Local parties prepare for conventions

By Lillian Kafka

Published: March 18, 2008

Local political committees are gearing up to decide who will represent them during state and congressional conven-tions in April.

On Nov. 4 voters will elect members of Congress and Senate in addition to the president.

To choose candidates for the ballots, parties begin a complicated selection process to elect delegates who will vote in state and national conventions.

"We're looking for about 2,000 people to show up to the state convention, with 1,000 alter-nates," said EJ Scott, chair of the Manassas and Manassas Park Democratic Committee. "As long as you are a Democrat, you can show up to participate in the convention—participation isn't the same as a delegate, though."

To be a delegate, registered voters must contact their local political committees.

Democrats in the county, Manassas and Manassas Park are holding two separate conventions on April 19.

From there, delegates will attend congressional conventions, where certain congressional candidates will be cho-sen.

The Virginia Democratic Convention is June 14 in Hampton.

Local Republicans begin the process on April 12, when the Prince William County Republican Committee holds a convention to choose their delegates.

Two U.S. Senate candidates—Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, and former Gov. Jim Gilmore—are expected to speak. Only one will be able to continue the campaign against former Gov. Mark Warner after the May 31 Republican Party of Virginia Convention in Richmond.

That's also when the state Republican Party chooses its chairman, a position that Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick, R-Woodbridge, is after. John Hager, the party's current chair, is campaigning to keep his seat.

The retirement of two Republicans who have held congressional seats for decades will produce two hotly contested races—one throughout the state and another in the 11th Congressional District. Sen. John Warner and Rep. Tom Davis won't be running for reelection.

Thomas Kopko, chairman of the county's Republican committee, said Republicans who want to represent Prince William at a congressional or national convention must register with the committee by March 29.

"Frankly, it's not as important as if there was a true [presidential] contest, which, by the way, easily explains the turnouts through the primaries. It doesn't mean Republicans are depressed," Kopko said. "I think the fact is that Republicans in Prince William have gotten stronger by being on the right side if the issues in the county be it illegal immigration or the budget."

Local Republicans will also elect their chairman of the committee during its April 12 convention.

Former Brentsville District School Board member Lyle Beefelt is the only candidate for the chairman posi-tion.

"We have doubled our membership in the committee," Scott said. "So many newcomers have been energized to participate and I think that's what our forefathers sought for this nation—to have a gov-ernment that is really governed by the people."

Since the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park reside within the 10th Congressional District, that committee will send delegates to that district and the state convention only.

The countywide Democratic and Republican committees will be sending delegates to the 1st, 10th and 11th districts, as well as the state conventions.

Scott said the Manassas and Manassas Park Democratic Committee will elect delegates that will represent them in the 10th Congressional District. The delegates must reflect the actual votes received during the Feb. 12 primary. That means Sen. Barak Obama, D-Ill., will receive five delegates and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will receive four delegates.

The 10th Congressional District can only send five delegates to the state and the national conventions; those num-bers are determined by the district's vote totals from Feb. 12. Two of the delegates from the 10th congres-sional district must voter for Clinton; the other three must vote for Obama, Scott said.

When are the conventions?

• April 12 at 10 a.m.—Prince William County Republican Committee meets at Woodbridge High School, 3001 Old Bridge Road in Woodbridge.

• April 19 at noon—Prince William County Democratic Committee meets at the Woodbridge Elks Lodge #2355 at 14602 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge.

• April 19 at noon—Manassas and Manassas Park Democratic Committee meets in the multipurpose conference room at the Manassas City Police Department, 9518 Fairview Ave. in Manassas.

For more information: pwcgop.org, ManassasCityDemocrats.com or pwcdems.com

For delegate applications through the Manassas and Manassas Park Democratic Committee, call 703-368-4541.

For delegates applications through the Prince William County Democratic Committee, e-mail .