State senator to join race for Fifth District

State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, said Tuesday he would file with the Federal Election Commission today to run for Congress in 2010 in the Fifth District against Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello.

Hurt, a lawyer, becomes the sixth announced candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination to oppose Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District. Perriello upset former Rep. Virgil Goode by 745 votes last fall in the closest congressional race in the country.

“As a conservative who has represented a significant portion of the Fifth District for the past eight years, I believe that now, more than ever, our district requires a proven conservative leader to serve as its voice in Washington,” Hurt said in a news release.

Hurt has represented part of Campbell County — along with Pittsylvania County and Danville —  in the 19th Senate District since 2008. Before that, he represented parts of Pittsylvania and Henry counties in the House of Delegates starting in 2002.

“I was hoping Robert Hurt would throw his hat in the ring,” said Neil Vener, commonwealth’s attorney of Campbell County. “I think he’s the best candidate for the 5th District.”

Tucker Watkins, chairman of the 5th District Republican Party Committee, said it was possible two more people might announce for the party’s nomination. About 15 people had indicated an interest in running, but half of them opted out, Watkins said.

The other announced candidates are Bradley Rees of Bedford County, Michael McPadden of Albemarle County, Feda Kidd Morton of Fluvanna County, Laurence Verga of Albemarle County, and Kenneth C. Boyd, a member of Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

Two other Republican state senators in the 5th District have indicated they will not seek the nomination, Watkins said. They are Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, and Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarksville.

Watkins said the district committee would decide after this November’s election whether to select the party’s candidate in a convention or through a primary election. A convention would be held in April or early May, and a primary in June.

Hurt said he would continue to be an advocate for small businesses and new jobs, as he has done in Richmond.

“I will fight against the runaway taxing and spending in Washington, and I will always be a strong voice for our common sense conservative Virginia values,” he said.

Second Amendment rights concerning firearms are a top conservative value, Hurt said. “You are seeing some very aggressive proposals in Washington that would fundamentally alter the Second Amendment, and those sort of policies must be defeated,” Hurt said.

He said he disagrees fundamentally with Perriello’s vote in Congress for the energy bill, also known as the cap-and-trade bill.

“We are in an economy where people are being squeezed and squeezed,” Hurt said. The cap-and-trade bill “would increase energy rates, and there is no way to justify that as being in the best interests of the people of the 5th District.”

“Small businesses are the best way to grow an economy, and putting more squeeze on small business is no way to grow jobs, in my humble opinion,” Hurt said.

Tim Boyer, vice chairman of the Campbell County Republican Unit, said at least two other candidates were more conservative than Hurt. But, Boyer said, the party would pull together once it nominates someone.

“Whoever gets the nomination needs to beat Perriello, I can’t be more emphatic,” Boyer said, and “I think the congressman is going to be tremendously defeatable next year.”