68th district Republicans trade barbs as race winds down
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Shewmake

Accusations of negative campaigning are surfacing as the campaign to become the Republican nominee for the House of Delegates in the 68th District winds down.

Will Shewmake's supporters are upset that a letter from Manoli Loupassi charged that Shewmake tried to "exclude" voters from Richmond by not putting a polling place in the city. Loupassi didn't like the letter that Shewmake sent out saying that Loupassi voted "for higher taxes and bigger government" when he "voted to impose a 6 percent meals tax" in Richmond while on the city council.

Last week, Shewmake complained that Loupassi was "going negative" because of a phone message, recorded by Loupassi and made to an unknown number of homes, that called Shewmake a "Democrat who pledged to raise taxes."

"I haven't decided whom I'm going to vote for, but I'm offended by what Manoli said because it isn't true," said Tom Van Auken, a member of the Chesterfield Republican Committee who received the record message.

Asked about that recorded message, Loupassi said he was responding to Shewmake's "nasty campaign letter…[Shewmake] said he was going to run a clean campaign, but then he sent out a mean-spirited letter. I had to set the record straight."

Loupassi

Loupassi said he is right on the issues, has the big name endorsements and raised the most campaign money. According to campaign finance reports as of March 31, Loupassi brought in $247,000 - far more than Shewmake's $31,000. Loupassi was campaigning about six months before Shewmake entered the race last December.

Loupassi had many more contributors, led by Manuel Loupassi ($7,000), real estate businessman Frederick C. Lamore ($5,500), E. M. Farley IV of First Commonwealth Properties ($4,500), developer Henry L. Wilton ($4,000) and the Allen & Allen law firm ($3,000). Shewmake's big contributors were Lucas Properties ($5,000) and the Growing Chesterfield Business Political Action Committee ($2,500). All other contributions were $1,000 or less.

Last month, Loupassi proposed limiting tax increases on residential property statewide to a maximum of five percent per year until the residence is sold. Then it would increase to the assessed value. Without such legislation, explained Loupassi, those living on fixed incomes might have to sell their homes because of escalating taxes.

"Any system that would allow property taxes to increase 40-50 percent in a year is screaming to be changed," insisted Loupassi.

Shewmake disagreed, saying it would make "next door neighbors with similar homes pay considerably different property taxes" because one neighbor might have lived in his house for a very long time. In Chesterfield, Loupassi's proposal would impact the school system since two-thirds of property taxes go to Chesterfield schools.

Loupassi is endorsed by Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, Attorney General Bob Mc- Donnell, Congressman Eric Cantor, former Congressman Tom Bliley, State Senator Steve Martin, Delegate Sam Nixon, Clover Hill Supervisor Art Warren and Chesterfield's constitutional officers. Shewmake has Republican endorsements from Supervisors Kelly Miller, Dickie King, Renny Humphrey, two former county supervisors and Midlothian School Board member Jim Schroeder. Many of them agree with him that a Chesterfield resident will fight harder for the county's interests in the legislature.

Shewmake has stressed his Chesterfield advantage since he lives in the county but works in the city. Chesterfield voters make up 58 percent of the 68th District, which includes Bon Air and the Robious Road corridor, while the remaining 42 percent live in west Richmond where Loupassi resides. Loupassi says he has the support from high-level Republicans that will help the entire district, including Chesterfield.

Many of Shewmake's supporters believe Chesterfield is underrepresented in the state legislature because only one of the eight delegates representing the county lives here. Seven of the eight political boundaries cross over from Chesterfield into adjacent jurisdictions.

Shewmake has also said he knows public education better since his children attend Chesterfield schools while Loupassi sends his children to private school.

District voters in Chesterfield will be going to Robious Middle School this Saturday to vote while city of Richmond voters go to the Southampton Baptist Church. The polling locations are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though the canvass is for the Republican party, signing a pledge to vote Republican is not required, and any registered voter in the district can vote.

Meanwhile, incumbent Independent Katherine Waddell is watching to see who her opponent will be. She won a narrow victory in 2005 over former incumbent Republican Brad Marrs.