Bolling to seek re-election? What's he up to?

Update: Here's a line from a just-moved Associated Press report on Bolling's announcement: "Bolling said in a state Capitol news conference he decided that family finances and the necessity of building a new business precluded a costly, full-time run in 2009 for an office he said he still wants."

Building a new business? I'm sure there's more explanation to follow, but is Bolling really saying, "I can't give up my state sinecure until I get a new business off the ground...?

And does the state have any other openings where people can draw a salary while they work on becoming entrepreneurs?

***

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is holding a press conference (at the moment) where he is expected to announce that he will seek re-election instead of running for governor in 2009.

Let's assume that he hasn't made that decision because he really enjoys being lieutenant governor -- one of those extraordinarily rare "safe" assumptions. So what's he up to?

Here's my first guess: Winning re-election would keep him in the public eye (issuing press releases and speaking to Kiwanis breakfasts) right up through 2012, when Jim Webb's Senate seat -- the seat Webb won by fewer than 10,000 votes -- comes up for election. And let's face it, Webb has been a high-profile freshman senator, but he hasn't done much to boost his approval ratings in Virginia.

I'm thinking that's the job Bolling has his eye on.

What he would do if George Allen decides he wants a rematch is anybody's guess. So, anybody, have at it.

Scott headlines crime forum

Rep. Robert C. Scott will host a forum on youth crime next week that is aimed at building support for his legislation to fund crime-prevention programs.

The Newport News Democrat, chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, has scheduled a two-hour ``teen summit" to discuss ways of disrupting what the Children's Defense Fund calls the ``cradle-to-prison pipeline" that puts many young people behind bars.

The forum will include talks by Dewey Cornell, a clincial psychologist and director of the University of Virginia's Youth Violence Project, and Jerrauld Jones, chief judge of Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Jones is a former state House delegate and former director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.

Scott's legislation, dubbed the Youth Promise Act, would authorize spending more than $2 billion a year on grants to local communities that develop crime-prevention programs.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held Tuesday, March 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at I.C. Norcom High School at 1801 London Boulevard in Portsmouth.

Hampton schedules transportation forum

Hampton's City Council is organizing a public forum on Hampton Roads transportation woes as local lawmakers prepare to start laying the groundwork for a new regional road funding plan.

The Hampton Roads caucus is set to hold an informational meeting in Suffolk on April 3, in the hopes of getting the entire local delegation up to speed on transportation problems and potential solutions as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine prepares to call a special session on transportation.

Now Hampton is jumping out in front, calling for a public hearing on transportation at the Hampton Roads Convention Center on Wednesday April 2. 

You can bet you're going to hear a lot of Peninsula folks focusing on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, which wasn't a part of last year's road solution. The crossing is quickly becoming the focal point of regional discussions so expect to hear a lot more in the coming weeks and months about what can be done there.   

Gear says he may run for Hampton city treasurer

State Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, has been talking to local officials and state lawmakers about running for the city treasurer position in Hampton.

It's a curious turn for a state lawmaker who was dubbed "the deadbeat delegate" by an opponent on the campaign trail in 2005 because of his consistent trouble paying taxes on time. In fact, Gear has had even fresher run-ins — after he bounced a check last December for his personal property and real estate taxes.

To read Kimball Payne's full story on Gear's potential candidacy, click here.

Illegal immigrant sex offender round-up picks up ... a headline

Attorney General Bob McDonnell is getting some national publicity for his crackdown on illegal immigrant sex offenders in Virginia.

The sweep rounded up offenders from Cuba to Scotland to Germany - not your typical list in the highly charged illegal immigration debate. Some of the people are still serving out sentences, while others have been released after serving time.

The crackdown also triggered interesting debate about the role that state officials are going to play when they step into the federal government's border-patrolling domain.

But you've got to figure a two-fer like illegal immigrant sex offenders is something that McDonnell is going to use if he runs for the governor's mansion - it's good red meat for the conservative base.

For the full story from Stateline.org click here.

A generous donation

Former Gov. Mark Warner has donated $1.5 million to the Nature Conservancy to help finance its purchase of pristine countryside in rural Bath County.

