91st District Democrats Announce Caucus

By WYDaily Staff Monday, January 17, 2011

Democrats in the 91st legislative district no doubt will be watching Tuesday to see who wins the Republicans' firehouse primary and will contend for the General Assembly seat.

Two days later, Democrats will hold their own selection - a caucus to determine who, if anyone, will run against the GOP's choice in a March 8 special election to fill the seat. Delegate Tom Gear, who first won election to the seat in 2001, resigned Dec. 30 for health reasons. His departure has left the 91st without delegate representation in the General Assembly's legislative session, which began Wednesday.

According to an email to 91st Democrats, two assembled caucuses will be held on Thursday, Jan. 20. For Hampton residents, the caucus begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Ruppert Sargent Building, 1 Franklin St., Hampton, with doors closing at 6 p.m. For York and Poquoson residents, the caucus starts at 7:30 p.m. at York High School, 9300 George Washington Mem. Highway. Doors will close at the York caucus at 8 p.m.

Democrats interested in running during the caucus must file their intention by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, with 91st District Democratic chair Ross Mugler. His office is in the Sargent building, suite 101.

Anyone who attends the caucus will have to sign a standardized participation form stating he or she is a Democrat, does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in the ensuing general election, believes in the principles of the Democratic Party, and is a registered voter in the 91st District of Hampton,York and Poquoson.

The March 8 race could be a good opportunity for Democrats to regain the seat lost in 1999 to Republicans in a GOP-dominant district. Two names have popped up: Poquoson resident Steve Corneliussen, who has championed a National Park Service designation for Fort Monroe when the military leaves the base, and Sam Eure, Jr., who ran in 2009 for the 91st seat against Gear and Poquoson Mayor Gordon Helsel, Jr., who's seeking the GOP nod Tuesday but ran in 2009 as an independent.

Click here for details, including where to vote, about the Republicans' firehouse primary.