Beach businessman seeks GOP nod to run against Nye

By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 31, 2009

A Virginia Beach businessman and naval reservist is seeking the Republican nomination to run next year against U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Democrat.

Ben Loyola, owner of Loyal Enterprises, an engineering firm, on Thursday joined two other Republicans who want the nomination for the 2nd congressional District seat.

The district includes Virginia Beach, parts of Norfolk and Hampton, and Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore.

Loyola, 47, has lived in the Beach since 1984, is a captain in the Naval Reserve, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. "I'm greatly troubled by the direction our country is going," Loyola said in a prepared statement. "Government spending is out of control and we're launching new programs we can't pay for."

He joins two other s who want the GOP nomination: Beach businessman and former Marine Chuck Smith and Scott Rigell, founder and president of Freedom Automotive.

Other party members considering running include Beach Republican Chairman Kenny Golden; Ed Maulbeck, a retired Navy SEAL and defense contractor; and Bert Mizusawa, a brigadier general in the Army Reserves.

Republicans will likely choose their nominee by either a district convention or a primary next year. The winner will run in November 2010 against Nye, who defeated Republican incumbent Thelma Drake in November 2008.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com

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Keep Glenn Nye

Submitted by joshk_in_vb on Thu, 07/30/2009 at 11:07 pm.

I'm an independent voter. I vote for the candidate I trust. I have voted for candidates of both parties, even in the same election. Glenn Nye is the best we've seen since Rep. Pickett. He's a Democrat but represents the district's wishes well. We can't afford to keep electing new candidates. We've got one who represents us well. Eventually, he'll have some seniority in Congress and be able to work even harder for what we want.