Town Elections Marked by Spirited Sign Contest, Write-in Campaigns

The Town of Lovettsville saw a remarkable 38.24 percent turnout in the May 1 election, sweeping into office the “Friends of Lovettsville” slate of Robert Zoldos, Rodney Gray, James McIntyre and Michael Senate. The spirited coordinated campaign utilized a Facebook page and homemade yard sign contest to reach and energize voters, a strategy seen in the overwhelming presence of hand-lettered red signs throughout the town.

Purcellville resident Kelli Grim, despite entering the race as a write-in candidate for Mayor a mere five days before the election, garnered 271 votes to incumbent Robert Lazaro’s 571. Write-in candidates for Town Council seats are not reported individually in the unofficial results.

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Kelli Grim Announces Run as Write-In Candidate

Purcellville resident and business owner Kelli Grim announced today that she has decided to run as a Write-In Candidate for Mayor.

“My decision to run as a Write-In Candidate for Mayor came late because my commitment to my community prevents me from allowing Mayor Lazaro to run unopposed again. There are many critical issues facing residents that jeopardize our quality of life, and I want to make a difference.

I am not funded or supported by any special interest groups or developers. It has always been my sincere intention to bring multiple views forward for discussion that would protect the existing residents and business owners. I found myself lied about and criticized by this current administration. In a democracy everyone should feel comfortable to voice their concerns and ask tough questions without the fear of retaliation, and this is the kind of leadership I will bring to the Town of Purcellville.”

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Two More Purcellville Residents Announce Write-In Campaigns

Since Monday, two more Purcellville residents have joined Bill Conover in launching write-in campaigns for Town offices: Mary Beth Barbagallo has announced her candidacy for Purcellville Town Council, while Kelli Grim will be challenging incumbent Mayor Bob Lazaro.

The write-in candidates are hosting two Meet on Main Street events where voters can learn more about their campaigns:

• Friday, April 27th, at Purcellville Family Restaurant (also known as Fran’s) for coffee 8:00am – 9:30am.
• Saturday, April 28th, in front of 105 E. Main St. (across the street from old town hall and next door to Valley Energy building), from 10:00am – 12:00pm.

Mary Beth Barbagallo To Run For Purcellville Town Council As A Write In Candidate

Mary Beth Barbagallo has announced that she will be a write in candidate for Purcellville Town Council May 1. A native of Camp Lejeune, NC, raised in New Orleans, LA, a resident of Loudoun County for 24 years and a resident of Purcellville for 10 years, she is known for getting things done.

Mary Beth retired from the Farm Credit Administration, Office of Inspector General in 2006, and started a second career as a winery owner with her husband Matt. Barbagallo is active in town meetings and was instrumental in getting the mailboxes installed for a new delivery route to the downtown residents and businesses for the first time in the history of the town. Recently she coordinated a business dinner for the downtown “brick and mortar” businesses as a get acquainted, idea-sharing event that will now be a monthly event.

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Democrats Gather

The Loudoun Democrats showed up in record numbers on Saturday January 7,2012 for their bi-annual re-organization meeting. So many Democrats showed up at the Lansdowne Conference Center that the basic membership had to be increased to include them all.

Outgoing Chairman Mike Turner handed over his gavel with an unbowed and unapologetic challenge to the many voters who, for whatever reason, did not come out to vote on election day. He warned that they may soon be forced “to recognize the nightmare they have created for this county.” Of the Republicans who now control the Board of Supervisors outright, he said, “They now have no one to blame but themselves” and he promised that the Democrats will “as the rational, mature adults in the room” carefully monitor their actions “and be a voice on behalf of all the people of Loudoun.” Foremost among the concerns voiced was protection of the current zoning ordinances and the rural economy of Western Loudoun, particularly the endangered transition zone between West and East.

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Wolf Kicks Off Campaign

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) will kick off his 2012 re-election campaign at his biennial “Birthday Party” celebration on January 26 at the Washington Dulles Airport Hilton.

