By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Alexandria Democrat Mark Warner and Richmond Republican Jim Gilmore will have no trouble eating shad and speaking April 16 at the 60th annual Shad Planking in Wakefield, but Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William County, might have a bit of a problem.
It’s not that Marshall can’t eat bony fish, but the U.S. Senate hopeful probably will have to miss a few votes in the House of Delegates that afternoon to make the event an hour to the southeast in Wakefield.
April 16 is the date of the veto override session of the General Assembly, which will have a number of votes before legislators get to leave the Holy City for home or for Wakefield.
Add the possibility of a special session for transportation and Marshall may have to miss a few important votes to join his fellow U.S. Senate hopefuls, Warner and Gilmore, as speakers before the beer and bourbon drinkers at the Wakefield Ruritan Club event.
Ticket prices are $18 for the Shad Planking, but those in the Capitol can get into the House gallery for free. I’m betting Marshall speaks to the $18-a-head crowd.
By the way, tickets are only $18 before April 1. The price embiggens to $20 on April Fool’s Day, so if you want to get three Senate candidate speakers for only $6 each (with the fish thrown in free), you can call 1-800-935-4004 or stop by the Virginia Diner in Wakefield before April dawns.
I’m going to bet Marshall will be the most entertaining speaker, intentionally or otherwise.