Cuccinelli Is Thoughtful and Hard-Working
May 1, 2003

To the Editor:

I read with interest last week's article about the primary challenge being made by Jim McIntyre to State Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37th). ["McIntyre Challenges Cuccinelli for State Senate," Centre View, April 24-30.] As a former Sully District GOP Chairman, I've worked with both men and am supporting Senator Cuccinelli. Here's why:

Regardless of whether you agree with him on any given issue, Ken Cuccinelli is a refreshingly candid politician who demonstrates political courage and articulates where he stands. He stood against raising the sales tax almost alone among Northern Virginia candidates until he was joined by the majority of Fairfax County voters who decided that he was right on election night.

I appreciate that kind of courage as much as I appreciate the service to taxpayers. Frankly, I was surprised to read in this paper that Jim endorses a tax increase and wants to expand the county's tax-raising authority.

I believe that Fairfax voters, especially Republicans, made clear that they would like to see less spending and better prioritized spending before they're taxed more. This is especially true in light of rapidly rising real estate taxes that Ken is also working to curb. GOP voters fear a Richmond shell game or one in our county that would make them pay higher taxes without improving transportation or reducing congestion.
Sen. Cuccinelli also is a strong pro-life candidate who again clearly articulates his views and fights for them. I know where Sen. Cuccinelli stands. I'm not sure what Jim means when he says that he wants to change "hearts and minds" on issues like abortion.

I agree on this race with my Delegate, Gary Reese, who opposes McIntyre's challenge to a Republican incumbent, even though Jim served as Reese's aide. It wasn't long ago that Jim himself fought to keep Del. Reese's primary free of Republican challengers in the name of party unity, and Reese wasn't even an incumbent at the time. Jim's challenge, therefore, strikes me as peculiar.

Ken Cuccinelli's record has been outstanding and surely does not merit a primary challenge. Where was Jim's challenge to Sen. Cuccinelli's predecessor, Warren Barry, who was missing in action to local Republicans unless it was an election year? Why wasn't Jim dissatisfied that Barry supported higher taxes, diverted GOP donations to support his son's race as a Democrat, or endorsed Democrat Mark Warner for Governor? Such behavior is what prompted Cuccinelli to run last year. Now that we've fixed that problem, why risk going back?

Although I believe that McIntyre is a good man who has served his party long and well, he isn't serving it well in this case and doesn't match Sen. Cuccinelli's energy, political candor, or commitment to conservative principles. Cuccinelli has proven himself a thoughtful and hard-working Senator. For me, the choice is clear.

Chris Mustain
Fairfax