It’s probably no small secret that Chairman Stewart and Chairman Kenney (can I still call myself that?) have had our running battle — singular. You’ll notice that’s not a plural — Stewart and I agree on a whole host of issues: smaller government, lower taxes, unfunded mandates to Virginia localities, school choice, a culture of life, the 2nd Amendment, the defense of marriage, the impossible box Virginia’s supervisors are placed in every year come budget season, and yes — even on immigration policy — we agree on the fundamental basics of what needs to be fixed.
We’ve disagreed on tactics, to be sure… but those tactics seem to have decided that Stewart isn’t pure enough (or lucrative enough) anymore. C’est la vie…
Today’s issue in Prince William County politics? PWC GOP Chairman Bill Card missed the deadline to announce a preferred method of nomination, an honest mistake that just about everyone I’ve spoken with has chalked up to… well, an honest mistake.
Of course, that’s not good enough for a Democratic-controlled Board of Elections.
Folks, this one has nothing to do with primaries vs. conventions vs. canvasses vs. trial by combat.
This has everything to do with process.
…and process dictates that honest mistakes can be rectified with latitude from the local Board of Elections. Very simple… which is why the Democrats are using every trick in the bag to make sure the simple fix doesn’t happen, per the Washington Post:
The 2-to-1 decision — with the board’s two Democrats siding against the Republican — means that board Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large), three other Republican supervisors and Sheriff Glenn Hill must seek renomination through unpredictable individual caucuses or party canvasses.
The officials, however, said they are preparing to contest the electoral board’s decision in Prince William County Circuit Court.
“We’re launching a lawsuit tomorrow,” said Stewart, shortly after the decision. “It’s very disappointing because we’ve never had such a partisan administration of election laws.”
Stewart is absolutely right here — stone cold, no question. Why is that? Because the endgame is about as clear as crystal:
Guiffré said the county attorney and some state officials said the county would be on firm legal ground if they decided to hold primary elections despite the missed deadline.
“Counsel told us we’d be within our rights to proceed as planned,” he said. “I support the law that’s written that says these candidates have a right to a primary, and now they’re being deprived of that right because someone in their party missed the deadline and it wasn’t through any fault of their own.”
Why is that? Because the Code of Virginia is clear that incumbents can select their method of nomination.
Game, set, match.
“Now, the story isn’t about the mess-up by a local party chairman and the debate among Republicans over which is better — a primary or a caucus or canvass,” Stewart said. “Now it’s about Democrats meddling in the process.”
…and that is the entirety of the issue right there. This shouldn’t even be a discussion.
Of course, the issue has become one because Corey Stewart — once the darling of some — has started to push away from the more radical portions of the fringe and has put the focus on governing and fixing the relationship between Richmond and her localities, which sits none too well with those who see politicians as walking moneybags for private and personal gain.
Prince William County will proceed with a primary. It’s done, and no court is going to flip that. The real question here is who is stoking the flames in the background… or more simply, qui bono (who benefits)?
UPDATE: Curiouser and curiouser… one of the Democratic members of the PWC Board of Elections indicates that he simply didn’t have the power to do the right thing:
Scarborough, who is a lawyer, said he does not interpret Virginia law to allow the local Board of Elections to place candidate names on a ballot.
In his experience, he said, that’s always been done by either the State Board of Elections or the circuit court – not electoral boards.
“In all my years I’ve been on the electoral board, we’ve never placed candidates’ names on the ballot,” Scarborough said after the decision was announced.
“So, basically I don’t think we have the legal authority to order names to the ballot. That’s up to the State Board of Elections or the courts.”
Plausible argument… but one that underscores the basic understanding most folks have here — this is going to be a primary.
Of course, the Code of Virginia isn’t ambiguous on this matter. The State Board of Elections could clear this one up very nicely… and ought to.
