Potential candidates consider filling Fralin’s seat

Delegate William Fralin will not run for re-election—saying he plans to devote more time to his business.
Fralin says “It had gotten to the point where increased responsibilities at work weren’t going to allow me to serve my constituents at the level I think they deserve.“

The 17th district leans to the right—58-percent voted for Senator John McCain.
Fralin and fellow republicans hope it stays that way—to make sure the republicans hold the majority in the house.
Right now—the balance of power looks like this:
53 republicans, 45 democrats and two independents.

Several people on both sides of the aisle tell WSLS that they are considering running for his seat. 
On the republican side: the chair of the Roanoke city republican committee, Adam Boitnott. 
“We need to keep that seat and frankly we need to win some of those democratic seats back,“ says Boitnott.

Two possible candidates on the democrat side are Roanoke city council members Gwen Mason and Dr. David Trinkle.
Mason and Trinkle—along with Alfred Dowe—ran and won on the same ticket for council just 2-and-a-half years ago.
The former running mates have more than just city council in common.
They both also come from the same political base in south Roanoke. 
“I would not like to run against a person that I’ve run with, but I guess in politics strange things do happen and I guess that could happen”, says Dr. Trinkle.

Dr. Trinkle says before he makes a decision—he’s considering the work that still needs to be done on city council—a governing body that has seen a lot of change.
Change Trinkle would welcome: the dems taking back the 17th district.
“I think the timing is right and I think it is win-able,“ says Trinkle.
Whether or not that happens and *who* will end up running, remains to be seen.
Candidates must contact the Board of Elections and be certifified by mid-April.
Republicans say they are currently going through a list of candidates but could have a primary—just as the democrats plan to do—in June.