Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up|ABC 7 News

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Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up

posted 5:25 pm Fri October 26, 2007 - Fairfax, Va.

tags: davis • devolites • jeannemarie • chap

The Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney is looking into whether a recent campaign flyer from state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax) went too far.

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ABC 7 News - Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up

The flyer contains the home address and phone number for her opponent, Democrat Chap Peterson, and his kids' names.

Peterson held a news conference with Commonwealth Attorney Ray Morrough and a Fairfax County police officer, accusing Devolites Davis of endangering his family.

"My family's safety is paramount to me. The thought that our personal information would be disclosed to 60,000 strangers and done so in an attack ad meant to incite hatred of me is shocking," said Peterson.

Some Fairfax County voters agreed with Peterson. "Absolutely not. They're not the ones who are running; the adults are running," said Matthew Larson. "So why would you be putting the children's information on an ad?"

Domenic Dilullo/ Fairfax County Resident

"It's personal; it's their private information, it should stay that way, said Domenic Dilullo. "It should stay out of politics, that's their own personal business.

But Devolites Davis points out the Petersen's home address and phone number can be easily be found on the Internet and in election filings. She also says Petersen put his family in play when he sent out a flyer talking about his kids' activities - noting his daughter's gymnastics lessons and hockey matches.

"If you're going to serve in public office, you're going to fill these forms out and they are available to everybody," said Devolites Davis. "They are not private information - they are available to any person who wants to see them."

Devolites Davis, meantime, accuses Petersen of posting a video on YouTube, discussing the time her daughter spent in prison. The Petersen campaign denies any involvement with the YouTube posting.

The race in the 34th Senate district has been particularly heated this election season, with a flurry of television ads and mailings.

Latest Comment on Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up

JTSpangler

12:29 am on 10/27/07

The information in the ad is publicly available, but republication makes it easier for low-tech criminals to use it against her opponent or his family. Republication is not criminal, and attacking the ad with a Commonwealth's Attorney standing by is questionable, but the ad raises legitimate questions about Davis' judgment and control of her campaign operatives.

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