By Uriah Kiser
Managing Editor
Virginia’s newly shifted House of Delegates district to the Potomac Communities, and who will eventually become its representative, will be one of the biggest political stories this year.
The House voted last week to shift the 2nd House District to portions of Prince William and Stafford counties from Southwest Virginia after population declined there.
If the district passes all other hurdles of the redistricting process, including a review from the U.S. Justice Department, it will encompass portions of North Stafford, the Quantico area, Triangle, Southbridge, River Oaks and Woodbridge east of U.S. 1. I’m already calling it the PotomacLocal.com district, as it lies in the heart of our coverage area.
Last week, we heard rumblings that Stafford County Board of Supervisors Republican Chairman Mark Dudenhefer is exploring running to represent the district.
Cleveland Anderson, the man who last year said he’d like the GOP’s nod to unseat Democrat Del. Luke Torian in Dumfries’ 52nd House District, is now also interested in the PotomacLocal.com district.
“The way the new district lines have been drawn, it seems that Torian has a better chance of keeping the precincts that we won during the last election [in 2009],” said Anderson.
Then there’s Republican Jim Riley, the Southbridge Home Owners Association President, an attorney and Virginia Virtucon editor, who says he’s been thinking about making a run to get a GOP nod to represent the district. An announcement from his camp could come as early as this week, I’m told.
All of these interested parties will undoubtedly lead to a primary election later this year, prior to the general election on November 8, making the PotomacLocal.com district one to watch.
Are there any Democrats or Independents interested in the would-be seat?
