On Nov. 8, voters will chose from more than two dozen candidates vying for seats on Loudoun’s Board of Supervisors.
The election is a high-stakes race, with an expected low voter turnout and big ticket issues riding on whoever is elected.
With a booming Loudoun population expected to continue in the next four years and additional demands for constituent services, such as roads and schools, and a final vote on whether Metrorail will extend into the county, the new board will have to hit the ground running.
Voter turnout is expected to be between 30 percent to 35 percent, according to Loudoun County General Registrar Judy Brown.
With so much riding on this race, outgoing supervisors – those who have chosen to not seek reelection – weighed in with some advice for candidates on how to handle a nerve wracking election night and what they feel has emerged as the biggest issues this election season.
“Either rejoice or say I gave it my best and congratulate the winner,” was the advice of Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D-Catcoctin) for candidates on election night. Kurtz, who after serving three terms on the board, announced in September 2010 she would not seek reelection.
Outgoing Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles), who said in January he would not seek a second term in office, recommended candidates take a moment to themselves on the big night. The adrenaline is pumping, he said, which can sometimes lead to missteps in communication.
“Going through it myself, no one can really understand what it’s like to wait for the outcome,” Miller said. “… You’re going to be tired, you’re going to anxious. You’ve earned it. Don’t be afraid to be by yourself for a little bit.”
The big issues
Outgoing supervisors and party leaders who have joined this year’s candidates on the door-to-door trail, site frustration with partisan politics, education and the economy topping voters’ minds this season.
Mike Turner, chairman of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee said education, in his experience with voters, has emerged as the biggest concern.
“I can’t really put my finger on that, but there are so many issues perculating around that topic because it takes so many different forms,” Turner said, including the push for charter schools and worry over the additional schools needed to house the 3,000 new students Loudoun is expected to get next year.
He said transportation, surprisingly, hasn’t been talked about by voters as much as he anticipated.
“I feel like a lot of voters feel like transportation can’t be solved on the county level,” Turner said.
Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run), who announced in October 2010 that she would not seek a second term, said the economy is still a strong topic of discussion among residents, especially since it’s an issue affecting people on a local, state and national level.
New supervisors are going to be coming into office in January to a “very tough budget cycle,” Waters said.
“It’s going to be a difficult budget cycle in how to meet the service levels that we’ve established and the expectations of the community,” she said.
Mark Sell, chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee agreed with Waters, saying voters are not pleased with the work Democrats are doing in office on the Board of Supervisors.
“The economy and jobs are kind of the big issues and I think a lot of people are not pleased with the job Democrats in Washington, Richmond or the Loudoun County Board have been doing,” Sell said.
Anger over party politics in general will drive many residents to the polls on Nov. 8, according to Miller.
“Voter frustration has probably been what more constituents have talked to me about. Never in my life time have I seen more dissatisfaction with partisanship. They’re sick of them being members of parties,” he said. “… They want someone that can show that [they’re] bigger and better than better the party.”
The incoming board
Do your homework. That’s the advice outgoing supervisors gave to whomever should take their seat on the dais.
“I would tell them to touch base with their colleagues who were elected and to visit the different towns. I always went around in the east in the areas to learn about the issues,” Kurtz said.
Miller offered his advice and leadership to any candidate elected to office – a luxury he said he wasn’t afforded when he first took office.
“You have a duty to the people you serve to hand off the key to the new officer yourself,” he said. “Take me up on it. Even if you don’t represent anyone in my current Dulles District. I’m not afraid to do that even to a member of the other party.”
Waters advised newcomers to expect to work hard and focus from day one.
“One of the things that can cripple a Board of Supervisors is a fear of making decisions. I think the community is looking for decisive leadership. A functioning board has to be be able to look at issues, collect enough information and make sound decisions,” she said.
The polls in Loudoun County open are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Please turn out and support our Sheriff!
@Bill Dean Times
Man you have a lot of hatred toward this paper. You’re on every forum with your conspriacy theories. Get a life. Seriously.
There is no need to support the bond referendum, just remember what Jim Burton told us this election season on his slick campaign flyer - he found the money to open three high schools - we don’t need no stinking bond funds on top of that.
Vote NO!
The fact is, we will pay for that bond and interest immediately, before a dime of it is even spent on a school. How does voting NO cost more? Maybe you mean WE might end up paying more than $1 Million an acre for Lansdowne’s personal high school? There is absolute fear of the upcoming election and that the new blood will be fiscally responsible. Hurray! We can only hope.
