The VLW Blog

Former Del. C. Richard Cranwell is considering a run for Virginia lieutenant governor, he confirmed today.

Cranwell (left), chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said he is only “mulling around the possiblity” and preferred to avoid any public mention of the subject. Noting recent chatter about his political intentions, however, Cranwell conceded the importance of the news story. “You gotta do what you gotta do,” he said.

We do.

Cranwell would face Southwest Virginia businessman Jon Bowerbank, who is actively campaigning and has raised more than $220,000 for his bid for the 2009 Democratic lieutenant governor nomination. Jody W. Wagner, secretary of finance under Gov. Tim Kaine, also has been mentioned as a possible contender for the nod.

Meanwhile, Del. Steve Shannon, D-Fairfax, has raised nearly a half million dollars in his still unannounced campaign for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Shannon is the only Democrat to surface in the AG race. Look for a story on the Shannon candidacy and the attorney general race in Monday’s Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

By Peter Vieth

Indictments returned this week against four people in a vote fraud case are only part of a long-running investigation of alleged corruption in the Wise County town of St. Paul. The Bristol Herald Courier has details.

Consider it a study in contrasts. In Gloucester County, where citizens protested a January clean sweep at the county government office, a special grand jury was appointed in three months and rendered both criticism and criminal indictments four months later. In St. Paul, however, the investigation of town government issues has been dragging on for four years. The project is now on its second special grand jury, although the same jurors make up the panel.

One issue that has been a matter of public record is the charge that outsiders were induced to try to cast ballots in the town elections in May. Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Elkin is quoted as saying that he’s also investigating allegations that town officials told police “not to patrol certain areas.”

From the Virginian-Pilot comes word that former Virginia governor and current Richmond lawyer Linwood Holton plans to discuss his life in politics at a Norfolk bookstore on June 17.

The nomination of Virginia Supreme Court Justice Steven Agee to the federal appeals bench has turned into a political football as U.S. senators wage their long-running battle over judicial nominations. Despite the wrangling, however, there is no suggestion that the prospects for Agee’s confirmation are threatened.

The skirmishing plays out against a background of political conflict over President Bush’s appointees to the federal courts. Accused of foot-dragging on confirmations, the Democratic leadership of the Senate Judiciary Committee promised to get three appeals court judges confirmed by Memorial Day. Now, Republicans are crying foul because it looks like the Democrats are cherry-picking which nominees they will confirm.

Even though he has Republican roots, Agee is considered one of the Democrats’ “cherries,” since he was approved by both Virginia senators, Democrat Jim Webb and Republican John Warner.

Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy last week announced a confirmation hearing for Agee to take place Thursday at 2:15 p.m. Republicans immediately grumbled about the fact that two other nominees to the Fourth Circuit have been waiting for many months without any hearings scheduled.

Those other nominees are U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad of Charlotte (a UVA Law grad who practiced for three years in Charlottesville) and South Carolina lawyer Steve Matthews.

With the delays in nominations and confirmations, the Fourth Circuit bench remains one third vacant.

John Brownlee, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, will step down in a month after seven years as the region’s top federal prosecutor. He confirmed today that he is considering a bid for the Republican nomination for Virginia Attorney General, but has not made any final determination.

Julie Dudley, now First Assistant U.S. Attorney, will serve as U.S. Attorney when Brownlee steps down on May 16.

Fairfax State Senator Ken Cuccinelli is the only announced candidate for the GOP Attorney General nomination. Brownlee joins a field of potential candidates that includes Mechanicsville State Senator Ryan McDougle and former Delegate Paul C. Harris.

The Associated Press reports that Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will announce this afternoon that he will seek reelection as lieutenant governor in 2009.

Bolling’s announcement will leave Attorney General Bob McDonnell an open field for the Republican nomination for governor. Former Gov. and Sen. George Allen announced earlier that he would take a pass on the race.

Two Democrats are seeking their party’s gubernatorial nod: Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria.