David Sherfinski
Articles by David Sherfinski
Freedom upheld for Virginia death-row inmate
A federal appeals panel has upheld a ruling vacating the death sentence for a Fairfax man widely believed to have been wrongfully convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme. Published August 16, 2012
Crossing convention aisles: Ex-Democrat Davis to speak at Tampa GOP gathering
Both Democrats and Republicans are continuing the hallowed tradition of hunting for prominent turncoats willing to speak at their upcoming conventions, with the GOP striking first on Thursday, awarding a prime speaking slot to a man who was one of President Obama's campaign co-chairmen in 2008. Published August 16, 2012
McDonnell announces near $450 million surplus
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Wednesday that better-than-expected revenues and unspent appropriations helped create a general fund budget surplus of nearly $450 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, bringing the total surpluses during Mr. McDonnell's tenure to nearly $1.4 billion. Published August 15, 2012
GOP Senate hopefuls split over Ryan’s prescription for Medicare reform
In selecting Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney put Republican Senate candidates across the country on the hot seat as they decide whether to support his budget that would dramatically overhaul Medicare or to distance themselves from their party's No. 2 man. Published August 14, 2012
Ryan pick gives Romney camp a jolt of energy
Newly minted vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan hit the stump this weekend with a level of energy that seemed to boost Mitt Romney's entire campaign, giving the presumptive nominee a much-needed change in the narrative while adding another high-profile fundraiser and campaigner to deploy across the country. Published August 12, 2012
Romney rolls out Ryan as vice presidential choice at Virginia stops
Mitt Romney and his newly-announced running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, closed out their Saturday barnstorming of Virginia at a Manassas rally that attracted more than 8,000 people on a day that appeared to give the former Massachusetts governor a much-needed pep in his step. Published August 11, 2012
Police group backs Allen; credit unions go with Kaine
When groups like Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform endorse a Republican candidate or organizations like the AFL-CIO endorse a Democrat, it generally doesn’t rate much more than a raised eyebrow. But U.S. Senate candidates George Allen and Tim Kaine touted endorsements Friday from two groups that don't have quite the ironclad history of toeing the party line in Virginia in recent years. Published August 10, 2012
Davis eyes Virginia lieutenant governor run
Former Northern Virginia lawmaker Jeannemarie Devolites Davis will explore a bid for lieutenant governor in 2013, adding another candidate to an already-crowded GOP field. Published August 9, 2012
Ron Paul backers fight effectively for GOP goals
The rest of the world may have moved on, but loyal followers of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas are still fighting a rear-guard — and effective — battle for delegates at the state level with just weeks to go before Republicans gather for their national convention in Tampa, Fla. Published August 8, 2012
Goode ballot petitions in Virginia draw election board scrutiny
The Virginia State Board of Elections is asking Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II to investigate possible fraud on paperwork submitted by the presidential campaign of Constitution Party candidate and former Congressman Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia, who some predict could serve as a spoiler for Mitt Romney in the critical swing state. Published August 7, 2012
Romney’s July cash haul brightens GOP mood
Erasing all doubts about his fundraising abilities, Mitt Romney on Monday announced that he and his allies raked in $100 million for the second straight month, again topping President Obama and handing the Republican a much-needed public relations boost as he prepares to accept his party's presidential nomination this month. Published August 6, 2012
Election set to be most expensive in history
The 2012 election cycle is projected to be the most expensive in United States history — much to the chagrin of campaign finance and good government advocacy groups wary of the increasing influence of special interests and cash in the American political system. Published August 2, 2012
Romney to Reid on tax accusations: ‘Put up or shut up’
Mitt Romney on Thursday directly addressed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's insinuation that the former Massachusetts governor didn't pay any taxes for 10 years, telling the Nevada Democrat to put his money where his mouth is. Published August 2, 2012
Va. man appeals to Supreme Court over DUI conviction
A man convicted of drunken driving in Alexandria is taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging an unprecedented ruling in March from Virginia's highest court that someone drunk behind the wheel of a car parked on a public road with a key in the ignition is now automatically guilty of drunken driving. Published August 1, 2012
Allen points up local impact of defense cuts
U.S. Senate candidate George Allen donned a state-of-the-art, heat-activated cooling vest and made his way around the offices of a small defense contractor in Northern Virginia on Tuesday, highlighting an example of a business already being impacted by looming federal defense cuts that have fast become a political flashpoint. Published July 31, 2012
GOP closing ranks to defend Romney
It had been mere hours since Mitt Romney angered Palestinians by saying Israel's culture was part of the reason the country has prospered. But that didn't stop former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, previously one of Mr. Romney's most bitter rivals in the Republican presidential primaries, from rushing to his defense Monday. Published July 30, 2012
Virginia posts surplus for third straight year, this time $129M
Virginia is closing its books in the black for the third consecutive year, raking in $129 million more than the state projected for the fiscal year that ended June 30, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Monday. Published July 30, 2012
Pace of new voters poses problem for Obama camp
President Obama did a spectacular job in 2008 of registering and turning out tens of thousands of new Virginia voters — but the pace of registrations this year has dropped precipitously ahead of his re-election bid. Published July 30, 2012
Romney hits suspect voter mailings
Mitt Romney's campaign has asked Virginia Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli to launch an investigation into a nonprofit group's mailing of voter registration materials to ineligible voters in the state -- including cats, dogs, infants and, yes, the dead. Published July 25, 2012
Crossroads’ ad takes sides, says watchdog
A government watchdog group has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Crossroads GPS, the conservative advocacy group affiliated with the super PAC American Crossroads, over an ad the organization is running on several U.S. Senate candidates, including Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine. Published July 25, 2012
