VA-11: Who Is Keith Fimian?

So far, few have had much to say about Keith Fimian, the GOP’s would-be successor to retiring Rep. Tom Davis. Aside from his wealth and his strong fundraising, Fimian has been a blank slate on the issues. But the Washington Examiner has been doing a bit of digging, and is revealing a portrait of someone startlingly out of step with the socially liberal, Democratic-trending Northern Virginia district that he’s attempting to represent in Congress:

An analysis of Fimian’s recent donors shows he’s collected more than $100,000 from dozens of members – or relatives of those members – of Legatus, a national organization of Catholic business executives created by Domino’s Pizza founder and pro-life activist Tom Monaghan. Fimian reports taking in more than $1.3 million by the end of June. Legatus is based in Ave Maria, Fla., a planned religious community also co-founded by Monaghan, who drew protests from civil libertarians when he reportedly outlined plans to ban pornography and contraception from the town’s stores.

While Fimian, also a member of the Legatus board of governors, makes no attempt to hide his association with the group, it could prove problematic in a district that has voted less and less faithfully Republican in recent years. He is running against Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly, a powerful Democrat.

Fimian said he’s pro-life and universally opposes the death penalty, but declined to elaborate on views on other social issues, arguing they are irrelevant to the 11th District.

Tom Davis was able to survive so successfully in the 11th district in large part due to his moderate approach to social issues. While Fimian may be attempting to campaign as a “business conservative” (of which there are many in the 11th), his pro-life views and associations with the likes of the utterly creepy Monaghan may prove to be an albatross come fall. That’s good news for Democrat Gerry Connolly.