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Our friends at Virginia Virtucon this morning relayed what appears to be an e-mail update to friends from former delegate and Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Jeff Frederick in which he announces that he is “actively considering” a run for the 36th district Virginia Senate seat currently held by liberal Democrat Toddy Puller. In the note, Mr. Frederick also announces the launch of his new web site and blog and plugs his new political action committee — Virginia’s Future PAC — dedicated to funding conservative Virginia legislative candidates. But the thrust of it is about his potential run for the General Assembly’s upper chamber:

Second, I have a bit of an announcement. Sort of.

To perhaps reduce some of the phone calls I’m getting from a number of folks, I wanted to let you know that I am actively considering running for the state Senate. Specifically, in the 36th district (current incumbent: Toddy Puller).

You know me as someone “who does what he says” and “says what he means”, so when I say we’re considering running, I mean it. Nothing more and nothing less; this is not some coy politician way of saying I’m running but I don’t want it public yet. The honest truth is that I’m on the fence (which is unusual for me). The fact is, as you might imagine, there are both pros and cons of such an undertaking of attempting to unseat an incumbent in a marginal (or just flat out tough gerrymandered) district; doing so in such a short timeframe; and reentering public life with three children under the age of 5.

But, for me it’s always been about serving and if God is lighting the path for me to contribute in this way, we’ll charge full speed ahead at the opportunity — and the challenge.

It would certainly be interesting campaign if Mr. Frederick enters it and quite a contrast in candidates’ philosophies. But despite the Democrat leanings of the district, no one should count out the former delegate should he run. After all, he won three terms in the House from a Democrat leaning district that went to the Dems in 2009 — a landslide Republican year and the year he did not seek re-election. So, he does know how to campaign. If he does run and win, the Virginia Senate most definitely will be a different place. Stay tuned.

The Valley Family Forum, a grassroots network chapter of The Family Foundation, will hold its 10th Annual Shenandoah Valley “Celebration of God and Country Dinner,” Friday, May 13, at 6:30 in Harrisonburg at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center. The keynote speaker is Bishop Earl Jackson, founder of Exodus Faith Ministries, the former Chaplain of The Family Foundation’s Pastors for Family Values, and current candidate for the U.S. Senate (see Virginia Virtucon). Bishop Jackson is a retired Marine and Harvard-educated attorney, and a popular speaker seen frequently on national cable news programs. Reservations are available now for complete tables or individual tickets. Each table seats eight at $25 per person. To make a reservation, e-mail the Forum at family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call Dean Welty at (540) 438-8966. Business sponsorships are also available at varying levels.

This has been around has been around a few weeks, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s pretty funny, if not surprising, considering the source. Democrat Lieutenant Governor hopeful Jody Wagner, party to former Governor Mark Warner’s underestimating tax revenues (creating the pretense for the largest tax increase in Virginia history) and to current Governor Tim Kaine’s overestimating tax revenues (causing complete budgetary havoc and the reason for the largest Rainy Day Fund raid in Virginia history), thinks Virginia owns a Lieutenant Governor’s mansion. (H/T Virginia Virtucon.) Perhaps the construction and maintenence costs are what threw off her budget projections.

Thinking about it further, she’d make the ideal running mate for Terry McAuliffe, who wore Carolina blue to a U.Va. game and who has a proven interest in The Family Foundation (yuk).

As one might expect, the state budget dominates state news today and will, most likely, from now and throughout the General Assembly’s short session, which commences January 14. We have it covered below, with a few political articles of interest thrown in, as well as an eye-popping commentary by Brian Kirwin from Bearing Drift. And, could there be an upset in the special election for Brian Moran’s recently resigned House seat in heavily liberal Alexandria? A Washington Post reporter says it’s possible.

News:

Kaine would double cigarette tax (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kaine expected to push for hike in cigarette tax (The Daily Press)

Kaine proposes cuts, cigarette tax increase (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Gov. Kaine to propose big cuts, doubling of cigarette tax (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Kaine’s budget plan is divulged (Roanoke Times)

Md., Va. Eye Even Deeper Cutbacks (Washington Post)

Richmonder eyes lieutenant governor race (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Lawmakers, Business Leaders Sound Alarm (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Legislators foresee tough fiscal future (Winchester Star)

Norfolk delegate to lead caucus (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Opinion/Analysis:

Bearing Drift on Patrick Muldoon’s LG campaign (Bearing Drift)

Tim Craig Sees Potential Upset In 46th Dist. Race (Virginia Virtucon)