Daily Progress
|
 
Blog
with Bob Gibson
Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and former Daily Progress political reporter


By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger

I love going through the drawers of a desk that I’ve been using the past 18 years and finding stuff like the April 6, 1991, Daily Progress story: “Remapping plan OK’d by House.“

The old story details how Democrats, who held majorities in the House, Senate and the governorship (although some Democrats questioned the party loyalty of then-Gov. Doug Wilder), used their party dominance to mess up the territory of GOP lawmakers, lumping some together in new districts.

Then-Del. George Allen, R-Earlysville, commented on his new district, saying, “The net effect is I’ve lost Wintergreen and gained Massanutten,“ he said of the plan that stripped Nelson County from his district.

The plan drawn by Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, divided Rockingham County four ways among five GOP delegates and placed Del. Phoebe Orebaugh in the same district with Del. Andy Guest of Warren County.

Cranwell devised four districts taking pieces of Rockingham for GOP Dels. Allen, Pete Giesen, Guest, Orebaugh and Clint Miller.

My story continued, “The House plan creates 11 black-majority seats and has won endorsement from civil rights groups. ... Allen said he will urge fellow Republicans to challenge it in federal court on the grounds that it is overly partisan in the way the Democratic majority lumped GOP delegates together across the state.“

“My advice would be to file suit quickly, within weeks,“ Allen said.

Republicans learned a great deal from the Democrats that year and returned all the favors 10 years later, giving Virginians the districts that are still in effect today.

The lesson is found somewhere in the Bible, under, “Do unto others…“ Or was it, “Love thy neighbor…“

As Paul Goldman would say, “Politics ain’t beanbag.“ Or perhaps Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran would offer, “We won’t Cranwell you if you don’t Wilkins us and let’s work out the kinks with seven bipartisan souls.“

Posted by Bob Gibson @ 09:51 AM ยท
Next entry: Bell won't make '09 attorney general bid Previous entry: What impact will Arab TV ads have?

Post a Comment

The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.

About
Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson was the Daily Progress political reporter for 17 years and also worked for seven years as city editor after covering the police and court beats. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia who hails from Arlington County. He is currently the Executive Director of the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership.

Recent Entries
Great promise, unrealistic expectations
The rare political moderate steps from stage
Virginia mulish about old structures
New forms of journalism emerging
Hamilton is third to resign on ethics charges
Recent Comments
By Chris Graham on:
Terry learning colors matter
01/17/2009
By Bob Gibson on:
Terry learning colors matter
01/16/2009
By Bob Gibson on:
Terry learning colors matter
01/16/2009
Monthly Archives
August 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
August 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
Search


Advanced Search

Syndicate


Advertisement

Advertisement