Breaking down the 24th Senate race

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham He had to fend off perhaps the fight of his political life in June with a party-primary challenge from Rockbridge County businessman Scott Sayre. With the change of seasons from summer to fall, 24th District Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger would seem to have if not the second-biggest fight of…

Candidate forum in Vesuvius next week

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham The Vesuvius Community Association is hosting its 13th annual Candidate Forum at the Vesuvius Community Center next week. The forum will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. Among the candidates for public office invited to attending include candidates for office in Rockbridge County, candidates for the Riverheads District seat on…

Local GOP chairs endorse Hanger

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham It’s official – Emmett Hanger has received the formal endorsement of local Republican Party leaders in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County in his bid for re-election in the 24th Senate District this November. “We would like to congratulate you on your victory in the primary this past June. As the Republican…

Defining Dems III

David Cox

Column by David Cox The nation is in one of its periodic political shifts. As FDR inaugurated the party of the New Deal, which evaporated under the pressures of the Vietnam War and social turmoil, and as Ronald Reagan brought “a new day in America” that now darkens amidst the Iraq war and administrative cynicism,…

Meet David Cox

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham David Cox is best-known in Shenandoah Valley political circles for his run in 2005 for the 24th House District seat in the Virginia General Assembly. So what was it about his 37.5 percent showing in ’05 that makes him think that he can be a viable contender in the 24th Senate…

May Surprise in 24th GOP race

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham You’ve heard of October Surprises. How about a June Surprise – a day early? A report on a local politics website has brought to light two drunk-driving convictions on the record of Mary Brandt Sayre, the wife of 24th Senate District Republican Party nomination candidate Scott Sayre, who is challenging incumbent…

Cox wins Dem nomination

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham The mood was triumphant, almost giddy. Republicans in the 24th Senate District seem almost hopelessly divided – and local Democrats think they smell blood in the water. “We have this unprecedented opportunity to get somebody in this seat who can make a difference in Richmond, who can help Gov. Kaine, who…

Sayre announces candidacy in 24th

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Scott Sayre wants to take his conservative values to Richmond. He also wants to take the high road from the Shenandoah Valley to the State Capitol. “This is going to be a very, very positive campaign,” said Sayre, who announced today that he will be challenging the three-term incumbent in the…