Marshall Pattie, Augusta County Supervisor for the North River District, announced his renewed commitment to seek the Republican nomination for the 24th Senate district seat for the 2015 election against incumbent Senator Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon in a primary to be held on Tuesday, June 9.
On Tuesday, February 24th, Hanger filed appropriate paperwork with the Virginia Department of Elections opting for a primary pursuant to the Virginia Code. Under the relevant statute, elected officials who currently hold an office can decide how their re-election process will take place.
On Wednesday, February 25th, the 24th Senatorial District Republican Committee and its chairman, Waynesboro resident Ken Adams, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the statute that has been in place since 1950. The action against the Virginia Department of Elections was filed in the Harrisonburg division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. No date has been set for the case to be heard in court. There are serious questions surrounding the current lawsuit, including the cost, time frame, financing and influences of outside special interests.
With respect to the lawsuit and the proposed convention, Supervisor Pattie stated: “As an elected official, I am sworn to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Accordingly, I have no choice but to adhere to the current law which authorizes Senator Hanger the right to choose a primary as the nomination method. My general preference for this election is a convention; however, I cannot in good conscience take part in a convention process which disregards current law. The law as written provides for a primary on June 9th. Unless a judge rules in favor of a convention, I am preparing my campaign for that primary.”
The 24th Senate District encompasses Augusta, Madison and Greene counties, part of Rockingham County, the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro and part of Culpeper.
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