The event starts at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are $30 each. To make reservations, contact the Wolf for Congress Committee at 703-817-9691. Every Wolf for Congress event in 2012 the campaign will be collecting canned goods and nonperishable food for local food banks and pantries.

Wolf, the most senior of Virginia’s 11 members of Congress, has been involved in nearly every major transportation initiative in northern Virginia over the last 30 years, including reducing HOV restrictions on I-66 and getting the full funding to complete the original 103-mile Metrorail system. He played a key role in securing the funding to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and has been the driving force behind the effort to extend rail to Dulles airport and Loudoun County. He also pushed for the additional westbound lane on I-66 inside the Capital Beltway, which is now open, and worked to permanently open the Monument Avenue and Stringfellow Road slip ramps on I-66. In addition, he continues to draw attention to the high tolls on the Dulles Greenway and is a vocal proponent for distance pricing on the road.

Wolf also has worked to protect the region from violent gangs, to increase awareness about the risks of Lyme disease and to keep the shelves of area food banks and pantries stocked.

Over the last six years Wolf has been widely recognized for his role in focusing attention on getting the nation’s fiscal house in order. In addition, Wolf is often praised for his record on speaking out for human rights abuses around the globe and is the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House.

Wolf was re-elected in 2010 with nearly 63 percent of the vote.

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on 2011 Mid-Term Elections in Virginia

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement after the Republican Party picked up at least six seats in the House of Delegates and won two seats in the State Senate: … Continue Reading

And the Results Are in…

The unofficial results as of November 9, 7:00 p.m. for the following elections:

13th STATE SENATE
Richard H. “Dick” Black: 20,778 | 56.95%
J. Shawn Mitchell: 15,610 | 42.79%

27th STATE SENATE
Jill Holtzman Vogel: 24,532 | 74.62%
Shaun D. Broy: 7,629 | 23.20%
Donald C. Marro (withdrawn): 681 | 2.07%

31st STATE SENATE
Caren D. Merrick: 17,480 | 41.73%
Barbara A. Favola: 24,343 | 58.11%

33rd STATE SENATE
Patricia B. Phillips: 11,910 | 45.81%
Mark R. Herring: 14,060 | 54.08%

33rd HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Uncontested Joe May: 13,023 | 97.66%

10th HOUSE OF DELEGATES
J. Randy Minchew: 8,115 | 58.35%
David S. “Dave” Butler: 5,782 | 41.57%

87th HOUSE OF DELEGATES
David I. Ramadan: 5,431 | 49.94%
Mike D. Kondratick: 5,381 | 49.48%

Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Scott K. York: 31,776 | 64.36%
Tom E. Bellanca: 17,445 | 35.33%

Blue Ridge Member Board of Supervisors:
Janet Clarke: 4,434 | 56.79%
Jim Burton: 3,351 | 42.92%

Catoctin Member Board of Supervisors:
Geary M. Higgins: 4,470 | 58.53%
Malcom F. Baldwin: 3,156 | 58.53%

Leesburg Member Board of Supervisors:
Kenneth D. Reid: 3,253 | 51.40%
C. Kelly Burk: 3,065 | 48.43%

Commonwealth’s Attorney:
James “Jim” Plowman: 26,079 | 51.86%
Jennifer T. Wexton: 24,102 | 47.93%

Sheriff:
Michael “Mike” Chapman: 9,398 | 53.86%
Steve O. Simpson: 17,518 | 35.60%
Ronald D. Speakman: 5,006 | 10.17%

Member School Board At-Large
Jay Bose: 5,477 | 12.06%
Robert J. Ohneiser: 14,101 | 31.07%
Thomas E. “Tom” Reed: 25,533 | 56.25%

Blue Ridge Member School Board:
Priscilla B. Godfrey: 3,473 | 47.34%
Jill Turgeon: 3,839 | 52.33%

Catoctin Member School Board:
Pablo A. “Paul” Arias: 3,164 | 45.29%
Jennifer Keller Bergel: 3,795 | 54.32%

Leesburg Member School Board:
William D. “Bill” Fox: 2,614 | 44.02%
Tom C. Marshall: 2,528 | 42.57%
Mark J. Nuzzaco: 785 | 13.21%

Offensive Images Cause Alarm

Within the past week, two offensive political cartoons have raised new alarm about the lack of civility in Loudoun politics.

