Marsden: GOP Redistricting Attempt a 'Sad Day for the Commonwealth'

Narrowly passed surprise legislation would shift Marsden's 37th District, mainly into Prince William County.

The surprise legislation proposed and passed Monday by Virginia's Senate — which would redraw some of state senate district lines in favor of Republicans — is "a sad day for the Commonwealth," State Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37th) said Tuesday morning. Virginia's Senate Republicans tacked on the redistricting proposal as an amendment to a larger bill, saying the move would help better represent African Americans in some of the state's districts. But opponents of the measure — introduced by Sen. John Watkins (R-10th), who represents a district west of Richmond — say it was an "underhanded" way to give Republicans a senate majority: The state Senate is currently split between Democrats and Republicans; some say the end result would leave …

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District 34

Video: Petersen, Culipher Talk Business, Silver Line, Death Penalty

Candidates for the 34th District Senate seat answer resident questions at Vienna debate

The Silver Line was one issue on which Incumbent State Sen. Chap Petersen (D) and Republican challenger Gerarda Culipher couldn't agree Thursday night, in one of the first debates of the 34th District Senate race. The debate at Vienna's American Legion gave the more than 60 residents that filled the hall an early glimpse of the candidates' positions on roads, businesses, jobs and taxes. Culipher said she'd would work to triple the number of parking spaces allocated for stations on Silver Line, which would make Metro a more accessible option for commuters from Chantilly and Centreville, she said. "Inadequate Metro parking is the single reason people do not use it," Culipher said. "I hear [that] time and again from the voters." In regards to…

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Mike Kane

9:40 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011

I watched both these candidates last night, and I must say Culipher sounded like the better candidate. Chap peterson refused to cut taxes and spending   more ›