar crime and complex commercial litigation. He and his wife also own a dental practice.

Fairfax wants to be an “Attorney General who will focus full-time on protecting them in their communities and in the economic marketplace”. His website details his PRIORITIES as: enacting common sense gun reform, defending a woman’s right to choose and to reproductive healthcare choices, protecting our fundamental right to vote, supporting the lgbt community, protecting homeowners and the virginia economy, protecting small businesses, protecting our children and seniors, and ensuring access to higher education.

Fairfax has been endorsed by The Washington Post, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Herring, Portsmouth Mayor Kenny Wright, Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa Crawford, and Richmond City School Board Members Shonda Harris-Muhammed, Mamie Taylor and Tichi Pinkney-Eppes:

“I firmly believe Justin supports k-12 public education, the resources urban communities need to support children and he understands the work needed to move our children forward,” said Harris-Muhammed.

The Office of the Attorney General is the Commonwealth’s law firm. Its clients are the Virginia state government and the state agencies, boards and commissions that compose that government.

The office is currently held by Kenneth Cuccinell, who will the Republican candidate for Governor this fall. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican candidate Mark D. Obenshain (selected last month at the Republican convention).