Rep. Thomas Davis’ moderate reputation and penchant for bucking party orthodoxy on social issues helped Republicans defy the 11th District’s leftward shift for nearly 14 years.
But with Davis’ departure, the GOP has placed its hopes for retaining the wealthy suburban district in Keith Fimian, a businessman whose conservative Christian ties clash with his would-be constituency’s liberal trend.
An analysis of Fimian’s recent donors shows he’s collected more than $100,000 from dozens of members — or relatives of those members — of Legatus, a national organization of Catholic business executives created by Domino’s Pizza founder and pro-life activist Tom Monaghan. Fimian reports taking in more than $1.3 million by the end of June. Legatus is based in Ave Maria, Fla., a planned religious community also co-founded by Monaghan, who drew protests from civil libertarians when he reportedly outlined plans to ban pornography and contraception from the town’s stores.
While Fimian, also a member of the Legatus board of governors, makes no attempt to hide his association with the group, it could prove problematic in a district that has voted less and less faithfully Republican in recent years. He is running against Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly, a powerful Democrat.
Fimian said he’s pro-life and universally opposes the death penalty, but declined to elaborate on views on other social issues, arguing they are irrelevant to the 11th District.
“The issues that matter in this district are the economy, energy and transportation, to a lesser extent, immigration,” he said. “There are some really important issues that we got to solve as a country.”
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, a Republican, called Fimian “a business conservative.” He disputed that 11th District is moving to the left, but is instead temporarily soured by President Bush’s low approval ratings and the nationwide decline of the Republican brand. University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato disagreed: the 11th is shifting Democratic, and Fimian’s link with Monaghan and Legatus “couldn’t help” his chances against Connolly.
“The 11th is socially liberal,” Sabato said. “That’s where the change in the party is occurring. It’s not on the fiscal issues; most residents in the 11th remain fiscally conservative. They have become alienated from the Republican base because of its social conservatism.”
Stewart said he expects Connolly to use social issues to “distract voters.”
Legatus, as an organization, neither endorses candidates nor contributes to their campaigns, said Executive Director John Hunt.
“Individual contributions by people who may be members of Legatus certainly doesn’t constitute an endorsement by Legatus,” he said.
