Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) made it official with his announcement that he is running for Lt. Governor in ‘05.
Petersen was first elected in 2001 when he surprised the political establishment by beating Jack Rust, the only incumbent to lose his job that year. Petersen also brought back to life a staple of retail politics, claiming to have knocked on 14,000 doors in his district. He was elected again last year by a 60-40 margin over Rust. Petersen was formerly a Fairfax City councilman.
One of his opponents, Del. Viola Baskerville (D-Richmond), was at the “first annual” Jefferson Jackson Day dinner in Loudoun County Friday night, where Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine addressed 250 Dems about his political roots, which included Republican parents but a feisty Democratic grandmother who set on the straight and narrow.