Mail piece sets off debate over family's privacy

Washington DC (Map, News) - A tough election campaign in a key Northern Virginia district grew increasingly bitter Friday amidst charges and counter charges that one candidate improperly released an opponent's family information.

Democrat Chap Petersen, who is seeking to dethrone Vienna Republican Jeannemarie Devolites Davis in the 34th District, is upset that Davis recently sent out a mailer that drew attention to his home address and phone number, as well the names of his wife and two daughters.

Petersen held a press conference Friday outside Davis' Fairfax office to accuse her of dirty tactics.

But the complaints drew a swift rebuke from Davis, who blasted her opponent for using the ad as a smoke screen to distract voters. The information in the mailer is already publicly available, she said.

Davis' campaign literature mailed to constituents draws attention to a financial disclosure that Petersen filed in 2004 when he was in the House of Delegates. Davis contends Petersen failed to disclose his then-law firm's clients to companies doing business in Virginia. She said that represented a potential conflict of interest.

To Petersen, including personal information in that mailer crossed the line.

"It was unsettling to see our home address, home number and our daughters' names circled with red arrows," said Petersen, who added that he did not work on cases involving the companies in question. "It's one thing to advertise that information, but it is outrageous to do it in an attack that says I am a bad guy and incites people against me."

Davis said her opponent has already sent out a mailer that contained pictures of his children along with their names. She also pointed out that the disclosure forms are public documents and available on the Internet. Petersen's campaign Web site, she added, also lists his home address and his home number is listed in residential phone books.

"I don't understand why he is so riled up considering the mail he has sent out," she said. "He hasn't discussed any issues because he loses on the issues. He is looking for something to distract. He is trying to find ways to vilify me."

University of Virginia political expert Larry Sabato said the mailer went too far, but doubted the issue would "effect the election."

"I don't blame anyone in the public eye being upset at having the home address and phone number listed," Sabato said. "As a rule, candidates and campaigns ought to stick to official numbers and addresses. This is a venial sin instead of a mortal sin."

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

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