Yesterday, the RNLA, in conjunction with the Mason Law
Republicans, hosted a debate between the candidates for Attorney General of
Virginia – Virginia General Assembly Delegate Rob Bell and Virginia Senator Mark
Obenshain at the George Mason University School of Law. The moderator was former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore. The Republican primary
will be held in May, and the winner will face off against Democrat Mark Herring
in the fall.
At the backdrop of the debate was the recognition by all
parties of the immense importance of the office of Virginia attorney general. Governor
Gilmore, a former Virginia attorney general himself, noted that the office of
Virginia attorney general is “the highest honor you can give a lawyer in this
state.” Senator Obenshain said that now “the
office of attorney general of Virginia is never more important” and recognized
that state attorneys general like Ken Cuccinelli have stood up to the federal
government on matters like Obamacare and EPA regulatory overreach. Delegate Bell noted that President Obama will
be in office during most of the tenure of the attorney general, making defense
of constitutional rights against federal encroachment. Bell said, “we have a moral obligation to
take the Constitution back.”
Both Bell and Obenshain work in the state legislature and
have practiced law for many years. As a state prosecutor for five years, Bell had
over 2,400 cases. Bell was elected to
the Virginia General Assembly in 2002. Obenshain founded the Harrisonburg and
Charlottesville-based law firm of Lenhart Obenshain PC. and practiced law for
twenty-five years. Obenshain was elected
to the Senate of Virginia in 2003. Chris
Marston, chair of the Virginia chapter of the RNLA, identified a job both
candidates have had – unit chair of their local Republican party.
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