Vote NO and each school will be debated individually and each vote (by the Board) will be taken individually, as will the costs for each individual school. That is a much more appropriate approach.
And, for good measure, send LCPS a strong message to stop their poor spending habits.
LCPS will get other funding and we still pay. Just like when voters rejected the bond for the Hatrick palace and LCPS built it anyway.
Vote yes on the bonds and bring relief to overcrowded schools as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Voting no on a school bond is plain ignorance. This is a vote for a funding source NOT to build. A vote no costs the county money. That school will be built because legal requirements. SAVE MONEY VOTE YES FOR SCHOOL BONDS.
Yes, vote NO on school bonds, we need to make a sale to the county!
That’s right. Vote ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO on the bond issues.
Vote NO on the Bonds!
We can then vote for them individually, as it should be!
Poll times are wrong and they write “perculating”. This newspaper needs serious help.
But be sure to vote for your MC Dean/OpenBand/LTM candidates!
He said transportation, surprisingly, hasn’t been talked about by voters as much as he anticipated.
“I feel like a lot of voters feel like transportation can’t be solved on the county level,” Turner said.
what world is he living in? Transportation is by far one of the top 3 issues in the County. I guess this is why Mike Turner and the dems keep harping on the stupid graphic the LCRC put in its halloween email
Good Catch.
LTM your poll time are wrong!
The polls are open from 6 am to 7 pm. Mistakes like these don’t help turnout!
Low voter turnouts typically favor the Republicans. Someone like Dick Black can usually galvanize enough fringe nut job groups to get voted in.
To Concerned Resident of Loudoun:
How do you figure? Sterling:
Delgaudio 29%
Shahriari 41%
Nevarez 30%
How can Shahriari win this thing with no partisan support and no prior name recognition? He’s not like Steve Simpson this time or Scott York last time, who had a track record and incumbency to lead their independent efforts to victory.
I’m sure there are plenty of Delguadio-haters who are frustrated with Nevarez’s lackluster campaign and invisibility at major events like the Chamber of Commerce Debate, but not enough to get Shahriari to 41 percent.
After looking at the candidates, and analyzing the issues and area needs, these are my predictions for the BOS race:
AT LARGE:
Bellanca 56%
York 44%
Catoctin:
Baldwin 64%
Higgins 36%
Algonkian:
Pierce 52%
Volpe 48%
Leesburg:
Burk 35%
Reid 65%
Dulles:
Letourneau 61%
Roeder 39%
Ashburn:
Buona 57%
Ronis 43%
Blue Ridge:
Burton 54%
Clarke 46%
Broad Run:
McGimsey 27%
Kierce 32%
Williams 41%
Sterling:
Delgaudio 29%
Shahriari 41%
Nevarez 30%
My ass will be at the front of the line on Tuesday morning to cast my vote against “checkered past” David Ramadan.
Since someone said it, I agree: Vote NO on the bonds. They were bundled together for political reasons. If we vote NO, then each bond will be discussed individually in a public forum and voted on individually, as they should be.
@Mermaiden - Are you related to Secretary Hilda Solis?
How about we have a chance to vote on ending Tom “pennies from heaven” Dunn’s behavior tantrums. Like when he attacked Country Club residents. Don’t you love someone, like Tom “I’ve got money to burn” Dunn, who seems to hate everyone?
VOTE NO on the Bonds!
VOTE NO on the Bonds!
VOTE NO on the Bonds!
VOTE NO on the Bonds!
@shame on the republicans - And what were those trashy images of George Bush that came from the Dems for 8 years?!?
Loudoom County Va. home to Teabagger Extremists, i.e. Lone Wolves w/ violent intentions.
Agreed. Vote NO on the Bonds. If we vote it down, each individual bond will have to be discussed publicly which is a much better approach to ensuring tax/bond dollars are spent wisely.
VOTE NO on the Bond!!
VOTE NO on the Bonds!
It is a clear manipulation of the process by bundling items facilitate by the Board of Supervisor.
After the embarrassing display by the Loudoun republicans which resulted in desecrating the President of our country, embarrasing Loudoun on the national news, and our republican governor cancelling his visit to our county I think that Democrats should not vote for any republicans in any of the county races. The Republicans and their candidates were all together in this tragic embarrassment for Loudoun.
What’s this? Low voter turnout? But, according to Tom “I’m with stupid” Dunn, ten gazzillion million people come out to vote in November elections. I guess Tom “I find $2,000.00 all the time” Dunn got this one wrong.
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