In the upcoming election on November 6, the VSHL Political Action Committee has endorsed Mark Earley for Governor, Jay Katzen for Lt. Governor and Jerry Kilgore for Attorney General in the statewide races. As explained in detail in the last issue of the Lifesaver (August 2001), these three Republican candidates are solidly pro-life and are running against three pro-abortion Democratic candidates for these offices. In considering how our top Virginia elected officials will treat human life issues such as abortion and euthanasia, VSHL PAC Chairman Catherine Driscoll said, “Virginia needs people who possess a high regard for the dignity and value of human life in the highest offices of the Commonwealth. We need Earley, Katzen and Kilgore.”

The entire Virginia House of Delegates is up for election following redistricting as a result of the 2000 Census. The PAC considered all candidates using its strict criteria for endorsement (see below). Following are the House candidates meriting VSHL PAC endorsement:

• Del. Terry Kilgore (R) of Gate City in the 1st district;
• Charles W. Carrico (R) of Fries in the 5th;
• Billy B. Ashworth (R) of Wytheville in the 6th;
• Dave Nutter (R) of Blacksburg in the 7th;
• Del. H. Morgan Griffith (R) of Salem in the 8th;
• Del. Allen Dudley (R) of Rocky Mount in the 9th;
• Del. Bob Marshall (R) of Manassas in the 13th;
• Del. Allen L. Louderback (R) of Luray in the 15th;
• Del. Vic Thomas (D) of Roanoke in the 17th;
• John J. Welch III (R) of Virginia Beach in the 21st;
• Del. Kathy Byron (R) of Lynchburg in the 22nd;
• Del. Preston Bryant (R) of Lynchburg in the 23rd;
• Del. Steve Landes (R) of Weyers Cave in the 25th;
• Del. Sam Nixon (R) of Chesterfield in the 27th;
• Scott Lingamfelter (R) of Woodbridge in the 31st;
• Del. Dick Black (R) of Sterling in the 32nd;
• Del. Vince Callahan (R) of McLean in the 34th;
• Chris Craig (R) of Springfield in the 39th;
• Edgar Gonzalez (R) of Falls Church in the 49th;
• Del. Michele McQuigg (R) of Woodbridge in the 51st;
• Bill Janis (R) of Glen Allen in the 56th;
• Del. Thomas C. Wright Jr. (R) of Victoria in the 61st;
• Del. Lee Ware (R) of Powhatan in the 65th;
• Del. Kirk Cox (R) of Colonial Heights in the 66th;
• Brad Marrs (R) of Midlothian in the 68th;
• Terone Green (I) of Richmond in the 74th;
• Del. S. Chris Jones (R) of Suffolk in the 76th;
• John Cosgrove (R) of Chesapeake in the 78th;
• Del. Bob McDonnell (R) of Virginia Beach in the 84th;
• Mark L. Cole (R) of Fredericksburg in the 88th;
• Winsome Earle Sears (R) of Norfolk in the 90th;
• Del. Phil Hamilton (R) of Newport News in the 93rd;
• Glenn Oder (R) of Newport News in the 94th;
• Del. Melanie Rapp (R) of Yorktown in the 96th;
• Ryan McDougle (R) of Mechanicsville in the 97th;
• R. Allen Webb (R) of Heathsville in the 99th.

Mrs. Driscoll said that the PAC uses five factors in deciding whether a candidate merits an endorsement:

• The responses to the VSHL questionnaire that was sent to all candidates. No endorsement will be made without a signed questionnaire affirming an overall pro-life position, even for incumbents with pro-life voting records. “We need to know where candidates stand on new legislative issues that come up each election cycle.” noted Mrs. Driscoll;
• A pro-life voting record, for incumbents;
• Public statements by the candidate on life issues;
• Factors of the individual race, e.g., the position of the opponent on right-to-life issues, the viability of the candidate, etc.;
• Pro-life incumbents are favored over pro-life challengers, if all other factors above are judged equal.

Note that lack of an endorsement in a particular race does not necessarily mean that the candidate is not pro-life. Some candidates, especially those running unopposed, choose not to respond to surveys. “I encourage pro-lifers to contact candidates and question them on their views on pro-life issues, and to check incumbents’ voting records. This is especially important in districts with no endorsement,” said the PAC Chairman.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, October 2001