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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

District 42: The race here, probably the most expensive in the state, is a second challenge by Gregory A. Werkheiser, a Democrat who came close to knocking off the incumbent, Republican David B. Albo, in 2005. Both candidates are intelligent, tough-minded, broadly experienced and effective. But Mr. Werkheiser, a lawyer who founded a nonprofit that helps seniors, farmers and the disadvantaged, would occupy the sensible middle ground, which Mr. Albo, also a lawyer, has largely abandoned as he has moved into the Republican leadership in Richmond. Although he heads the House Courts of Justice Committee and is a shrewd operator, Mr. Albo has also used his legislative clout to bash undocumented immigrants and to try to block major funding initiatives, such as former Gov. Mark R. Warner's in 2004 that raised money for education and public safety.

~The Washington Post