Probably best of Moran, who’s home district is in the same area as the police unions in question, refrain from speeding, or having too much fun at Pat Troys.  From the Washington Post:

A nasty battle has developed between Del. Brian J. Moran’s (D-Alexandria) staff and Fairfax County police officers and sheriff’s deputies over their role in next year’s governors race.

Last month, the Fairfax Coalition of Police and the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff’s Coalition — both affiliated with AFL-CIO and the International Union of Police Associations (I.U.P.A.) – endorsed Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) instead of Moran in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Jesse F. Ferguson, Moran’s communications director, responded by writing a terse letter to the two organizations on July 1 questioning the “legitimacy of” their endorsement.

“We believe that endorsements conducted in secret, without transparency, notification or commonly followed procedures should be considered suspect at best,” Ferguson wrote on Moran for Governor letterhead. “We strongly question the legitimacy of this decision.”

Ferguson accused the two unions of going back on their word to stay out of next year’s Democratic primary.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Washington Post today, Ferguson said Marshall Thielen, of the Fairfax Coalition of Police Union, told him in 2007 the group would not get involved in the primary. Ferguson copied the letter to the Fairfax Coalition of Police Union’s attorney, Ed Nuttall.

“We took you at your word and respected that stance, not pursuing or agitating for your endorsement,” Ferguson wrote. “The Moran campaign was never notified of a change to that expectation. Furthermore, Delegate Moran and his staff did not receive a questionnaire to solicit information on his issue positions, were not given an opportunity to address the endorsement or any issues you may have taken with any of his votes or statements…prior to the decision.”

Thielen and Kevin Pittman, president of the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff’s Coalition, fired back a response to Moran today asking for an apology.

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