At inauguration, McDonnell fires up local Republicans

RICHMOND, Va. -- There wasn't as much crimson as one might find at a Washington Capitals game, considering the team's "Rock the Red" slogan, but that was the hue of the moment Saturday.

"It's a red day," said Mary Jo Rigby, president of the Bull Run Republican Women's Club.

That's because Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell was inaugurated as Virginia's 71st governor in front of a Capitol Square crowd that included several Prince William area faces.

"I can't remember being so energized," said Rigby, who was wearing an elephant pendant and a button that said, "Ask me about Republican women." "It's just the most exciting time for our Republicans."

Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter was excited even before the festivities began in earnest on the fairly warm winter's day that also saw William T. "Bill" Bolling sworn in as lieutenant governor and Ken T. Cuccinelli II as attorney general.

The Woodbridge Republican was weathering a dreadful cold, but that didn't temper his enthusiasm.

"Aren't you just having the time of your life?" he asked Cessie Howell, wife of House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford County. "I feel like I'm at a fair."

Of course, Lingamfelter and his wife, Shelley, probably would have been glad to be at the inauguration even if Democratic state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds had defeated McDonnell in November.

That's because their son, Paul, marched in the inaugural parade. He's a sophomore at Virginia Military Institute and the second Lingamfelter son to participate in an inauguration in this way.

John Lingamfelter, now a lieutenant in the Air Force, marched in former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's inaugural parade four years ago while a VMI cadet.

A retired Army colonel, Del. Lingamfelter co-chaired a McDonnell veterans coalition during last fall's campaign, and he essentially prefaced a portion of the new governor's inaugural address minutes before the speech.

The lawmaker shook hands with every capitol and state police officer with whom he came in contact.

"Nobody ever thanks those guys, you know," he said.

Then, to wit, McDonnell's charge:

"I urge every Virginian to take every opportunity to thank a man or woman in a law-enforcement or military uniform for the preservation of our freedoms."

Donna Widawski, meanwhile, was taken with a passage from McDonnell's speech about limited government and federalism, topics that have come up recently in light of health care reform.

"The Founders recognized that the government closest to the people governs best," the former state attorney general said.

Widawski said the man now known as "his excellency" is honest and exhibits integrity.

"Bob McDonnell is the real deal," said Widawski, who lives in Dominion Valley near Haymarket.

Former state Senate candidate Bob FitzSimmonds pointed out that McDonnell championed performance pay for teachers in a part of the inaugural address that also mentioned charter schools and President Barack Obama's support for both.

"I think it was a good, solid speech," said the Bristow resident, who plans to run for GOP nomination for Senate again next year.

Tito Munoz, a Prince William County Republican who gained national fame as "Tito the Builder" during the 2008 presidential campaign, noted a part of McDonnell's speech that proposed reducing "burdensome taxation and regulation" of business.

He said 2009 was the first year he had to lay off employees and the first year his company lost money.

McDonnell should make good on his economic promises, Munoz said, "and if not, I'm going to push him."

Similarly, Del. Richard L. Anderson, who was elected in November, said he was encouraged by McDonnell's notion of getting the economy moving again.

"He put a lot of emphasis on opportunity," said Anderson, a Woodbridge Republican.

Near the beginning of his speech, McDonnell said that he had attended many inaugurations but that his seat at this one was the best he ever had.

Close behind, though, was the position Del. Jackson H. Miller scored.

He was near the top of the State Capitol portico, one seat away from the aisle. That meant he was able to shake McDonnell's hand as the new governor came by -- and that he was in several shots on television.

"I got like 50 texts in two minutes from people," said the Republican, who represents Manassas, Manassas Park and part of western Prince William.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.