It's a little early, but former U.S. Marine and retired Secret Service veteran Mike Hodge, has filed for the House of Delegates 52nd District. The seat isn't up until 2009.

Hodge, a Democrat, apparently wants to stake his claim on the seat while the plans of Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) are still up in the air. Frederick, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, initially vowed not to seek re-election next year if he was elected chair. But last month he said he may reconsider that pledge.

Hodge, who lives in Montclair, is touting his military and law enforcement background. He oversees the corporate security department at Washington Gas.

Prince William County Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) testified before the House Republican Policy Committee on immigration enforcement this afternoon.

Not sure exactly what he had to say, since he spoke "extemporaneously" -- his office sent out a release announcing his appearance after the hearing started. The last time Stewart testified before Congress, he veered from the county-prepared text, upsetting some supervisors.

On his way into the Board of Supervisors meeting, which started before he made it back to Prince William, he said he spoke about the "remarkable success of the crackdown on illegal immigration," citing a 19.3 percent decrease in the crime rate.

Prince William County supervisors continue to deal with the aftermath of budget cuts.

Several citizens showed up at today's board meeting to lament cuts to the county's budget, including the Manassas senior day program.

One of the people who spoke was the wife of Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), who is locked in a tight race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate with James S. Gilmore.

Cathy Marshall said her 80-year-old father, Edward Fonseca, uses the senior day program several times a week. She implored the board to reconsider its decision.

A week after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors changed its hallmark illegal immigration enforcement, supervisors continue to argue over whether it was rolled back or expanded.

The board voted unanimously last Tuesday to direct police officers to question criminal suspects about their immigration status after an arrest is made. The policy the board approved in October ordered officers to check the legal status of all suspects, no matter how minor the offense, if they had reason to believe the person might be in the country unlawfully.

Nearly 100 people spoke at a hearing last night on the Prince William County budget. Although many people thought the county's illegal immigration policy would dominate the testimony, the crackdown took a back seat to firefighters, who showed up in droves.

Several firefighters implored the Board of County Supervisors to fully fund this year's proposed budget, which upgrades the department to regional and national standards. The updates were prompted in large part by the death of firefighter Kyle R. Wilson last year.

"This budget was driven by one priority and that was safety," said Adam Mowry, a career firefighter. "We need to catch up. Funding anything less would be nothing short of irresponsible."