Senator Colgan has announced that he will seek a 10th term. Politics aside (if that’s possible anymore), having the chair of the Senate Finance committee and a budget conferee as your senator is a good thing.
It has brought Manassas demonstrable benefits – Route 28 overpass and Dam improvements (a $10 million unfunded mandate from the state that was funded only because he was on the scene). Having met with the Senator the past five years on the City’s legislative agenda, I can tell you he still remembers his time in local government quite well and understands what we’re looking for.
I stand by my earlier prediction – the good senator is the “cap on the stack” and nothing’s going to change. I just don’t see any Manassas elects taking him on (if I’m wrong on that, this will be a real mashup).
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Also, I think Del. Miller will run again for his seat. It’s a republican seat and Jackson has been around long enough that he’s starting to gain some seniority. I’d be surprised if Jackson drew a serious challenger from the republican side but you never know.
The local scene could be quite a melee’. There are three school board seats up, three council seats and the mayor’s seat. I think there will be a lot of action here. I continue to get emails about the schools (many of which I agree with) and when that happens, my guess is that you’ll see challengers for the school board.
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The Tea Party folks still insist that the city budget is too big and there are some other folks with other issues who might run as independents. Indeed, the independent scene could be the most interesting this time around. I’ve heard from some moderates who feel as though there isn’t a home for them in a local organized party, so they don’t join or have departed same. I’ve also heard from some folks who are a bit outside the normal band (for here) that might have a go at it as an (I). Haven’t heard any rumblings from any democrats (other than Sen. Colgan of course) on any level.
Don’t know if anyone is interested in the mayor’s job. The last democrat that ran for local elected office was for the mayor’s job. It’s kinda early yet for all the local positions. The republican convention won’t be until January so the state-level contests will go forward and then we’ll see local contests take off in a meaningful way in late November-December-January.
