'Tito the Builder' may run against Stewart for chairman
Tito Muñoz -- better known as 'Tito the Builder' -- is considering challenging Prince William Board Chairman Corey Stewart in a Republican primary next year.
"I'm thinking of running,'' Muñoz said in an interview. "I'm not ruling it out."
You may remember Muñoz from his brief appearance onstage with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign.
He later volunteered for Bob McDonnell during his 2009 campaign for governor and was appointed to the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development. More recently, he has become a conservative Latino voice on the radio.
Muñoz said he's considering running because he thinks Stewart doesn't want the chairman job anymore because he's been talking about running for U.S. Senate in 2012.
"It's clear he doesn't want his job,'' he said. 'If he doesn't want the job, there's always people who can do a better job."
Stewart said Muñoz opposed his illegal immigration crackdown in Prince William County, though he supports him on other issues.
"I always have to take threats seriously but I've been through many elections and I've won every one of them,'' he said. "I think I've done a good job. I'm proud of the record of the board."
Stewart said that while he has been chairman, Prince William has seen a decrease in crime and taxes and an increase in jobs. Citizen satisfaction surveys, he said, have shown that residents are pleased with their government.
In recent days, Stewart has been outspoken about both his interest in running for Senate and his disappointment in former senator and governor George Allen's job performance.
In a television interview Monday, Stewart said he thinks Allen had a "mediocre" record in the Senate and will find that his "base has moved on."
Stewart said he knew his comments would generate some attention -- and maybe even a challenger. Does he regret making them? "Hell no,'' he said.
Already, two others have announced that they are running for chairman.
Gary C. Friedman (D), chairman of the county planning commission, has said he will contend for a spot on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for the fourth time.
Independent John Gray filed an application with the Virginia State Board of Elections in June to vie for the chairman's seat. Gray said he decided to run after Stewart announced his plan to lobby for new legislation that would crack down on illegal immigration in Virginia. Gray said Stewart was no longer focused on county issues.
Several other Republicans are considering a Senate run: Jamie Radtke, chairwoman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation; Del. Bob Marshall (Prince William) and Bert Mizusawa, a businessman and attorney who ran against Rep.-elect Scott Rigell in Hampton Roads.
| December 3, 2010; 2:15 PM ET
Categories: Anita Kumar, Corey Stewart, Prince William
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