Recent Mentions on Blogs

bearingdrift.com: Hampton Roads delegation split on RPV chair

May 11, 2008
There were several notable exceptions from the GOP-Hampton Roads Delegation on display from current RPV Chair John Hager?s endorsement list ? among them Dels. Terrie Suit and Sal Iaquinto of Virginia Beach. Also, interesting enough, is Del. John Cosgrove of Chesapeake was listed to be supporting Hager, but his legislative aid, Christie Craig, has been an outgoing proponent for Frederick. Other members of the Hampton Roads delegation supporting Hager: Chris Jones, Bob Tata and Bob Purkey and...

bearingdrift.com: For state judges ? its all politics

April 24, 2008
To become a judge you apparently have to know somebody ? just not be related. In a rather odd case, Del. Tom Gear?s (R) sister, Kathy Gear-Owens, was the Senate Democrats compromise candidate so that three of their picks would make it to the Hampton courts without much of a fight. Somebody didn?t tell Senate Republicans about this compromise because not even 8 of them would join 12 Democrats and rally to the cause to support the so-called ?compromise candidate.? So, what happened when news ca...

Raising Kaine The Voice of Progressive Virginia : Tom Gear for Treasurer?

March 21, 2008
Is this the kind of person you'd want as your Treasurer? Del. Tom Gear, a Hampton Republican, is flirting with a run for city treasurer... [...] It's a curious turn for a state lawmaker who was dubbed "the deadbeat delegate" by an opponent on the campaign trail in 2005 because of his consistent trouble paying taxes on time. In fact, Gear has had even fresher run-ins - after he bounced a check last December for his personal property and real estate taxes. Gear is no stranger to tax collectors...

notlarrysabato.typepad.com: Bizarre Rumor in Richmond

March 4, 2008
Multiple sources are telling me that Delegate Tom Gear is under investigation by the State Police. As the rumor goes, Gear reported his car stolen to the police, and it was later discovered in the possession of his bookie. Apparently the car had been used to pay off gambling debts. It's a felony to file a false police report. However, no member of the General Assembly can be arrested during session, so if this rumor is true, Gear is in the clear until at least this weekend. Again, this is ...

Reagan´s GOP: The Tom Gear & Marty Williams judicial roadblock continues without Williams

March 2, 2008
What?s the big story in Virginia politics? Below the noise of the Supreme Court nixing transportation plans and budget battles looming large, the unreported story has been the battle of appointing judges. Unreported until today. A few dramas are in other cities (Virginia Beach?s fight over a City Attorney that has Democrats offering to appoint Republicans, and Republicans thinking of saying no?that?s a story in and of itself). But the Daily Press? story of the battle between Marty Williams a...

Recent Mentions in the Media

Daily Press: Judicial vote

May 3, 2008
Marty Williams and Del. Tom Gear on the appointment of Gear's sister, Kathy Gear Owens, to a judgeship, I'd like to make the following proposal: Let the ...

The Virginian-Pilot: Governor gives lawmakers leeway to fill judicial posts

May 1, 2008
Meanwhile, the House of Delegates scuttled three Hampton judicial candidates when the Senate didn't name Kathy G. Owens, sister of Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, ...

Daily Press: Judge episode called 'political vindictiveness' against Gear

April 27, 2008
The nominee, Kathy Gear Owens, was a part of fragile agreement on judges between House of Delegates Republicans ? who include her brother Tom Gear of ...

Daily Press: For whom might the HRBT toll? Quite possibly, for thee!

April 27, 2008
It needs to get accelerated." Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, has argued for years that any regional plan must include the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

Daily Press: Not to sound judgmental, but the system's broken

April 25, 2008
One notable exception was Hampton Del. Tom Gear, who managed to feud year after year over nominees even with his own local GOP colleagues.

• HB826
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: Left in Transportation
  
  : Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; expanding Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel first tier project.
• HB827
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0302)
  
  : State Lottery Department; powers of Director and Board.
• HB828
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: Left in Transportation
  
  : Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; removes York County & Cities of Hampton & Poquoson.
• HB829
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: Left in Transportation
  
  : Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; abolishes Authority, taxes, etc., dedicated to operation.
• HB908
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0134)
  
  : Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores on Sunday.
• HB1353
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: Stricken from docket by General Laws
  
  : Fire Prevention Code; prohibits locality from restricting manufacture, etc. of permissible firework.
• HB1356
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: Stricken from docket by General Laws
  
  : Lottery Department; lottery sales agents.
• HB1401
  Introduced: January 10, 2008
  Status: Stricken from docket by Health, Welfare and Institutions
  
  : Child support; administrative fees.
• HB1402
  Introduced: January 10, 2008
  Status: Stricken from docket by Transportation
  
  : Driver's license; provision of foreign language interpreter for applicant.
• HB1525
  Introduced: January 18, 2008
  Status: Continued to 2009 in Courts of Justice
  
  : Infectious animal diseases; scrapie regulations for goats and sheep.
• HB1537
  Introduced: January 18, 2008
  Status: Left in General Laws
  
  : Simulcast horse racing; redefines to include live or pre-recorded races.