An e-mail circulated by the Loudoun County Republican Committee has received sharp criticism from both political parties in Loudoun, and the outrage has gone viral. The Halloween graphic depicts democratic leaders as “Zombies,” with President Barack Obama depicted with a large caliber bullet hole in his forehead.

In a fundraising letter sent to his mailing list last week, Sterling supervisor Eugene Delgaudio included a graphic of a pool of blood and a bloody handprint that had been altered to resemble the “rainbow flag,” a common symbol for the gay community. Both images appear below. The smaller image below the fold appears to be the source of the altered one, and was accessed by searching Google Images.

Email header sent by the Loudoun County Republican Committee on October 31

Email header sent by Sterling supervisor Eugene Delgaudio on October 24

Shortly after the LCRC e-mail was sent, residents of both parties throughout Loudoun began crying foul and denouncing the LCRC. Within several hours, both Virginia governor Bob McDonnell and Chair of the Republican Party of Virginia Pat Mullins had issued strong statements condemning the image.

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Blue Ridge District School Board Representative Priscilla Godfrey

As a member of the Loudoun County School Board for the past eight years, I am proud of what we have accomplished despite student growth coupled with budget decreases because of the recession. In those eight years, the student population increased 45 percent or an additional 19,000 students arrived and we built and opened 19 new schools. We provided two desperately needed new schools to the Blue Ridge District – Kenneth Culbert Elementary School and Woodgrove High School, despite lawsuits and many delays. We underwent two efficiency studies, one underwritten by the State by the MGT Company and one done of all the schools in the DC metropolitan area. … Continue Reading

Transcript from Tom Bellanca Press Conference

Press Conference
October 14, 2011
Middleburg, VA
By Tom Bellanca

Thank you for joining me today here in Middleburg, VA to discuss my campaigns plans for rural economic development. During the course of my campaign, I’ve only heard candidates besides myself discuss Loudoun County economic development in terms of commercial businesses in Eastern Loudoun and the need to attract new commercial development to Loudoun. While this issue remains important given the average 15 percent vacancy rates in the commercial office sector it is also important to recognize the need to preserve, protect and grow the rural economy. This is the topic of our conversation here today. The rural economy in Loudoun plays an important role in reducing traffic on our roads, moderating burdensome growth, and reducing overall property taxes on homeowners. My campaign supports continuing efforts to organize and advance the growth of the rural economy and the County Rural Economic Development Council’s current planning for a Rural Economic Development Strategy. … Continue Reading

Wexton Campaign Launches Fact-Check Site on Plowman’s Record

Jennifer Wexton, candidate for Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney, today announced the creation of www.ThePlowmanRecord.com, a website created for Loudoun voters to review the true record of Jim Plowman during his two terms as Commonwealth’s Attorney, as well as the false claims he has made in his reelection campaign.

“Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman has spent months misstating his record and twisting the facts,” Wexton said. “On his website, he crows about achievements that are provably false; in a recent letter to the editor he misled the voters about his budgets. I believe that Loudoun taxpayers and voters deserve to know the truth about his time in office.” … Continue Reading

Election 2011

For the ease of our readers, we have compiled in one place previous Blue Ridge Leader interviews with the candidates vying to represent Western Loudoun.

General Election, 2011
Absentee voting in Virginia
Loudoun Voter Registration

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Where the Race Stands

The Republican debate that was held on September 12 revealed many things as to what is developing in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Michele Bachmann, who was first in the straw polls in Iowa, is losing momentum and knows it, Ron Paul has been doing well in his race and fares nicely with the public, Mitt Romney seems like the most significant threat to Rick Perry’s current lead in the opinion polls, and the public has seen how Rick Perry defends his views when questioned about them. … Continue Reading