A familiar ring in the 20th

Having been ridded of an opponent openly carrying three deadly political weapons – skill, reputation and incumbency – Erik Curren can resume meditation on something familiar to his kind, dim prospects in the state House 20th District race. He faces an authentic foe, rather than the faux brand formed by his forays into Buddhism and brandished against him by the sort of partisan friend who makes one relish enemies.

Chased away is the transient euphoria evoked among Democrats by Barack Obama’s victory and fine showing in the central Shenandoah Valley last fall. Back is what for blues is a more constant and unpleasant reality, that being a Democrat in these parts can be a sure ticket to second place. That is where Curren was expected to finish until Chris Saxman withdrew.

As Republicans wondered over whom they should send to replace their rising star, Curren briefly savored sudden hope before fellow Democrat Tracy Pyles, the outspoken Augusta County supervisor, raised the specter of Curren’s mixed religion (he attends a Methodist church but practices Buddhism). Underneath this rolled the swift undercurrent of a problem that never rolled away. Curren is still not a Republican, making him vulnerable even before a new opponent rose in Saxman’s stead.

That the opponent is Dickie Bell, the Staunton councilman selected Monday by the GOP’s 20th District Legislative Committee, does little to improve Curren’s chances. During a forum, Bell echoed Thoreau along with a sentiment that throbs in the Valley. “I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs the least,” Bell said. By all accounts, Bell’s 13 years on the council have reflected this thinking.

Curren sees green jobs – presumably provided by government spending – as lighting the path out of the current economic darkness. Bell sees reduced regulation and taxes, both spurring private spending, as essential. In other words, both candidates firmly trace party lines. In addition, Bell, reflecting the Valley and Saxman, clings to bedrock social conservative values, subjects that Curren avoids.

A subject that neither candidate will be able to avoid is transportation. Curren lifts from the ashes discussion of a so-called rail solution to heavy truck traffic on Interstate 81. This is a solution like buying that brand-new Mercedes to replace the broken-down Buick. If the financing plan is to await the descent of cash from the heavens, the idea is probably a clunker. Money from the skies might be the only hope to pay for a rail alternative to I-81.

Bell so far has spoken principally of auditing the Virginia Department of Transportation, a good idea but not a transportation plan. We’ll be watching anxiously to learn how both candidates will respond to a far thornier problem: how to unclog traffic in Northern Virginia while preserving the interests of constituents in the central Valley? And what of privatizing local rest stops? Local Republicans so far have resisted this, a thing we don’t quite understand except for the obvious answer, that it assuages locals.

For Curren, beyond all of this lies a still larger question. How can he carve inroads against an opponent who, while lacking Saxman’s star power, stands close to him on key issues and possesses a conservative record to demonstrate that the positions are not mere talk? Curren bills his campaign as about offering “effective, moderate representation on the state level aligned with the real values of our area.”

Saxman’s ease in winning four straight terms indicates voters were satisfied with the representation he provided. Bell figures to mirror Saxman. Curren must not only show contrasts, but show these are contrasts voters want. This is a challenge Curren has yet to meet. If he does not soon, the results three months from now will be familiar even if a different name rises to the top of the polls.