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Democratic committee chairs in the three communities in the 8th House of Delegates District have taken the unusual step of throwing their support behind one candidate in next weeks party primary, Bryan Keele.

The move followed a May 26 Roanoke Times news story outlining how his opponent, Steve McBride, offered Keele a $1,500 campaign contribution to exit the race. Keele refused.

The winner of the June 13 House of Delegates primary will face Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, in the general election.

The three Democratic leaders said McBrides actions do not reflect Democratic Party values, said Susan Cloeter, chairwoman of the Roanoke County Democratic Committee.

For this reason, the Chairs of the Democratic committees in the Roanoke and New River Valleys are taking the unusual action of endorsing a candidate prior to a primary, Cloeter wrote in a news release. She was joined by Jenni Gallagher, Montgomery County committee chair, and Nathan Auldridge, Salem chair.

The Democratic Party of Virginia forbids local committees from endorsing, but allows party chairs to endorse.

McBride, a Salem resident, offered Keele $1,500 in campaign funds to exit the House race and run for a board of supervisors seat. Keele lives in Roanoke Countys Windsor Hills District, where voters will choose a member of the board of supervisors in the November election.

While offering bribes to candidates or elected officials is illegal, McBrides actions were likely lawful because neither he nor his opponent have secured their partys nomination.

I am not concerned about a few individuals who endorsed my opponent without speaking to me first, McBride said in a statement. The teacher and doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech cited his fundraising totals and an endorsement from Represent Roanoke Valley as signs of a successful campaign. The anti-corruption group understood the offer of campaign funds was an attempt at teamwork, McBride said, while calling himself a team player.

The party chairs did talk to McBride prior to the endorsement, Cloeter said.

Keele, an accountant and small business owner, said the endorsements were unexpected, but he had hoped the Democratic Party would have a strong response to McBrides offer.

The party chairs, theyve been neutral up to this point, but this is obviously a violation of ethics so they felt it necessary to speak out, he said.

A similar situation occurred in a Norfolk House of Delegates race this spring wherein party officials offered a House candidate $10,000 to exit the race and run for school board instead. A special prosecutor who reviewed the case decided last week not to press charges.

McBride and Keele will meet for their third and final debate Tuesday. The candidates will debate at 7 p.m. at the South County Library auditorium. Democrat and former congressional candidate Kai Degner will offer opening and closing statements at the event hosted by the Roanoke County Democratic Committee.

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Party chairs endorse Roanoke County Democrat after pay-to-go-away controversy - Roanoke Times