Madison's Scott could face primary challenge

Three-term incumbent Del. Edward T. Scott, R-Madison County, may be facing a primary challenge this spring from a fellow Republican.
Tom S. Underwood, 38, a member of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, has filed papers with the State Board of Elections to explore a possible bid against Scott in the June 9 GOP primary.

“I like Ed,” Underwood said. “He lives less than 3 miles from me. I get along with him. Plus, we’re in the same party. But I’m finishing up my first year on the Board of Supervisors and it’s showed me the limitations of what we can accomplish because of the General Assembly. If I was in that job, I think I could be effective.”
Underwood owns a cattle and land company that straddles northern Madison County and western Culpeper. Prior to moving to the area eight years ago, Underwood was head of e-commerce for Legg Mason and a hotel industry analyst for priceline.com.
Underwood said he sees himself as more fiscally conservative than Scott, adding that he generally opposes tax increases, but particularly in economic downturns.
“I think I’m the only member of the local board who has not voted for tax increases,” he said. “Of course, I’ve only been on the board for a year.”

Within the next two months, Underwood plans to make a decision about challenging Scott for the GOP’s nomination for the 30th District seat of the House of Delegates. The Republican-leaning district includes the counties of Culpeper, Madison and most of Orange.
“I believe I’m capable of being effective in Richmond. The question is, do others support me?” he said. “I’m am leaning towards [running]. I’m looking at it. I’m considering it.”
Scott has heard that Underwood is considering a challenge, but he said he is focused on the upcoming General Assembly session, in which lawmakers will try to find a way to close a $2.9 billion budget shortfall.
If Underwood does run, Scott said he will run on his conservative credentials and his record in Richmond.

“I will run on my record. I will defend my record as the representative for Culpeper, Madison and Orange, and the commonwealth as a whole,” he said. “I don’t worry about labels, but by any reasonable measure, if you look at my record, I am a conservative.”
Taking on an incumbent Republican is not out of character for Underwood. Last year, Underwood unseated John Coates, also a Republican, for the Salem District seat on the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors. Coates is now chairman of the county’s Republican Party. Coates did not return a call for comment.
John Tucker, chairman of the Madison County Republicans, said he is skeptical that Underwood will run because Scott is popular and has consistently won the district with sizable margins.

“Ed Scott hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s done a wonderful job,” Tucker said. “I think Underwood’s maybe wasting his time.”
Scott has beaten back GOP primary challenges in the past. In 2005, former pastor Mark Jarvis ran against Scott primarily because Scott was one of 17 House Republicans who supported former Gov. Mark R. Warner’s tax increases a year earlier. Scott crushed Jarvis in the primary, winning with nearly 65 percent of the vote.
Turnout is historically low in most primary elections, in which any registered voter may participate. In the last 30th District GOP primary, for example, only 13 percent of registered voters cast a ballot.
On June 9, there will be no statewide race to draw Republican voters to the polls in large quantities, as Attorney General Bob McDonnell is unopposed for the GOP’s nomination in the governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is unopposed for his party’s nomination for re-election, and the Republicans’ attorney general candidate will be chosen at a convention May 29 and 30.