Keith Fimian
Encyclopedia
Keith Shawn Fimian is a businessman and politician
in Virginia
. He was the 2008 and 2010 Republican
nominee for . Fimian lost both elections, the first by 12%, and the second by 0.4%.
family, the Fimians moved frequently before settling in Virginia Beach when young Keith was nine years old.
Fimian attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
where he graduated with a B.B.A. degree in accounting. Fimian played on offense
as a fullback
for the school's football team. Following college, Fimian briefly played for the NFL's
Cleveland Browns
before being cut in August 1978.
, and worked for seven years as an auditor and accountant
during the 1980s. Fimian audited oilfield operations in Midland, Texas
for the international accounting firm Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. which later merged with the international accounting firm Klynveld Main Goerdeler to become KPMG
, one of the Big Four accounting firms, with headquarters based in the Netherlands. Fimian also worked for a year in the firm's executive offices in New York City.
In the 1980s, along with two other businessmen, he co-founded Radonics Co., which is now U.S. Inspect. The company has grown to become "the nation's largest provider of residential and commercial property inspection services." Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia
, the company manages a network of thousands of independent contractor
s across the country. Fimian is currently the chairman of the company. Fimian faced controversy over his corporation's federal tax lien
s for unpaid taxes, which he says were the fault of his company's independent contractors and the company soon paid the debt.
Fimian is a co-inventor and holds one United States patent, and notes that, if elected, he would be only the fourth patent holder in Congress. Fimian and three partners invented a radon detection device patent filed under an applicant name of record of "Gemini Research, Inc."
founder and philanthropist Tom Monaghan
. Fimian faced attacks from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
, which sent out mailings criticizing the group's "radical agenda" of opposition to abortion and contraception. Fimian and some Catholic leaders accused Connolly and the DCCC of religious bigotry, with one blog saying the mailings were "inflammatory and extremely anti-Catholic toward a group of business leaders who follow their faith."
He is an advisory board member of CatholicMil, a Catholic organization supporting members of the military
, their families, and military chaplains.
He is president of the Washington, D.C.-based Youth Leadership Foundation, a supplemental academic and character formation program serving disadvantaged youth in the nation's capital.
nominee Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Gerry Connolly
by more than ten points for the open seat held by Republican incumbent Tom Davis
.
Davis had represented since 1995. He announced on January 30, 2008 that he would not seek reelection to an eighth term, allowing other Republican candidates to run. Fimian announced his candidacy early in the year and, according to The Washington Post
, had raised over $1,200,000 as of June 2008. Over the entire election cycle, Fimian raised $1,995,215, spent $1,985,087, and ended his campaign with $10,127 cash on hand. Fimian raised significantly more money than Connolly in individual donations; 76% of all his fundraising came from individual donations.
Fimian was portrayed as too extreme for the district and was criticized in Connolly's campaign literature for being opposed to embryonic stem cell research and abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk. Other political opponents noted that the health insurance plans he offered to his own corporation's employees specifically exclude coverage for contraceptives and abortion services, even if the patient's life was at risk.
. Also running were Libertarian nominee David L. Dotson, Independent Green David William Gillis, Jr., and Independent Christopher F. DeCarlo. Fimian lost by 981 votes out of 226,951 votes cast, or 0.43%.
Pat Herrity, a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member and colleague of Connolly when he was on the board, announced his intent to challenge Connolly, setting up a primary. The race was described by the Washington Post as "one of the nastiest contests in the commonwealth," while the Washington Examiner
called it "unusually brutal." The race was significantly more heated than the primary in the neighboring 8th District
, where issues such as abortion
and gay marriage divided the two candidates. Fimian criticized Herrity relentlessly for his legislative record, accusing him of voting to raise taxes and being insufficiently conservative. Herrity said he was the only Republican who could beat Connolly and was accused by Fimian of spreading rumors about him, including the 1976 assault case.
Fimian defeated Herrity in the June 8, 2010 primary, winning 56% of the vote, with 35,890 votes cast.
promoted Fimian to be a GOP Young Gun in June 2010, which meant his campaign had hit certain targets for fundraising and other organizational indicators. As of September 30, 2010, Fimian had raised $2,197,60 while Connolly had raised $2,160,041. However, that includes $95,000 which Fimian contributed to his own campaign.
