NEWPORT NEWS
A statewide Republican tide was not enough to save embattled Del. Phil Hamilton from defeat Tuesday.
Ensnared in an ongoing ethics scandal, the Newport News Republican lost the House seat he has held for two decades to Democratic challenger Robin Abbott, a well-funded political neophyte.
Speaking to a subdued crowd of supporters, Hamilton was philosophical.
“I’ve always said it is the voters’ seat, it’s not any individual’s seat,” he said. “For 21 years the voters made what I thought was an outstanding choice. Today the voters changed their minds. And that’s something that the voters have the opportunity to do.”
He wished Abbott good luck and added, “Phil Hamilton is not going away. He’s been here his whole life. He’s not going to run and hide.”
Later , he attributed his loss more to the changing demographics of his district than to his ethics troubles.
Abbott, however, called the scandal a “major factor” in the outcome. As she campaigned , she said, many voters expressed “sadness and disappointment” in Hamilton. “At times it was difficult to stay focused on my own campaign,” she said. “I think it’s clear we need some kind of ethical reform.”
Hamilton, a member of the House since 1988, is a senior member of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. He became the target of investigations by a House ethics panel and a federal grand jury over the summer after revelations that he was angling for a job at Old Dominion University in 2007 while he was securing the state appropriation that funded the position.
ODU canceled Hamilton’s $40,000-a-year contract in August after the details of the deal became known. An internal audit found little documentation of any services he provided for the money.
Both investigations are continuing.
A semi-retired teacher and school administrator, Hamilton still works part time for the Newport News school system. He has apologized for failing to avoid the “appearance of impropriety” but says he broke no law. He resisted calls from Democrats and some Republicans, including Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, to step down from his seat .
Abbott, a consumer rights attorney in Newport News, is a midlife law-school graduate. This was her first run for office.
Together, the two candidates spent close to $1 million battling for a $17,640-a-year job.
Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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Hey give'm a break...
It's tough providing mommy's martinis and expenses.
Well, darling Kim, time to dry out. December 13 is Phil's last day as a delegate. Early next semester will be about right for Miss Kim. She's outlived her usefulness.
Response to Viewpoint 2
With all due respect, I am not sure the ODU president was in on this "at the time." You're right - he learned about it and probably wanted to keep it quiet. Still, other people at ODU knew about it, and got off scot-free.
Corruption
If Phil Hamilton broke no laws as he asserts, then we need new laws. This is pure corruption. No legislator should be able to write a law that creats a paid position for himself like Phil did. General Assembly ethics standards need to be toughened to keep this from ever happening again. Clearly the ODU president shares some culpability here too, and he needs to be held accountable perhaps the same way voters held Phil Hamilton accountable. Simply put, Phil Hamilton was fired yesterday by his Board of Directors--the voters in his district. Public service needs honest men and women and there is absolutely no place for corruption. This type of sweethart arrangement erodes confidence and encourages cynicism in goverment.
Bye Bye Phil
Phil Hamilton did nothing wrong. He will be exonerated by the federal grand jury investigating him. The voters said goodbye though.
Here's the problem. He is just ONE of MANY doing the same thing across the commonwealth. The citizen-voters are returning the same people who are "paying to play" back to Richmond. Then those same folk sound shocked when the VP editorializes about "ethics" laws.
Virginia, until your citizens UNDERSTAND what is happening and how they are complicit in these "lapses", you will continue to get the Phil's, Tommy's, Louise's, and Paula's of Hampton Roads. Look at the incumbents going back. We're collectively doomed.
The problem is not what they are doing. It's that the people let them do it. This is not a party issue, it's a legislature and legal issue.
Keep play to pay I say, just like Illinois, then your elected official can make out even more.
And Phil, thanks for your decades of hard work. Sorry you got caught by those foolish voters who don't know any better.
Bye.
Hopefully this will be a trend
Hopefully this will start a trend and send a wake-up call to all politicians in Virginia. There is such a thing as conflict of interest, you'd better be aware of it and be prepared to pay the price when you violate it.
Hamilton/ODU
Hamilton was voted out, but the ODU cohorts are still there - can we vote them out, too?
Not a job for a novice
She will get very little done because unfotunately it takes a crooked politician to get anything done.
tip of the iceberg
they're all crooks.....both sides of the aisle....."I want to be elected to help you" is and always has been a fairy tale
from a card carrying republican
Hamilton got what he deserved. Live up to the party values.
Right outcome
I am a Conservative. As such I believe in the rule of law. Hamilton needed to go.
REPLY Right Outcome
So does his picture on the front page every day. I am tired of seeing it. LOL
Photo
One of the future shots will have some numbers under his chin.
Finally!
Justice served through voting constituents. Just gives me goose pimples! Ah...merica!
Hamilton
For a deal to be made, someone has to "pay." Politicians should worry about what they do for money, but the people paying that money should also be accountable. Mr. Hamilton was not the only one who had a lapse in judgment. Senority is a big deal in politics, and the peninsula just lost two decades of support. Some trade-off.
The heat is on Virginia politicians
who, "legally" or not, feather their nests by using their influence. I'm betting there's a heap of uncomfortable squirming going on all over Virginia this morning. Also, watch for some subtle back-tracking and covering of tracks as some of them divest and extricate themselves from very similar situations.
I think justice was served here
Anyone think we'll ever see the day when the Left holds their side accountable, especially at the Federal level?
When are people are people going to realize
When are people going to realize that our representatives of both the left and the right are human and equally susceptable to vices?
Where conservatives get themselves into trouble is their 'holier than thou' attitude and Bible thumping along with all the talk about 'family values'. When people start saying things like that, others expect more of them, and when they don't uphold to it, they REALLY get slammed.
If you take an honest look back at the history of it, Democrats have gone after their people who have violated laws just as harshly as Republicans. Both sides only go after them once they figure out they can't cover up what they did.
Midlife?
" MIDLIFE "? Would that term apply to men or is it sexist?
Hamilton's loss
The most important point in the article is the last line about how much money was spent. The little man doesn't have a chance except to work behind the scenes and hope for the best! Low voter turn out is the proof and result.
Was it worth it?
Phil, was it worth $40K to lie, deny and cover up in order to lose your standing in the community not to mention your powerful, coveted position in the House of Delegates? Selling your soul
to the tune of $40K hardly seems like such a good idea today as you stand with your hat handed to you by your constituents. Unlike you, your constituents still have the ability to recognize right from wrong. You held the public's trust and you violated it. Congratulations to those who were willing to take a stand and to vote you and your dirty politics out of office. I commend those who stood against your type of politics.