Russ Potts Update

Not John Behan has coverage of the ever continuing Potts situation.
It is speculated within some GOP circles that Potts will take a job in the Kaine administration after the special session is over. The reasons for this are numerous and I will not get into them at this time.
Part of this speculation is that Jill Holtzman-Vogel has inside information on this and is already campaigning. Some think that her father's donations to Potts have set up an agreement that Potts will let Holtzman know what is going on before anyone else (to allow her the best chance to setup a campaign). To be fair; Bill Holtzman has given Potts $2450 between 1997 and 2004. Even so, I am very skeptical of him or Jill being in a deal with Potts. If anything, Potts would have a deal with a democrat before a Republican. Jill is probably just campaigning b/c she suspects a Potts resignation just like the rest of us. I would expect Mark Tate to begin to set his campaign plan up as well.

Another reason for people expecting a Potts retirement soon is that apparently John Chincester has contacted a few people in the Winchester/Frederick area about running a "moderate GOP" for Potts' seat. I have heard this with my own ears, so i think it is likely to be true. Kaine's secretary has been seen a few times in Potts' office with the door closed and Potts' LA has been circulating her resume lately. These also hint that something may be happening soon.

I personally think there is a tremendous amount of information to point to a Potts retirement after the session is over. I do think if he does not get an appointment he will stay in his seat, maybe even past 2007 (if he can survive another primary). Even so, I do not think he will be able to turn down this appointment. I fully expect someone other than Russ Potts to be the 27th district Senator in the 2007 session.

UPDATE: Morgan's Riflemen contributor Wild Turkey has this to say about the Russ Potts situation.