The Conservancy paid $6.2 million in 2002 to buy Warm Springs Mountain Preserve, which overlooks the historic Homestead resort. Warner's donation will help pay off that mortgage and advance the conservancy's preservation work in the Allegheny Highlands.

Warner, who is worth an estimated $200 million, made his fortune as a pioneer in the cellular telephone industry and as a co-founder of Nextel. His wife, Lisa Collis, is a volunteer member of the board of trustees for the Nature Conservancy's Virginia chapter.

``Warm Springs Mountain and Bath County are favorite retreats for our family," Collis said in a written statement issued by the Nature Conservancy. ``Mark and I have a deep appreciation for the lands, waters and open spaces of Virginia. We're proud to support the Conservancy's work in preserving this beautiful corner of Virginia for future generations."

Cynics could question if the donation was timed to win votes as Warner mounts a campaign for U.S. Seante this fall. But there is no evidence so far that the campaign has used the donation to promote Warner's candidacy. The announcement came from the Nature Conservancy.

Warner, a Democrat, is the overwhelming favorite to win the seat of retiring Sen. John Warner, who is no relation, statewide polls have found. Warner will face either former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore or Republican state Del. Robert Marshall in November.

The acquisition of Warm Springs Mountain Preserve remains the Conservancy's single largest land purchase in Virginia, the group said.

``Our lands and waters are being changed at unprecedented rates," said Michael Lipford, executive director of the Conservancy's Virginia chapter. ``So, the Nature Conservancy is indeed fortunate to have Gov. Warner and Lisa Collis among our dedicated supporters who are helping to conserve critical places."

Tough week for Wall Street and Jim Gilmore....

Check out this article out of Richmond. Former Gov. Jim Gilmore apparently had ties to a unit of Bear Sterns.

Gilmore's already dealing with a tough uphill climb against former Gov. Mark R. Warner and even upstart U.S. Senate candidate Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, and now he's got more to deal with.

The full AP article is here.

We take the Internet for granted

All to often reporters and political junkies take for granted the amount of information at our fingertips.

Today's speech about race and racism by Barack Obama is a perfect example of how technology is revolutionizing the way we track political campaigns. Obama's speech today was in response to fierce criticism of inflammatory statements by his former pastor.

In years past, the majority of information would be gleaned from reading reactions to the speech, summaries of his words and seeing brief televised snippets of the event. But by 4 p.m. today - well before deadline and long before the evening news - Obama's campaign blasted out the full text of the speech along with a video.

For the full text click here.

Say what you will about political discourse in the United States, but the race for the White House is only as hollow or complex and you choose to make it.

Brian Moran loads up his campaign committee

State Del. Brian Moran, D-Fairfax, has added a slew of new members to his gubernatorial campaign committee -- he's planning to run in  2009 to succeed Gov. Tim Kaine.

Here's the list:

Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake.

Jean Jensen, will be a "senior adviser." Jensen was secretary of the State Board of Elections under Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and has served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Jesse F. Ferguson, continues as director of communications and policy. He was Moran's chief of staff April 2006 and directed his political efforts in the 2007 elections.

Dave Mills, will be the campaign's state finance director. Mills has been the finance director for the state Democratic Party since January 2006.

Dominic Gabello, who also has worked for Kaine and Warner, will be Moran's political director.

Noble Ackerson, will serve as technology consultant. He previously was director of technology for Warner's Forward Together PAC.

Jerome Armstrong, co-author of the book "Crashing the Gates" with Daily Kos' Markos Moulitsas, will be the campaign's "netroots consultant."

J. Warner named Hunter B. Andrews Fellow

Sen. John Warner has been named the 2008 Hunter B. Andrews Fellow in American Politics at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.

The fellowship is named for the legendary Peninsula lawmaker, who was a William and Mary grad.

Warner was chosen for the honor, the school said, because his long public career "offers extraordinary lessons in citizenship."

Warner was a sailor during World War II and later served in Korea with the Marine Corps. He spent five years as secretary of the Navy and has won five consecutive elections to the U.S. Senate.

He's also retiring when his term ends in January.