Terry McAuliffe
, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee
and candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia
in 2009
, said at a Connolly fundraiser that if Connolly loses his seat, "we [Democrats] will lose the House." Former congressman Tom Davis
, who held the seat until retiring in 2008, agreed, saying, "If they [Republicans] take my seat, they'll take the House." CNN
said the "rematch could set the tone on election night," especially since Virginia's polling places are among the first to close at 7:00 pm EST
. The National Journal
named it to a list of five House bellwether
s, noting the parallel to 1994, when a similar Republican wave
swept 11th District Rep. Leslie Byrne, a freshman Democrat, from office.
who praised Fimian as "100% pro-life." The conservative talk show host Mark Levin has given support to Fimian. Fimian has also picked up the endorsements of Republican
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor
, Delegate
Robert G. "Bob" Marshall
,
Prince William County Board of Supervisors chair Corey A. Stewart, and Prince William County Supervisor Mike May.
Fimian received support from members of the Tea Party movement
and attended a Northern Virginia Tea Party Patriots rally in the summer of 2009 at Connolly's congressional office. The Tea Party movement is targeting the 11th District for a conservative pickup. Northern Virginia political columnist Davon Gray wrote that the Tea Party "probably made a huge difference in Keith Fimian's nomination in the 11th congressional district."
Fimian was endorsed by FreedomWorks
PAC
after signing the Contract from America
.
which seeks "to elect pro-business candidates dedicated to keeping Virginia a great state for business by building a vibrant economy in every corner of the Commonwealth." The PAC had raised over $235,000 by its first Federal Election Commission
quarterly filing deadline on September 30, 2011, and had raised over $300,000 by its first state filing deadline on October 17, 2011. Fimian proceeded to give nearly $100,000 in PAC money to Republican candidates for the General Assembly
and local offices in the 2011 elections
, making contributions to 47 candidates (including the maximum $5,000 contribution to a dozen state Senate candidates).
in 2013
, saying, "I’m giving it thought. There are a lot of people who are encouraging me to do that, and I’m considering it."
, and proposes in his platform to tackle individual health care problems with "stand alone legislation". He estimates "most Americans like the coverage they have."
Fimian has made energy issues a central component of his political platform. He favors an expansion of offshore oil drilling where possible and has been interviewed about his energy policy positions by the news media. In response to a U.S. Department of Defense study concluding that drilling off Virginia's coastline would interfere with military activities and equipment covering 72% of the area, Fimian responded "so that still leaves one quarter" (for exploration and production), and suggested the use of directional drilling
to access deposits and the drilling of areas north of the "tidewater" areas where leases have been proposed.
Fimian has advocated for ratification of new free trade
agreements to spur economic growth. He believes in securing the southern border with Mexico while streamlining the immigration process, and a strong national defense.
On fiscal matters, he supports reducing federal spending through a federal balanced budget amendment
, has proposed privatizing social security, and abolishing the United States Department of Education
. He proposes simplifying the Internal Revenue Code
, and has also pledged to oppose any and all tax increases.
On constitutional issues, according to his website, he is pro-life
, opposes same-sex marriage
, and supports Second Amendment rights. Fimian is opposed to voting representation in Congress for District of Columbia residents Fimian encountered controversy when he was asked about the idea of repealing the Seventeenth Amendment
, which allowed for the direct election of U.S. senators, who were appointed by the state legislatures until the amendment was ratified. In a June 4, 2010 WTOP Radio debate preceding the Republican primary between Fimian and Herrity, host Mark Plotkin
asked the two candidates whether they would support repealing the 17th Amendment. Then Fimian said, "There is some merit to that. Why it was changed in 1910...I'm not totally sure. There is merit. And frankly, I would entertain hearing both sides of that argument before I would say yes or no, but I am inclined to say no."
On economic issues, Fimian opposes tax increases, supports eliminating the capital gains tax on start-up companies and cutting the payroll tax in half for small businesses until unemployment is reduced to 5%.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was the 2008 and 2010 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for . Fimian lost both elections, the first by 12%, and the second by 0.4%.
Early life and education
Fimian is the second of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters. A NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
family, the Fimians moved frequently before settling in Virginia Beach when young Keith was nine years old.
