The Virginian-Pilot
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Virginia Beach businessman Paul Hirschbiel announced Monday he is running as a Democrat for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District seat in 2012.
"I'm tired of the dysfunction that I see up there today," Hirschbiel said, referring to Washington. "I believe they should be working together.... They're forgetting about us people."
If he becomes the party nominee, Hirschbiel, owner of a Virginia Beach-based investment and consulting firm, Eden Capital, would face U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, a Republican. Rigell was elected in 2010 after defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Glenn Nye, who said earlier this month that he doesn't want a rematch.
The 2nd District includes Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton.
Hirschbiel who intends to campaign full time, said voters will have a clear choice.
"Scott is very much to the right. I am much more of a moderate. I'm a social progressive," Hirschbiel said, noting that he opposes the Republican budget plan, offered by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan and supported by Rigell, that calls for sweeping changes in entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Hirschbiel, 58, is making his first bid for elected office. He is a longtime contributor to political campaigns and assisted U.S. Sen. Mark Warner's administration during Warner's term as governor.
The lion's share of Hirschbiel's political contributions have been to Democrats, including Warner, Nye and former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, but he also has donated to several Republicans, according to records compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project and the Federal Election Commission. Among the GOP candidates he supported are former President George W. Bush in 1999, presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2007 and Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Hirschbiel said he felt that campaign donations helped gain access to people in power in his efforts to push for reforms in education and early-childhood issues.
"I'm pragmatic. I understand what you need to do to have a voice on certain issues," he said.
Hirschbiel is a Norfolk native but spent much of his early professional career in New York City, where he co-founded what is now Cornerstone Equity Investors. The firm invested early in several prominent firms including computermaker Dell.
After retiring in 1998, he moved to Virginia Beach and has been involved in business investments and early-childhood and education initiatives. In 1999, he and Warner helped found Envest Ventures, a Beach-based investment firm.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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Hirschbiel has my vote!
I wonder if he will be the only democrat to seek the seat? We could have a democratic primary for the 2nd district. Did Glenn Nye face a democratic primary? Hirschbiel seems good, I would prefer more of a progressive.. but at least he is not as far right as scott rigell. Rigell is not terrible, but my vote is going to whoever the most liberal candidate is. And as of right now, that would be mr. Hirschbiel. Hirschbiel 2012!
Moderate Progressive
He calls himself a moderate progressive. The term Progressive must have had its definition changed. Today, Progressives are the worst of the worst ... really Left-wing extremists. You know, like Nancy Pelosi, Hilary Clinton and the community organizer in charge.
Progressive
Having already demonized the word "liberal," Republicans start to work on the word "progressive."
That's OK, Republicans are doing enough to damage their brand on their own.
Well, Pelosi is a member of the
Congressional PROGRESSIVE Caucus. The CPC advocates "universal access to affordable, high quality healthcare," living wage laws, the right of all workers to organize into labor unions and engage in collective bargaining, the abolition of significant portions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, US participation in the Kyoto Accords, strict campaign finance reform laws, a complete pullout from the war in Iraq, a crackdown on corporate welfare and influence, an increase in income tax rates on upper-middle and upper class households, tax cuts for the poor, and an increase in welfare spending by the federal government. Looks pretty much like the far left to me.
why should he support only one parties candidates
So he gave money to some Republicans and some Democrats. That makes me more likely to go out and here what he has to say. Each side says they are right and if they had power everything would be fixed. Haven't seen it in 45 years. I don't want someone who votes as the party allows him to vote. I vote for someone who can make up their own mind and do what they think is right for the nation and our district. I vote for someone who has similar concerns as me. I do not vote extreme right or extreme left so that usually leaves me with no real candidate.
He is a perfect example of what is wrong with the
whole system and proudly trumpets the fact. Almost all those to the left of center and many to right consistently complain that the problem in DC is influence pedaling by the rich. But, because he is pedaling influence for the cause you find acceptable it seems as if you want to give him a pass and send him to DC. I just don't get it.
2nd district Republican operatives are at it today,
posing as Democrats in this forum. I suppose they can fool themselves into believing anything, the question is are most folks sophisticated enough to see through this charade?
Shhhh!
I'm hunting wabbits.
Ahh, my groupie has arrived
Wazzup?
Paul Hirschbiel is a Tax and Spend Liberal
All I know from 5 minutes of research is
a) that Paul Hirschbiel supported the largest tax increase in state
history
b) Apparently gave tens of thousands of dollars "in-kind" to Mark Warner for air fare (i.e, HE OWNS A PRIVATE JET)
c) AND enjoys dancing around stage in a black leotard.
Wow, he is going REAL far.