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Governor's Cabinet choices could change balance in Va. Senate
This is a critical time in Richmond, as considerable political jockeying shapes up for control of the state Senate, which Democrats control by a razor-thin 21-19 margin over the GOP. Republicans firmly control the House of Delegates.
If Governor-elect Bob McDonnell (R) taps Democratic state senators and Republicans win the ensuing elections to fill their seats, Senate control could shift to the GOP. That would give GOP complete control over the governorship, the House of Delegates, and the State Senate for the first time in years.
Loudoun's state senators said Nov. 18 that if they were to be offered such a post, they were not interested in accepting.
“No one has contacted me about that," said State Sen. Mark Herring, a Democrat representing eastern Loudoun. "I’d like to be clear -- the constituents I represent in Loudoun and western Fairfax are my top priority.
"I'm flattered that people think I might be offered a position in the Cabinet, but it's not something I'd accept. I feel privileged the voters of Loudoun and western Fairfax elected me to represent them in the Senate."
His Loudoun colleague in the state Senate, Republican State Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel categorically ruled herself out from such a post.
“It's not even a remote possibility for me," she said. "It’s not anywhere in the cards.”
The first-term GOP senator, elected in 2007, said she has not been approached by anyone in the incoming McDonnell administration to serve, nor did she expect to be.
She conceded that serious political jockeying is under way in Richmond, and that McDonnell staffers are “collecting information about who is interested in what position in the General Assembly and administration.”
She said state Democrats are “leaning heavily on their guys. There are going to be consequences to their caucus – the stakes are pretty high with a one-vote majority.”
Are Democratic leaders in Richmond concerned about losing their Senate majority?
“I think they are -- there’s always shifting politics,” she said.
When asked if Democrats were anxious about losing their Senate majority, Herring said, “I don’t expect that will happen, but it is tough to govern with a one-vote majority.”
Herring has been part of two Senate sessions in Richmond where the majority has been 21-19.
He said he is looking forward to working with the new governor.
"I intend to support initiatives whenever I think they are good for Loudoun County and the state,” he said.
Vogel said the Senate has worked well before with a 20-20 split, but she also said there may be longtime Democratic Senate incumbents thinking about retirement.
“I don’t think younger members or recently elected members are targets, but then again, you never know,” she added.
Both Herring and Vogel were asked about their re-election in 2011, and to state if they would run for another term in the Senate.
Herring called 2011 “a long way out,” but said, “I love the job of being a state senator, and would like to continue doing that.”
Vogel threw her hat into the re-election ring as well.
“I am planning to run – absolutely,” she said. “I think there’s more that I can do."
Of course, there’s a governor’s race – again – in Virginia in 2013. Would Vogel and Herring be interested in being their party’s nominee?
Vogel is a “no.”
Herring said, “I am going to stay focused on being the best state senator I can be.”
I can tell you this, I'm not voting for Herring in the next election. He obviously doesn't represent the people of Loudoun. Given the overwhelming support for Republicans from Loudoun in the recent Delegate race, Herring might want to update his resume. He might need it pretty soon.
Posted by alby
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