Fimian attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
where he graduated with a B.B.A. degree in accounting. Fimian played on offense
American football positions
In American football, each team has eleven players on the field at one time. Because the rules allow unlimited substitution between plays, the types of players on the field for each team differ depending on the situation...
as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for the school's football team. Following college, Fimian briefly played for the NFL's
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being cut in August 1978.
Business career
Fimian is a former certified public accountantCertified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
, and worked for seven years as an auditor and accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
during the 1980s. Fimian audited oilfield operations in Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
for the international accounting firm Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. which later merged with the international accounting firm Klynveld Main Goerdeler to become KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, one of the Big Four accounting firms, with headquarters based in the Netherlands. Fimian also worked for a year in the firm's executive offices in New York City.
In the 1980s, along with two other businessmen, he co-founded Radonics Co., which is now U.S. Inspect. The company has grown to become "the nation's largest provider of residential and commercial property inspection services." Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia
Chantilly, Virginia
Chantilly is an unincorporated community located in western Fairfax County and southeastern Loudoun County of Northern Virginia. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place , the community population was 23,039 as of the 2010 census -- down from 41,041 in 2000, due to the...
, the company manages a network of thousands of independent contractor
Independent contractor
An independent contractor is a natural person, business, or corporation that provides goods or services to another entity under terms specified in a contract or within a verbal agreement. Unlike an employee, an independent contractor does not work regularly for an employer but works as and when...
s across the country. Fimian is currently the chairman of the company. Fimian faced controversy over his corporation's federal tax lien
Tax lien
A tax lien is a lien imposed by law upon a property to secure the payment of taxes. A tax lien may be imposed for delinquent taxes owed on real property or personal property, or as a result of failure to pay income taxes or other taxes....
s for unpaid taxes, which he says were the fault of his company's independent contractors and the company soon paid the debt.
Fimian is a co-inventor and holds one United States patent, and notes that, if elected, he would be only the fourth patent holder in Congress. Fimian and three partners invented a radon detection device patent filed under an applicant name of record of "Gemini Research, Inc."
Non-profit work
Fimian is a member of the national board of directors of Legatus, a Roman Catholic group of business executives started by Domino's PizzaDomino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
founder and philanthropist Tom Monaghan
Tom Monaghan
Thomas Stephen "Tom" Monaghan is an entrepreneur and Catholic philanthropist and activist who founded Domino's Pizza in 1960. He owned the Detroit Tigers from 1983-1992....
. Fimian faced attacks from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
, which sent out mailings criticizing the group's "radical agenda" of opposition to abortion and contraception. Fimian and some Catholic leaders accused Connolly and the DCCC of religious bigotry, with one blog saying the mailings were "inflammatory and extremely anti-Catholic toward a group of business leaders who follow their faith."
He is an advisory board member of CatholicMil, a Catholic organization supporting members of the military
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, their families, and military chaplains.
He is president of the Washington, D.C.-based Youth Leadership Foundation, a supplemental academic and character formation program serving disadvantaged youth in the nation's capital.
2008 U.S. Congressional campaign
Fimian was defeated by DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Gerry Connolly
Gerry Connolly
Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th congressional district. He was first elected in 2008. Connolly is a member of the Democratic Party....
by more than ten points for the open seat held by Republican incumbent Tom Davis
Thomas M. Davis
Thomas Milburn "Tom" Davis III was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Virginia's 11th congressional district in Northern Virginia. Davis was considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by five-term incumbent and fellow Republican John...
.
Davis had represented since 1995. He announced on January 30, 2008 that he would not seek reelection to an eighth term, allowing other Republican candidates to run. Fimian announced his candidacy early in the year and, according to The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, had raised over $1,200,000 as of June 2008. Over the entire election cycle, Fimian raised $1,995,215, spent $1,985,087, and ended his campaign with $10,127 cash on hand. Fimian raised significantly more money than Connolly in individual donations; 76% of all his fundraising came from individual donations.
Fimian was portrayed as too extreme for the district and was criticized in Connolly's campaign literature for being opposed to embryonic stem cell research and abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk. Other political opponents noted that the health insurance plans he offered to his own corporation's employees specifically exclude coverage for contraceptives and abortion services, even if the patient's life was at risk.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Fimian again challenged Democratic incumbent Gerry ConnollyGerry Connolly
Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th congressional district. He was first elected in 2008. Connolly is a member of the Democratic Party....
