House Campaign Reports

25 March 2009

2009 is an election year for the 100 seats in the House of Delegates and the statewide offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. Below are a series of reports on key House of Delegates races provided by Virginia FREE.

H 13 Del. Bob Marshall (R) vs. John Bell (D) - Northern Virginia: Prince WIlliam and Loudoun Counties

H 42 Del. Dave Albo (R) vs. Greg Werkheiser (D) - Northern Virginia: Southeastern Fairfax County

H 67 Del. Chuck Caputo (D) vs. Jim LeMunyon (R) - Northern Virginia: Western Fairfax County

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H 13 Del. Bob Marshall (R) vs. John Bell (D)
Northern Virginia: Prince William and Loudoun Counties

When legislators created the new 13th District in 2001, western Price William and southern Loudoun counties were growing but were still full of farms and fields. Today, the 13th has swelled with new subdivisions and new voters to become the largest House district in Virginia. These newcomers have altered both the lifestyle and voting habits of this once reliably red district. Surprisingly, John McCain managed only a razor-thin victory here in 2008 with more than 65,000 votes cast. Democrat Mark Warner captured 58% of the vote en route to the U.S. Senate. The tally might have been even higher if more voters weren't stuck in traffic: A Census Bureau study found that residents of Bristow endure an average commute of 45 minutes, the worst in the nation. Despite a shifting electorate, Marshall has maintained a steady, conservative base of support since first being elected in 1991. He is a strident conservative, and a Roman Catholic who crusades against abortion and homosexuality. He is now to the right of his district, and according to Marshall, was to the right of former Gov. Jim Gilmore, whom he challenged for a Senate nomination in 2008. To prove his God-fearing credentials, Marshall implored the beer-saturated crowd at the usually jovial Shad Planking last April to recite the Lord's Prayer before his speech. Voters in the 13th District who know Marshall often describe him as thoughtful, especially on environmental issues, if somewhat quirky in personality and dogmatic on social issues. Voters who do not know Marshall will be the question mark in this race. Democratic challenger John Bell is a retired Air Force Major who served as a canvassing captain for the Obama campaign. His network of field organizers may give him a step up in identifying what is becoming an uncertain electorate in this district that straddles two of Virginia’s fastest growing counties.

    

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H 42 Del. Dave Albo (R) vs. Greg Werkheiser (D)
Northern Virginia: Southeastern Fairfax County

As the closest House district to the Beltway that is still red, the 42nd has proved frustrating to Democrats in recent elections. The district votes for Democrats in federal elections -- It gave Jim Webb 55% and Barack Obama 57% -- but it has steadily reelected Republican Del. Dave Albo since 1993. The most competitive recent election was in 2005, when Albo fended off challenger Greg Werkheiser by fewer than 1,000 votes. In 2007, Democrats failed to field a candidate, but this year, Werkheiser is back for a rematch. Like in 2005, the contest between Albo and Werkheiser will be a marquee match in Virginia and will likely be one of the most expensive state House races in the nation. Both candidates plan to spend at least $1 million and will receive vast resources from their respective state parties. Albo has a deep network in south Fairfax County to tap into; of the two high schools in his district, he graduated from West Springfield and sponsored the bill to build South County. His presence and community involvement here have proved to be the bedrock for his fundraising and electoral success. Legislatively, Albo's record has been more muddled. In 2007, he was the self-described "chief-architect" of the driver abuser fees and he recently introduced a bill that would hike college tuition to out-of-state levels for in-state students who don't graduate in four years. Albo, however, broke with the majority of his caucus and supported the smoking ban, a position that appears popular in his district. Werkheiser currently serves as executive director of the Phoenix Project, a nonprofit organization that cultivates "Virginia's next generation of social entrepreneurs." He will be buoyed by the fact that the most Democratic part of the district, between Route 1 and I-95, has added thousands of voters in the last four years. If Werkheiser can find an issue or angle that trumps Albo's home-field advantage, Werkheiser certainly has a strong shot at winning his second attempt to unseat Northern Virginia’s senior House Republican.

    

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H 67 Del. Chuck Caputo (D) vs. Jim LeMunyon (R)
Northern Virginia: Western Fairfax County

The northwest corner of Fairfax County commonly known as Chantilly is a testament to Northern Virginia’s storied past and high-tech present. Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee once fought here at the Battle of Ox Hill following a victory at Manassas. Today, the district is home to Dulles International Airport and an annex of the National Air & Space Museum. It has also welcomed throngs of high-income professionals in recent decades, including many federal contractors and employees. One of those federal contractors is Del. Chuck Caputo, who worked for 38 years in the aerospace and defense industry before retiring and winning his House seat in 2005. Caputo defeated Chris Craddock, a young Republican upstart who had taken out longtime Republican incumbent Gary Reese in a GOP primary. He won election with 54% in a GOP-leaning district and was re-elected in 2007 by six points over a well-funded Republican challenger. Caputo sits on the powerful House Finance Committee, and the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. He also serves on the Board of the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation. He is a former Vice-Chair of both the Fairfax County School Board and the Northern Virginia Community College Board of Trustees. Republican challenger Jim LeMuynon is a co-founder and president of Sterling Semiconductor, now a unit of Dow Corning, which produces an advanced electronic material needed for electric cars and energy efficient lighting. He currently leads HexaTech, a company that is developing novel sources of ultra-violet light for water purification, and new components for wireless communication systems. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a B.S. in physics and mathematics, and he earned a M.S. in meteorology at the University of Wisconsin on a NASA scholarship. The district has Republican roots but has become more of a toss-up in recent years, voting for Republican U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf and Democrat Barack Obama in 2008. Caputo is a strong friend to business and is well liked in the 67th, and this race will likely hinge on what kind of loyal opposition LeMuynon can rally.