Paul Harris, a Northern Virginia Republican who served two terms in the House of Delegates from Albemarle County until 2001,
has decided not to run for attorney general next year.

Harris said that in recent weeks there were times “when I thought maybe I can do this and make it work.”

He decided however that 2009 was not the right time.

His eldest child, P.J., just turned 17 and is a senior in high school next year and “I just couldn’t stomach not being there,” he said. “It’s been a very prayerful time for me and lots of folks have been very supportive of me in helping me make this decision.”

Harris may take a position in the John McCain campaign, he said of his continuing political activity this year.

He left the House of Delegates in 2001 to taker a position in the Bush Justice Department and now is in private law practice.

Harris explained his attorney general decision in an email to friends.

It reads in full: “Dear Friends,

“I have decided not to seek the office of Attorney General of Virginia in 2009.  This difficult decision encompassed more than political dimensions, reaching into areas faith and personal values. 

“Over the past several months, I have heard with my ears and embraced with my heart the earnest and well-meant pleas of ‘this is your time’.  Those sincere expressions of support and encouragement refreshed my fondness and appreciation for life on the political campaign trail, as well as my love for the wonderful people of this Commonwealth, from all stations and walks of life.  Your support also renewed in me a calling to serve a higher purpose with one’s life, a lesson my mother instilled in me.

“In the end, however, what matters most to me is that I do God’s will.  Discerning His will for my life requires patience, and, in this instance, that quite likely means I will have to wait for a period that extends beyond self-imposed, political or convenient deadlines.  Even the most courageous and well thought-through decisions in life cannot substitute for obedience to God’s will.  But although I must wait, surely it would not be fair of me to impose that burden upon either the nomination process itself or any announced or potential candidate for attorney general.  I will not do that. 

“In its simplest terms, the joy of spending time with my three children far outweighs any desire I have to be attorney general.  I get choked up thinking that my son, Paul Jr., a rising high school senior, will be off to college in the fall of 2009.  He is co-captain of his high school wrestling team and placed second in his district tournament this year.  No political office could ever substitute for pride that wells up from these three simple words: “I was there.” In those moments when the crowds are gone and I am left alone to my thoughts, I realize in my gut that I am not willing to sacrifice even one spontaneous moment with my children—those instant eternal memories that last for a lifetime—in the name of political ambition. 

“Even at the age of 44, I can still feel the pain—the rejection and embarrassment—when, as a young Cub Scout in Den 3, Pack 98, in Charlottesville, I could not participate in the annual father-son project of designing and making miniature wooden race cars, because there was no father in my household.  I vowed then that my children would have a different experience.  I am where I am today because God blessed me with a mother who was present.  She taught me that there are no victims in life, only volunteers. 

“In the past few weeks, I have recalled time and again the words of Carl Sandburg, who said: “Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” My mother spent her coin well, in selfless devotion to her children.  I shall try as best I can in my life to do the same. 

“Some political assessments hold that this decision might mean I will never serve as attorney general of Virginia or ever again hold political office.  If so, I am at peace with this decision nonetheless.  Truly, my life has been like one long up-escalator.  A designated “at risk” child in grade school, I am humbled to even be considered by many as a worthy candidate for attorney general.  That itself is an achievement my mother would be proud of.  But she also would be proud of me for choosing to be a good father, even if this happens to be ‘my time’.

“Next year Virginia Republicans will have several outstanding and exceptionally qualified candidates from which to choose a nominee for attorney general.  I look forward to joining with our Republican ticket next year and rousing support for the optimistic vision and ideals of our party and its candidates, always standing for and with those whose compelling hope is to improve their modest lot in life. 

“I thank all of you who have been helpful and supportive in this decision-making process.  I especially thank those who have prayed with me and given me spiritual comfort along the way.  To those who might be disappointed by my decision, I hope you will understand and trust my reasons for making this decision and look forward to our continued friendship. 

“Finally, in the words of George Washington, Father of Our Country, may we all “labour to keep alive in our breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” And then let us together do what is right for our Commonwealth and her good people.

“With warm personal regards,
Paul”

Jim Richardson, the chaplain of the California Senate, has been chosen as the new rector at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. 