• HB890
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Science and Technology
  
  : Motor vehicle insurance; policies on access to recorded data, penalty.
• HB891
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Science and Technology
  
  : Data recorders; personal property of owner of vehicle.
• HB1607
  Introduced: January 24, 2006
  Status: Left in Health, Welfare and Institutions
  
  : Phenylketonuria; special foods for management thereof.
• HB2637
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0295)
  
  : Alcoholic beverage control; creates limited mixed beverage restaurant licenses.
• HB2638
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0126)
  
  : Alcoholic beverage control; clarifies outdoor dining areas for mixed beverage restaurant license.
• HB2639
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: Assigned GL sub: #1 Housing (Suit)
  
  : Redevelopment and Housing Authority; limit on number of local governing body members who may serve.
• HB2640
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0296)
  
  : Inoperable vehicles; prohibits imposition of local vehicle license taxes and fees thereon.
• HB2641
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: Impact statement from TAX (HB2641)
  
  : Real estate tax; exemptions for elderly and disabled, indexing income limits.
• HB2642
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0875)
  
  : Subaqueous land; Marine Resources Commission to convey certain S&S Marine Supply in Hampton.
• HB3146
  Introduced: January 19, 2007
  Status: Left in Courts of Justice
  
  : Attorney, State; duty to provide copies of police reports.
• HB3147
  Introduced: January 19, 2007
  Status: Assigned ACNRsub: Agriculture (Orrock)
  
  : Cats and dogs; evidence by owner of inoculation or vaccination of rabies.
• HB3179
  Introduced: January 19, 2007
  Status: Left in Transportation
  
  : Toll facilities; provides for imposition and collection thereof for certain highways.
• HB3180
  Introduced: January 19, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0707)
  
  : Fort Monroe; Governor to convey property to Fort Monroe Federal Development Authority.
• HJ102
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rules
  
  : Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel; joint subcommittee to study selling or leasing to private operator.
• HJ689
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : Fort Monroe National Park; National Park Service to study feasibility of creating.
• HJ690
  Introduced: January 10, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : Fort Monroe; joint subcommittee to study future thereof.

• HB879
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Left in Courts of Justice
  
  : Self defense; justification of deadly force, when unlawful.
• HB880
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Incorporated by Finance (HB1153-Lingamfelter)
  
  : Income tax, state and sales and use tax; exemption for certain energy efficient products.
• HB890
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Science and Technology
  
  : Motor vehicle insurance; policies on access to recorded data, penalty.
• HB891
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Science and Technology
  
  : Data recorders; personal property of owner of vehicle.
• HB892
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Fiscal impact statement from DPB (HB892)
  
  : Higher education institutions; prohibiting admission of illegal aliens.
• HB893
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Left in Appropriations
  
  : Income tax, state; reimbursement for milage for private veh. used for traveling on state business.
• HB894
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Tabled in Commerce and Labor
  
  : Health insurance; mandated coverage for treatment of inborn errors of metabolism.
• HB895
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety
  
  : Concealed handguns; carrying in urban air carrier airport terminals.
• HB896
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0602)
  
  : Retail Sales & Use Tax; gratuities or service charges on meals excluded when calculating.
• HB897
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Left in Finance
  
  : Real estate tax; limitation on tax rate.
• HB898
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0664)
  
  : Sam's Restaurant; Governor to convey to Ocean Properties, LLC in downtown section of Hampton.
• HB899
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Tabled in Health, Welfare and Institutions
  
  : Detention process, temporary; transportation by sheriffs.
• HB900
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Passed by indefinitely in General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)
  
  : Redevelopment and Housing Authority; commissioners shall not be members of any governing body.
• HB1395
  Introduced: January 12, 2006
  Status: Passed by indefinitely in Transportation
  
  : Motorcycles; toll-free use of VDOT-controlled toll facilities.
• HB1484
  Introduced: January 19, 2006
  Status: Left in Finance
  
  : Retail Sales and Use Tax; payments by certain vendors.
• HB1607
  Introduced: January 24, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Health, Welfare and Institutions
  
  : Phenylketonuria; special foods for management thereof.
• HJ102
  Introduced: January 10, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rules
  
  : Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel; joint subcommittee to study selling or leasing to private operator.
• HJ5145
  Introduced: September 18, 2006
  Status: Left in Rules
  
  : Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel; VDOT to study cost of constructing two additional tunnel tubes.