The VSHL Political Action Committee recently announced its endorsements of pro-life candidates running for election to the Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday, November 4.

According to VSHL PAC chairman Cathy Driscoll, the PAC uses five factors in deciding whether a candidate merits an endorsement:

• A signed questionnaire (even for incumbents with a voting record) affirming an overall pro-life position;
• 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.

The PAC is non-partisan and therefore does not favor one political party over another in making endorsements.

Mrs. Driscoll urged all VSHL members to encourage every pro-lifer they know to vote on November 4 for legislators who respect the dignity and sanctity of each human life, and to urge absentee voting for college students and others who will be away from home on election day. “Voting for pro-life candidates is one very important, if not the most important, contribution we can all make to the pro-life movement,” said Mrs. Driscoll.

Following is a compilation of endorsements as provided to the Lifesaver by Mrs. Driscoll.

State Senate races:

• Sen. D. Nick Rerras (R) of Norfolk in the 6th district;
• Sen. Frank W. Wagner (R) of Virginia Beach in the 7th;
• Sen. Stephen H. Martin (R) of Chesterfield in the 11th;
• Sen. Frank M. Ruff, Jr. (R) of Clarksville in the 15th;
• Robert G. Stuber (R) of Fredericksburg in the 17th;
• J. Brandon Bell II (R) of Roanoke in the 22nd;
• Sen. Stephen D. (Steve) Newman (R) of Lynchburg in the 23rd;
• Sen. Emmet W. Hanger, Jr. (R) of Mt. Solon in the 24th;
• Mark D. Obenshain (R) of Harrisonburg in the 26th;
• Sen. Charles J. Colgan, Sr. (D) of Nokesville in the 29th;
• David M. (Dave) Hunt (R) of Great Falls in the 32nd;
• Sen. William C. (Bill) Mims (R) of Leesburg in the 33rd;
• Christian N. Braunlich (R) of Alexandria in the 36th;
• Sen. Ken T. Cuccinelli II (R) of Centreville in the 37th;
• Sen. Phillip P. Puckett (D) of Lebanon in the 38th; and
• Sen. J.K. (Jay) O’Brien, Jr. (R) of Clifton in the 39th district.

House of Delegate races:

• Del. Charles W. (Bill) Carrico (R) of Fries in the 5th district;
• Del. David A. Nutter (R) of Blacksburg in the 7th;
• Del. Allen W. Dudley (R) of Rocky Mount in the 9th;
• Del. Robert G. (Bob) Marshall (R) of Manassas in the 13th;
• Del. Allen L. Louderback (R) of Luray in the 15th;
• Del. Lacey E. Putney (I) of Bedford in the 19th;
• Del. Chris B. Saxman (R) of Staunton in the 20th;
• Del. John J. Welch (R) of Virginia Beach in the 21st;
• Del. Kathy J. Byron (R) of Forest in the 22nd;
• Del. L. Preston Bryant, Jr. (R) of Lynchburg in the 23rd;
• Del. R. Steven (Steve) Landes (R) of Weyers Cave in the 25th;
• Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R) of Woodbridge in the 31st;
• Del. Richard H. (Dick) Black (R) of Sterling in the 32nd;
• Del. Vincent F. Callahan, Jr. (R) of McLean in the 34th;
• Del. John H. Rust, Jr. (R) of Fairfax in the 37th;
• Del. Thomas M. (Tom) Bolvin (R) of Alexandria in the 43rd;
• Jeff M. Frederick (R) of Woodbridge in the 52nd;
• Del. Frank D. Hargrove (R) of Glen Allen in the 55th;
• Del. W. R. (Bill) Janis (R) of Glen Allen in the 56th;
• Del. Thomas C. Wright, Jr. (R) of Victoria in the 61st;
• Del. R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R) of Powhatan in the 65th;
• Del. M. Kirkland (Kirk) Cox (R) of Colonial Heights in the 66th;
• Del. Bradley P. Marrs (R) of Midlothian in the 68th;
• Del. S. Chris Jones (R) of Suffolk in the 76th;
• Del. John A Cosgrove, Jr. (R) of Chesapeake in the 78th;
• Del. Robert (Bob) Tata (R) of Virginia Beach in the 85th;
• Del. Mark L. Cole (R) of Fredericksburg in the 88th;
• Del. Melanie L. Rapp (R) of Yorktown in the 96th; and
• Shawn E. Donahue (R) of Lancaster in the 99th district.

Published in VSHL Lifesaver, October, 2003