Oversight committee hopefuls enter the spotlight

The announcement by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Tom Davis, R-Va., that he will not seek re-election will have multiple political repercussions, creating opportunities on the committee and in Davis' district while removing a lawmaker unusually engaged in details of government operations.

Davis said Wednesday he will return to the private sector rather than seek an eighth term. The move ends months of speculation that, after deciding against a Senate run, the former Republican National Congressional Committee chairman would be unenthused by the prospect of a long stretch in the minority.

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., appears to have an inside track to replace Davis as the top Republican on the Oversight committee.

Previously passed over for the role, Shays this fall leveraged his narrow 2006 re-election. He said that if he was not made ranking member, he would not run again, a step that would likely throw the seat to a Democrat. Republican leaders have since told Shays he would get the job if Davis departs, House sources said.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif, said he "very much would like" the position, though he lacks seniority.

"Is there a contest going on? Sure," Issa said. "But Chris is senior to me and he has been doing this a long time."

Davis' decision gives Democrats a prime pickup opportunity in the moderate 11th District. Three popular Virginia Democrats -- Gov. Tim Kaine, former Gov. Mark Warner and Sen. Jim Webb -- all carried the district. President Bush in 2004 beat Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 50-49 percent in the district.

A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman said Democrats have a "very strong field of candidates." Former Rep. Leslie Byrne, who Davis unseated in 1994, has begun raising money for a run.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly has raised funds for an exploratory committee and is expected to formally enter the race soon. While Byrne and Connolly have yet to file fundraising reports, 11th District Democratic Party Chairman George Burke said both have raised over $100,000.

Other Democratic candidates in the race include physical therapist Lori Alexander and former Navy officer Doug Denneny.

In the GOP field, Davis called businessman Keith Fimian a possible successor. The founder of a home inspection service, Fimian, had $656,192 cash on hand at the end of 2007.

Former Fairfax School Board member Steve Hunt has circulated petitions to be on the primary ballot, said District Republican Party Chairwoman Becky Stoeckel. Other possible candidates include U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton, state Del. Tim Hugo and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.

Stoeckel said the district GOP committee will meet in the next week to decide if the nominee will be picked via convention or primary.

Davis' district is the wealthiest in the country and is the home of many lobbyists, federal officials and government contractors.

In his 14 years in the House, Davis, a former lawyer and executive for a Virginia-based contractor, has often focused on government operations issues closely watched by his constituents. He has pushed to streamline federal procurement processes, sought increased telecommuting at federal agencies and championed a law governing how federal agencies assess the security of IT systems.