The Incumbent: Charles J. Colgan (D).
The Challenger: Bob FitzSimmonds (R). 
Here is why you should vote for Bob.
NOTE: Currently, Senator Colgan does not seem to have his own campaign website. However, FitzSimmonds does (here).
Election Background
Here is an excerpt from Virginia FREE-News at this post.
Colgan is a legend in his time, and is possibly the only Democrat in Virginia who could win in this Republican district. He has represented Manassas and Prince William County since 1976 and is the longest serving member of the Senate. He has amassed an epic record of bipartisanship and support for business with Virginia FREE ratings among the highest in the legislature. Governor Warner and fellow Senators persuaded him to forego retirement in 2003, and he won re-election with 55% over Republican Dave Mabie. In 2006, Colgan marked his 80th birthday and lost his best friend and strong political ally, Republican Delegate Harry Parrish. It was widely thought that Colgan would retire this year but he surprised the pundits with an announcement in March that he will seek another term.
Conservative Republican Bob FitzSimmonds is making his second bid for the Senate, having lost to Colgan with 42% in 1999. He is an aide to Sen. Ken Cuccinelli and a former aide to Del. Scott Lingamfelter, with endorsements from Jim Gilmore, Jay O’Brien, Morton Blackwell, Pat McSweeney and Dick Black, to name a few. This district voted 57% Bush, and 53% Kilgore. However, Prince William County, with 75% of the voting population in the district, gave narrow margins to Webb (51% ) and Kaine (50%).
Colgan’s popularity and record of achievement give him the edge in this race.
Colgan is currently ahead in fundraising (here), but FitzSimmonds is doing well (here).
BIOs
The Prince William County Democratic Committee (here) provides a brief, but glowing description of Senator Colgan’s biography. In truth, Senator Charles Colgan does seem to be a respectable old gentleman, and FitzSimmonds has shown no interest in attacking Colgan personally; FitzSimmonds is running issues based campaign. FitzSimmonds makes only two points about Colgan.
- Colgan is 81. Everyone expected him to retire, but, because they were fearful of losing his seat Democrats asked him to run again. In order to keep Republicans from gaining a seat, Colgan is running one more time.
- Colgan would be ashamed if Northern Virginia got its fair share of transportation funding (here).
Bob FitzSimmonds (R)
Bob FitzSimmonds provides his bio on his web site (here). Bob and Debbie FitzSimmonds are family people who dedicate their free time volunteering for the benefit of the community. The FitzSimmonds have been involved in grassroots Prince William County politics for years. Because he has earned their support, Bob is endorsed by numerous Republican officials (here).
Record/Issues
As the Virginia Senate’s longest serving member, Colgan is an anachronism. In many respects, Colgan is in the wrong political party. Thus when Virginia FREE, the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education Inc., release its pro-business ranking, it gave Colgan its highest rating (here). Colgan also has a relatively good ranking on social issues. The Family Foundation gave Colgan the highest ranking of all the Democrats in the Virginia Senate (here). Richmond Sunlight provides a listing of Senator Colgan’s bills here.
Bob FitzSimmonds (R)
FitzSimmonds is up front. On his website, he provides unequivocal position statements on the issues that most concern Virginia voters. FitzSimmonds also provides clear message for the news media. For example, one of FitzSimmonds major issues is transportation. FitzSimmonds thinks the state should pay up (here).
FitzSimmonds faces challenges in the race against an incumbent who has pleased constituents by sending home money to fund community colleges, labs at George Mason University and other social programs.
But the 54-year-old FitzSimmonds said new residents in the growing 29th District shouldn’t worry about his opponent’s record.
They should worry, however about their 90-minute commutes to work and what the state is doing about them, he said.
“We need an advocate in Richmond. Currently no one is speaking up for us,” FitzSimmonds said. “The most important first step is to have a senator stand up in the Senate and say ‘it’s not fair that Prince William gets 46 cents back on the dollar’ ” for road projects.
“I blame Chuck Colgan for that,” he said.
Although he acknowledged it an uphill battle, FitzSimmonds said he would work to change the formula used to divvy the state’s transportation money to Northern Virginia.
Another View
Virginia Virtucon has also provided a candidate comparison here.
