Endorsements blown off by GOP

Pogge camp labels VEA as labor union

The Virginia Gazette, by Steve Vaughan
August 11, 2007

YORK – As the race for the 96th House accelerates, predictable sides are being taken.

This week the James City County Professional Firefighters Association and the Virginia Education Association lined behind Democratic candidate Troy Farlow.

That came as no surprise to the campaign of Brenda Pogge, presumptive Republican nominee. She won the nomination by 23 votes in a disputed three-way firehouse primary in June. A lawsuit by runner-up Sheila Noll is pending.

The Education Association and the firefighters are traditional Democratic allies. While they bring no new votes to the table, their endorsements typically come with campaign contribution and volunteers.

“I am pleased to recommend Troy Farlow and look forward to working with him in January,” said Princess Moss, president of the VEA. I think Troy understands the issues and challenges to our teachers. I believe Troy Farlow will do his best to represent the interests of public education. Our teachers stand behind the candidates who stand up for us.”

“Mr. Farlow truly appreciates the role firefighters and first responders play in the safety of our community and is committed to supporting the wide range of issues faced by those in the profession, from prevention through safety to the provision of adequate resources,” said John Porter, president of the James City chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Pogge’s campaign is unfazed.

“It is common knowledge that those two unions almost always support a liberal Democrat over a conservative Republican,” said Pogge campaign manager Mike Hazlewood. “We know that their members don’t always march in lockstep. Like most citizens, they vote for the candidate that most closely reflects their personal views.”

By lumping the VEA in with the firefighters, Hazelwood was taking a familiar GOP line that characterized the organization as “the teacher union.”

In fact, teachers in Virginia are forbidden by state law to unionize. VEA doesn’t engage in collective bargaining, nor can it call strikes. In that sense, it’s no more a union than the Virginia Bar Association or the Virginia Medical Association.

While the firefighters are reliably Democratic, the VEA has supported Republicans like former Del. Jim Dillard, Sen. Russ Potts (R-Winchester) and Del. Phil Hamilton (R-93rd), who they perceive as friends of public education.

Hazelwood doubles as Hamilton’s legislative aide.