It’s Amazing. Breathtaking. What I Saw Today at the American Legion Hall in Hanover: It’s a Convention in the 97th!

I was present for the revolution – for once!

I went to the 97th District GOP Committee meeting this morning and I was not sure if the auxiliary room at the Legion Hall in Mechanicsville would be packed with people. There was a prominent campaign veteran at the meeting: Boyd Marcus. About ten activists were watching – no one got to say anything.

The committee (the Hanover rep, Supervisor Scott Wyatt, who due to weighted voting based on GOP voting could out vote the two reps from King William and New Kent on his own, gave a proxy to another which I see as a sign that Wyatt is serious about running for delegate at the convention) opened the meeting with prayer (in Jesus’ name – yea!), the Pledge and a reading of the Republican Creed and then after no old business, the group went to the bit of new business – primary or convention?

The Hanover rep moved for a convention and it was seconded by another committee member. I think New Kent voted for a primary and King William voted for a convention. And just like that it was done: The 97th District GOP delegate nominee will be chosen at a convention. The winner of this convention will almost virtually be the next delegate for this area.

It was breathtaking and I must admit I have mixed feelings about it.

There is now, with the setting aside of the Incumbent Protection Act, a power shift to the leaders of the parties. Maybe too much power. Other states’ method of determining this process will now have to be studied. This will empower the bases of the party rather than the candidates. But the conventions do limit the ability of the other party to manipulate the results in an unethical manner. Maybe primaries with party registration allowing independents to vote in either primary. I don’t like like party registration. That weakens the unit committees.

Will this be repeated in other jurisdictions? Well, in the Frank Wagner state senate district (7), the GOP committee voted for a primary. I would expect not much change – unless there is discontent with the incumbent. I think this will be an exciting convention.

Here is how it will work: Hanover, New Kent and King William GOP areas of the 97th District will have mass meetings to elect delegates to the 97th district convention and at that convention, the nominee will be selected.

Wow. That is revolutionary. Exciting news. Let’s see what happens. Who will run? I believe two or three others (maybe more!) will run – the chance to be get that nomination – which has about a 90-95% of being the delegate – will draw out more hopefuls than presumed candidate Supervisor Scott Wyatt and of course the incumbent delegate Christopher Peace.

So, who should run? What issues will predominate? What issues SHOULD predominate? Has Wyatt got it in the bag? Will there be a Libertarian or Green candidate? Who will the Dem be? I encourage comments!