The Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association (VHDOA) is unable to endorse a candidate in the 2005 Governor’s race. Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Jerry Kilgore are skilled advocates and articulate spokesmen for their positions, but neither has a strong enough record on decisions affecting gun owners, sportsmen and animal owners to merit our endorsement. This was a very difficult determination in an extremely close race. Both men will make far better Virginia chief executives than their critics would lead you to believe.

The Lt. Governor’s race between Democrat Leslie Byrne and Republican Bill Bolling is interesting for their radically different belief systems and personal styles. Mrs. Byrne, a personable northern Virginian who has held numerous elective offices and was redistricted out of the state Senate in 2000, votes a bit left of center. Bill Bolling is without artifice. He’s a blunt spoken conservative with a VHDOA voting rating of "B" as a Virginia Senator. VHDOA Lt. Governor Endorsement:Bill Bolling

The Attorney’s General’s race pits Democrat Creigh Deeds, a state Senator from rural Bath County against Republican Bob McDonnell, a Delegate from Virginia Beach. Both men are attorneys; both have served in the General Assembly since 1992. The differences between the two of them are many, but what distinguishes Creigh Deeds most is that by background, instinct and birthright, he is a sportsman.

Creigh's General Assembly voting record on issues important to sportsmen and hunting dog owners is outstanding. He's been there for us from his first day in the House of Delegates, where he introduced Virginia's "Right to Hunt and Fish" constitutional amendment, through every meaningful environmental, hunting and gun control fight to his Senate leadership, including co-chairing the new Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus.

Creigh’s voting record has earned him VHDOA's and NRA’s highest "A+" rankings, as well as the highest rating by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. In contrast, urbanite Bob McDonnell voted against the "Right to Hunt and Fish" constitutional amendment and also voted to limit firearm purchases. Creigh's leadership, legislative skills and trial experience as Bath County's Commonwealth Attorney make him the obvious sportsmen’s and animal owners’ choice for our next Attorney General.
VHDOA Attorney General Endorsement: Creigh Deeds

(Full disclosure: I so much admire Creigh Deeds' advocacy for Virginia sportsmen that I joined “Sportsmen for Deedsâ€