JCC Citizens Will Choose Between Two Candidates in Primary

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The ballot for the August 23 primaries in James City County will be short, with two contenders vying for the Republican nomination for the 3rd District State Senate seat.

Friday was the deadline for parties to file candidates for the primary elections. James City County registrar A.J. Cole says only candidates for the 3rd District’s Republican seat will be on the ballot in August. The candidates are Tommy Norment and Mark Frechette.

Republican incumbent Tommy Norment is running for reelection in his newly recrafted 3rd District, which now no longer includes Williamsburg and has boundary lines in James City County and York County that have shifted. Read more about Norment’s reelection bid in a previous story.

He will face Tea Party challenger Mark Frechette, whose slogan is “It’s ‘T’ Time.”

The ‘T’ stands for Frechette’s platform principles: taxes, which he argues should be held at a flat 5 percent for income; terminating abortion; term limits for members of the state senate; transportation; and teaching children how to learn without federal influence. Read more on his website.

Frechette also aims to rely on his Christian faith to guide his decisions should he be elected, according to his website. “If I am elected to the Virginia Senate, I will not try to force Jesus Christ or my belief in Him on anyone, or try to establish a state religion.

“However, I will not be ashamed of my Lord either. I will not only mention His Name, but I will call on Him often, in private and in public. For, I know that I will need His wisdom and guidance to help me write and establish just laws, and His strength to stand up against powerful, opposing forces.”

So far, Norment has raised $746,669 for the upcoming election, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Frechette has raised $788.

Cole says James City County Board of Supervisor Jim Kennedy, a Republican, did not file last week to run as a Republican for the Stonehouse seat in the primary. This means he can run in November as an Independent or not run at all, unless the Party chooses to nominate him as their candidate and he agrees. They have until late August to decide, but they are expected to choose their nominee this week.

Kennedy says he’s not yet ready to comment on his plans.