Richardson of Sacramento, Calif., worked 22 years as a journalist before becoming a priest in 2000. He left The Sacramento Bee as senior writer in 1997 after covering politics and writing an unauthorized biography of Willie Brown.

The interim rector of All Soul’s Parish in Berkeley, Calif., as well as chaplain of the California State Senate, he was called by the vestry at St. Paul’s at the conclusion of a two-year search process. During most of that period, the Rev. Alan Mead of Richmond, Va., served as interim rector following the retirement of the Rev. David Poist.

Jim and his wife, Lori, worked together at the Bee for many years. Jim will officially join the staff of St. Paul’s Memorial Church on Aug. 1.

Having spoken with Jim and Lori, I am delighted to welcome them to Charlottesville and applaud their interest in keeping urban chickens.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UCLA in 1975 where he majored in history and anthropology, Richardson entered the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1997 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2000.

From 2000 until 2006, he served as associate dean and canon residentiary of Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento. In 2004, he became Chaplain of the California State Senate. For the past year, he has served as interim rector of All Soul’s Parish in Berkeley.

St. Paul’s Senior Warden Virginia Ritchie announced the call of Richardson and his acceptance at services Sunday, along with Alice Fitch and Charles Lancaster, co-chairs of the Search Committee at St. Paul’s, which nominated Richardson at the conclusion of its two-year search process.

Ritchie said that Richardson is “a man of intelligence and warmth, an effective and energetic leader with an infectious sense of humor and a ready laugh, a powerful preacher, compassionate pastor and committed advocate for those in need.”

Bob Marshall said fellow GOP U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore is trying to tally ignore him and pretend he’s won the nomination

“I am the space alien in this race to him,” Marshall said. “I will walk in a room and he will not even look at me.”

“He doesn’t want to admit he’s got an opponent,” said the veteran delegate campaigning as a populist.

“Gilmore and Warner are both part of the establishment,” Marshall said between bites of the bony shad served Wednesday afternoon by the Wakefield Ruritan Club. “I am the anti-establishment guy.”

Marshall said he is being supported for the GOP nomination by “Right-to-lifers, home schoolers, anti-tax people, libertarians and people who are mad at Gilmore.”

Asked which of those five groups of Republicans is the largest, Marshall laughed and declined to respond “on the record,” indicating that each is sizeable but the last group might be biggest.

Dick Leggitt, a longtime Gilmore aide, insisted that the Marshall-Gilmore nomination contest “is over,” saying Gilmore employs consultants who can count the already elected and committed delegates to the May 30-31 Richmond convention.

“We call them and talk to them. We count them,” Leggitt said. “Bob Marshall is a good candidate and we hope he’ll be supporting us in the fall.”

Potential GOP candidates for attorney general are dropping out in pairs.

One day after Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, said no to a 2009 bid, Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, joined him in citing family considerations for not running statewide.

Bell said he and his wife, Jessica, just learned she is pregnant with their second child.

Obenshain cited other family considerations, leaving former Del. Paul Harris as potentially the strongest challenger to the only announced Republican in the field, Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County.

Del. Steve Shannon, D-Vienna, appears to be the most active Democrat eyeing the 2009 attorney general’s race.

Here is the text of Obenshain’s statement announcing today that he is not running:

“Over the past several months I have been encouraged to run for Attorney General of Virginia. After great consideration and deliberation, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for that office in 2009.

“To have the opportunity to serve Virginia’s citizens as Attorney General would be a great honor and privilege. It is a job for which I feel well suited by my professional endeavors over the past 21 years and by my public service. I have been encouraged by phone calls, e-mails and comments from friends from across Virginia and for that I am grateful.

“My family is the abiding consideration for me in deciding to forego a run at this time. I have two children in high school, and I am very proud of them. I understand the sacrifices my family would have to make in order for me to seek statewide office at this time, and they are too great.

Thanks to one and all for the encouragement you have provided both for my consideration of a run for AG, and for my service in the Senate of Virginia.”

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, said today that he will not be seeking the statewide office of attorney general next year.

“Jessica’s pregnant and we just got our test back,” Bell said of his wife. The two already have a young son, Robbie, and now are awaiting a second child.

