Va. Beach lawmaker starts campaign for attorney general

RICHMOND – Del. Bob McDonnell of Virginia Beach on Wednesday became the first candidate to officially announce for statewide office in 2005, saying his top priority as attorney general would be protecting Virginia from terrorist threats.

McDonnell, 50, declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination at the state Capitol, the first of 13 stops on a three-day statewide tour. He will likely be opposed in the June 14 GOP primary by Richmond lawyer Steve Baril, who is organizing a campaign and raising money but has not officially announced his candidacy.

Incumbent Jerry Kilgore is the presumptive GOP nominee for governor in 2005.

In his appearance before about three dozen supporters, McDonnell contrasted his experience with that of his opponent without mentioning Baril by name. Baril has been active in GOP politics but has not held elective office.

“It is easy for candidates who have not been elected to office to engage in political rhetoric, to complain about what has not been accomplished while making promises about what they are going to do,” McDonnell said. “But I believe voters will want to make sure there is actually a track record of results to go along with the rhetoric.”

Baril did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment

McDonnell is a former state prosecutor who was elected to the House of Delegates in 1991, defeating 20-year Democratic incumbent Glenn B. McClanan. He has sponsored legislation reforming the welfare and juvenile justice systems and toughening the state’s drunken driving laws.

He is chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee, which handles crime bills and screens judicial nominees.

McDonnell said Virginia’s proximity to the nation’s capital, its ports and its large number of military bases makes the state a potential terrorist target and “we must ensure the very best training for our first responders.”

He told reporters later that he is especially interested in improving port security. He said he will have specific recommendations later in the campaign.

Other priorities, McDonnell said, will include fighting Internet-related and gang crimes. He also vowed to “defend our traditional values,” including the state’s prohibition against same-sex marriages and its ban on procedure that abortion opponents call “partial-birth abortion.” A lawsuit challenging the abortion law is pending in federal appeals court.

The attorney general’s office has been a steppingstone for gubernatorial hopefuls. Former Gov. Jim Gilmore held the job, as did unsuccessful gubernatorial candidates Marshall Coleman, Mary Sue Terry and Mark Earley.

McDonnell said he is focused only on the next two elections _ the GOP primary and the November general election. Possible Democratic candidates include state Sens. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and John Edwards of Roanoke.

McDonnell has raised just over $800,000 and Baril about $785,000, according to the most recent campaign finance reports. McDonnell said he expects to raise about $1.3 million for the primary and just over $3 million for the general election.