Dumfries, Va. –– Jim Riley says he has no interest in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The Southbridge Home Owners Association president and resident of the sprawling neighborhood outside Dumfries was considering running for a newly shifted house district that would have encompassed portions of North Stafford, Quantico and Woodbridge.
Last week, however, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell vetoed the plan to shift the 2nd House District to the Potomac Communities from Southwest Virginia, along with all other redistricting plans approved by the House and Senate saying the Senate’s plan would not pass a required federal review process.
Now legislators will have to come to a new agreement and come up with a new redistricting plan.
Now, without a solid district and his day job as an attorney, Riley says he’ll pass on the House.
“We just couldn’t figure out a way to make it work where I could keep my job and adhere to the General Assembly’s schedule. Given the House of Delegates pay level is what it is, I can’t give up my job for that and an uncertain job market,” stated Riley in an email to PotomacLocal.com.
Riley said he would consider a run to represent Prince William’s newly renamed Potomac District, but he would only do so if current supervisor Maureen Caddigan stepped down.
Riley isn’t the only one who has his eyes on what would be the 2nd District.
Stafford Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Dudenhefer says is waiting anxiously for the outcome of the redistricting process in the state legislature, noting he has strong support from Republicans and is well known in North Stafford which could give him a win in November.
There is always the option, political strategists say, if no redistricting plan is put in place before summer voters this fall would be forced to vote in their current districts and next a new redistricting plan could be put forth.
Every 10 years, by law, officials must undergo the redistricting process to address changes in population.