. Also running were Libertarian nominee David L. Dotson, Independent Green David William Gillis, Jr., and Independent Christopher F. DeCarlo. Fimian lost by 981 votes out of 226,951 votes cast, or 0.43%.
Republican primary
On July 20, 2009, Fimian announced his intention to run again for the 11th District seat against Connolly in 2010.Pat Herrity, a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member and colleague of Connolly when he was on the board, announced his intent to challenge Connolly, setting up a primary. The race was described by the Washington Post as "one of the nastiest contests in the commonwealth," while the Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner
The Washington Examiner is a free daily newspaper published in Springfield, Virginia, and distributed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz....
called it "unusually brutal." The race was significantly more heated than the primary in the neighboring 8th District
Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The residents of the 8th District are currently represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, first elected to the 8th's seat in the U.S...
, where issues such as abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and gay marriage divided the two candidates. Fimian criticized Herrity relentlessly for his legislative record, accusing him of voting to raise taxes and being insufficiently conservative. Herrity said he was the only Republican who could beat Connolly and was accused by Fimian of spreading rumors about him, including the 1976 assault case.
Fimian defeated Herrity in the June 8, 2010 primary, winning 56% of the vote, with 35,890 votes cast.
General election campaign
The National Republican Congressional CommitteeNational Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
promoted Fimian to be a GOP Young Gun in June 2010, which meant his campaign had hit certain targets for fundraising and other organizational indicators. As of September 30, 2010, Fimian had raised $2,197,60 while Connolly had raised $2,160,041. However, that includes $95,000 which Fimian contributed to his own campaign.
Terry McAuliffe
Terry McAuliffe
Terence Richard "Terry" McAuliffe is a longtime leader and political advisor for the United States Democratic Party. He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005. He served as Co-Chairman of President William Jefferson Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and also...
, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
in 2009
Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009. The election chose Bob McDonnell as the next Governor, Bill Bolling re-elected as Lieutenant Governor, and Ken Cuccinelli as the next Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The winners were inaugurated on January...
, said at a Connolly fundraiser that if Connolly loses his seat, "we [Democrats] will lose the House." Former congressman Tom Davis
Thomas M. Davis
Thomas Milburn "Tom" Davis III was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Virginia's 11th congressional district in Northern Virginia. Davis was considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by five-term incumbent and fellow Republican John...
, who held the seat until retiring in 2008, agreed, saying, "If they [Republicans] take my seat, they'll take the House." CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
said the "rematch could set the tone on election night," especially since Virginia's polling places are among the first to close at 7:00 pm EST
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
named it to a list of five House bellwether
Bellwether
A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram leading his flock of sheep.The movements of...
s, noting the parallel to 1994, when a similar Republican wave
Republican Revolution
The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the media dubbed Republican Party success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate...
swept 11th District Rep. Leslie Byrne, a freshman Democrat, from office.
Endorsements
Fimian has garnered notable and prominent endorsements to include Virginia Attorney General Ken CuccinelliKen Cuccinelli
Kenneth Thomas 'Ken' Cuccinelli II is a U.S. politician and the Attorney General of Virginia. From 2002 until January 16, 2010 he was a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 37th district in Fairfax County...
who praised Fimian as "100% pro-life." The conservative talk show host Mark Levin has given support to Fimian. Fimian has also picked up the endorsements of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
, Delegate
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
Robert G. "Bob" Marshall
Robert G. Marshall
Robert G. "Bob" Marshall is a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 13th District, currently serving his 7th term. His district includes portions of Prince William and Loudoun counties.In 2008, Marshall was a candidate for the United States Senate seat being...
,
Prince William County Board of Supervisors chair Corey A. Stewart, and Prince William County Supervisor Mike May.
Fimian received support from members of the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
and attended a Northern Virginia Tea Party Patriots rally in the summer of 2009 at Connolly's congressional office. The Tea Party movement is targeting the 11th District for a conservative pickup. Northern Virginia political columnist Davon Gray wrote that the Tea Party "probably made a huge difference in Keith Fimian's nomination in the 11th congressional district."
Fimian was endorsed by FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks is a conservative non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., United States. FreedomWorks trains volunteers, assists in campaigns, and encourages them to mobilize, interacting with both fellow citizens and their political representatives....
PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
after signing the Contract from America
Contract from America
The Contract from America was the idea of Houston-based attorney Ryan Hecker. Hecker states that he developed the concept of creating a grassroots call for reform prior to the April 15, 2009 Tax Day Tea Party rallies. To get his idea off the ground, he launched a website which encouraged people to...
.
Political action committee
In September 2011, Fimian started the Growth, Opportunity, and Prosperity (GOP) Fund, a political action committeePolitical action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
which seeks "to elect pro-business candidates dedicated to keeping Virginia a great state for business by building a vibrant economy in every corner of the Commonwealth." The PAC had raised over $235,000 by its first Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
quarterly filing deadline on September 30, 2011, and had raised over $300,000 by its first state filing deadline on October 17, 2011. Fimian proceeded to give nearly $100,000 in PAC money to Republican candidates for the General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
and local offices in the 2011 elections
Virginia state elections, 2011
The 2011 Virginia state elections took place on November 8, 2011. All 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly were up for re-election, as were many local offices.-Virginia Senate:...
, making contributions to 47 candidates (including the maximum $5,000 contribution to a dozen state Senate candidates).
Potential lieutenant governor run
In November 2011, Fimian said he was considering running for Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
in 2013
Virginia gubernatorial election, 2013
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2013 will take place on November 5, 2013. The incumbent governor, Republican Bob McDonnell, will not be eligible to run due to term limits established by the Virginia Constitution...
, saying, "I’m giving it thought. There are a lot of people who are encouraging me to do that, and I’m considering it."
Political positions
Fimian supports a repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, and proposes in his platform to tackle individual health care problems with "stand alone legislation". He estimates "most Americans like the coverage they have."
Fimian has made energy issues a central component of his political platform. He favors an expansion of offshore oil drilling where possible and has been interviewed about his energy policy positions by the news media. In response to a U.S. Department of Defense study concluding that drilling off Virginia's coastline would interfere with military activities and equipment covering 72% of the area, Fimian responded "so that still leaves one quarter" (for exploration and production), and suggested the use of directional drilling
Directional drilling
Directional drilling is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down into three main groups: Oilfield Directional Drilling, Utility Installation Directional Drilling Directional drilling (or slant drilling) is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down...
to access deposits and the drilling of areas north of the "tidewater" areas where leases have been proposed.
Fimian has advocated for ratification of new free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
agreements to spur economic growth. He believes in securing the southern border with Mexico while streamlining the immigration process, and a strong national defense.
On fiscal matters, he supports reducing federal spending through a federal balanced budget amendment
Balanced Budget Amendment
A balanced-budget amendment is a constitutional rule requiring that the state cannot spend more than its income. It requires a balance between the projected receipts and expenditures of the government....
, has proposed privatizing social security, and abolishing the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
. He proposes simplifying the Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code is the domestic portion of Federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 of the United States Code...
, and has also pledged to oppose any and all tax increases.
On constitutional issues, according to his website, he is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, opposes same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, and supports Second Amendment rights. Fimian is opposed to voting representation in Congress for District of Columbia residents Fimian encountered controversy when he was asked about the idea of repealing the Seventeenth Amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures...
, which allowed for the direct election of U.S. senators, who were appointed by the state legislatures until the amendment was ratified. In a June 4, 2010 WTOP Radio debate preceding the Republican primary between Fimian and Herrity, host Mark Plotkin
Mark Plotkin
Mark J. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist and a plant explorer in the Neotropics, where he is an expert on rainforest ecosystems...
asked the two candidates whether they would support repealing the 17th Amendment. Then Fimian said, "There is some merit to that. Why it was changed in 1910...I'm not totally sure. There is merit. And frankly, I would entertain hearing both sides of that argument before I would say yes or no, but I am inclined to say no."
On economic issues, Fimian opposes tax increases, supports eliminating the capital gains tax on start-up companies and cutting the payroll tax in half for small businesses until unemployment is reduced to 5%.
Personal life
Fimian has been married to his wife Cathy for 26 years. They have three daughters and reside in Oakton, VA. His brother Kevin is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Arlington.External links
- Official Campaign website
- Campaign contributions (2008) at OpenSecrets.org
- Campaign contributions (2010) at OpenSecrets.org