“That makes it easy,” Bell said. “I’m not going to run.”

The only Republican in the field as an announced attorney general candidate for 2009 is state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County.

Others examining a GOP bid include Paul Harris, who for four years held the House seat Bell occupies; John Brownlee of Roanoke, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Sen. Ryan McDougle of Mechanicsville; and Sen. Mark Obenshain of Harrisonburg.

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.”

For the first time in the history of the world, some ads run on a pair of Arab TV networks may have an impact on a Charlottesville to Danville congressional race.

Tom Perriello, the Democrat challenging 5th District Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount, helped raise money in 2004 to pay for ads on al-Jazaara and al-Arabiya that featured the comments of American religious leaders who apologized for the torture of some Iraqi citizens held in prisons by Americans.

America was showing moral leadership in the ads, according to Perriello. The ad text read: “As Americans of faith, we express our deep sorrow at abuses committed in Iraqi prisons. We stand in solidarity with all those in Iraq and everywhere who demand justice and human dignity. We condemn the sinful and systematic abuses committed in our name and pledge to work to right these wrongs.”

The Danville Register & Bee quoted a Baptist preacher in that community as saying the use of torture techniques on prisoners could be useful to save lives.

The Danville story by reporter Bernard Baker also quoted a retired Episcopal minister who supported Perriello’s effort and said he is the kind of person needed to undo the damage the Bush administration has done to the nation and America’s international reputation.

The story quoted Goode as saying he would not spend money on Arab television networks. This is far from the last that voters in the 5th will hear about these ads.

William Redpath, the Loudoun County man who lost to Mark Warner for governor and Republican candidate Mark Earley in 2001, wants to take on Warner again this year for the U.S. Senate.

The Virginia Libertarian Party nominated Redpath for the U.S. Senate over the weekend.

Redpath, who is the Libertarian Party’s national chairman, won 14,497 votes in his 2001 Libertarian quest for governor, gaining about 0.8 percent of the total votes cast.

Warner won the governorship that year with 984,177 votes—about 52.2 percent—to 887,234 for Earley, who carried about 47 percent trying to succeed Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Either Gilmore or Del. Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, will carry the GOP banner against Warner this year, depending on which Republican is nominated at the GOP’s May 30-31 state convention in Richmond.

Former Albemarle County Republican Del. Paul Harris is rescinding his “I am not a candidate in 2009” stance of March 10.

Now that Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling are running together as a GOP team for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, Harris is back in the mix as one of four top Republican potential candidates as their running mate for attorney general.

The closest to an official candidacy is Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County, who told a group in Charlottesville last weekend that he is close to announcing his bid.

The other three names are those of Harris, Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, and the Albemarle County Republican who followed Harris in the House seat from Albemarle: Del. Rob Bell.

Cuccinelli has some strong early support on the right side of the party.

Bell and Harris have to sort things out soon, much sooner than usual, and Obenshain is being urged by some to run but has not yet made a firm decision.

Harris said today, “I want to talk to a few people and make a decision in the next six weeks.”

That’s a switch from his conversation on March 10, when the Manassas resident sent the following message to friends describing his decision:

“Dear Friend,
After much prayer and meditation, I have decided not to be a candidate for public office in 2009.  Over the past several months I have been called upon by party activists and leaders to consider seeking public office again next year.  Indeed, I have been humbled by the many words of encouragement and support from good Republicans (and a few Democrats) from all regions of the Commonwealth.  But now is not the time.”

Harris went on to explain his reasoning, but things change in politics, as in life.

Why in the world does my mouth head south when I talk on the phone with someone like Virginia GOP Chairman John Hager?

Hager is from the South—North Carolina and Richmond—and has a marvelous southern drawl that extends vowels to their fullest horizontal righteousness.

Time slows down and words wrap themselves around thoughts as a warm summer night’s dip in a pool refreshes a tired soul.

I am from Arlington, grew up there, and have hung out in Charlottesville.

This is a place close to, partly in, the South that welcomes folks from everywhere and claims a history that leans south but language that flies in from other places.

I can’t help myself from drifting south when talking with a son of south of here. Perhaps the slow taking of verbal teas is a refreshment.