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Four incumbents fall, but York retains chairmanship
In a reversal of 2003 when a majority of Republicans swept onto the Board of Supervisors on a promise to ease restrictions on development and open the county up to business, residents voted in five Democrats Tuesday who pledged to slow growth in Loudoun."Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we go to work," Board Chairman Scott York (I) said during a victory speech at Tuscarora Mill restaurant in Leesburg late Nov. 6. He announced his win over Republican Michael Firetti at about 10:15 p.m.
With all precincts reporting, the board that will take office in January will have a drastically different look than the one today. The new board will include five Democrats, two Republicans and the two independents now on the board.
“We have a pipeline of 30,000 houses, which means we have to build 30 schools in the next 10 years because of the growth that this board approved – that's a lot of schools," said Democrat Andrea McGimsey, who beat Republican Board Vice Chairman Bruce Tulloch in the Potomac District with all precincts reporting. "It is time for Loudoun to take a breath, to slow down a little bit and take care of the people that already live here.”
The other Republican incumbents losing Tuesday were supervisors Mick Staton (Sugarland Run), Stephen Snow (Potomac) and Jim Clem (Leesburg), who lost to Democrat Kelly Burk, a town councilwoman in Leesburg.
"We ran a good race and the people spoke," Clem said. "I think the people mandated they wanted Democrats in control."
For her part, Burk wasn't aware she won when contacted by a reporter at 1 a.m.
"I always knew I would win," she said. "This shows people were thinking about growth and transportation in the county and the importance of growth on everything."
Supervisors Eugene Delgaudio (Sterling) and Lori Waters (Broad Run) were the only Republicans who won Tuesday.
"I'm feeling pretty good right now," said Waters, who beat two opponents in the Broad Run District. "There are a lot more women on this board. I hope we will all -- Democrats and Republicans, men and women -- will get to a point where we have a mutual respect for each other and we play nice."
Staying in the east, Delgaudio, this year's top fundraiser and a candidate who campaigned heavily on ridding Sterling of illegal immigrants, edged out Jeanne West 2,070 to 1,856 with all precincts reporting.
"Everyone has been saying they are going to tighten up on the illegal alien issue in Loudoun County," said Delgaudio on the issue of not being derailed by a board not controlled by Republicans. "I've gotten 9-0 votes on this."
In the Sugarland Run District, incumbent Republican Mick Staton lost to Democrat Susan Klimek Buckley, while in the Dulles District Democrat Stevens Miller beat out Republican Supervisor Stephen Snow.
Out west, Blue Ridge District supervisor Jim Burton, an independent, beat Republican Mark Albright from Round Hill. This will be Burton's fourth term as Blue Ridge supervisor.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D), in the Catoctin District, which encompasses the county's northwest corner and the area surrounding Leesburg, once again beat Republican Geary Higgins, who she faced in 2003.
“We've been under Republican rule long enough and I'm not digging it,” said Loudoun resident Kelly Dales, after voting at Sugarland Run Elementary School.
With votes still out, slow growthers came out late Tuesday to cheer the board's new makeup.
“Tonight’s results are a victory for the thousands of Loudoun residents who have fought for better growth management and planning over the past four years,” said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
“Voters clearly showed they know that the best way to deal with problems like traffic and taxes is to get a handle on where and how we grow,” he added.
Said Leesburg's Gem Bingol of the Piedmont Environmental Council: “We look forward to working with the new Board of Supervisors to meet our common challenges and make our communities even better places to live.”
Times-Mirror staff writers Matt VanTassel, Lynn Wolstenholme, Liz Coe and Anne Keisman contributed to this report.
It wasn't that people preferred Democrats to Republicans - I'm a Republican, but voted for Kelly Burk over Jim Clem because Clem hasn't bothered to pay attention to Leesburg citizens for several years, opting to spend his time hanging out with developers instead. I didn't give a darn which party he belonged to, and actually I didn't care who was running against him. I'm sick of his behavior and just wanted him GONE! My party has made horrible decisions in the past few years, and I just couldn't support them this time around.
Posted by Waya
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I live in Sterling Park but for some stupid reason there is a small section, just a few streets of Sterling Park homes that are not included in the Sterling District (Sterling District runs from Rt. 7 and ends at Poplar Rd.) Instead, we somehow got thrown into Potomac District (WTF???). Bruce Tulloch has not shown any representation to those of us in Sterling Park...hell I didn't even know he was my supervisor until recently as Delgaudio represents me better than Tulloch did, so he didn't get my vote. Hopefully Ms. McGimsey will not forget us lost souls in Sterling Park. This whole thing separating a few from Sterling District is ludicrous...I even had to vote for school board supervisor in Potomac and my kids don't even go there!
Posted by ScottyD
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I usually favor conservative candidates but those who were on the Board did an inadequate job of representing what most Loudouners wanted-- and, more important, our best interests. The rampant growth we've endured is an example. Developers enjoyed too much influence, overbuilt, and caused overcrowding. They took advantage of a rising market, made huge profits, and were not required to make adequate proffers.
As a result, our infrastructure is inadequate, our schools are overcrowded, and our communities' resources are strained. (Just look at the water problems in Purcellville every year as an example. The population explosion has been a primary cause.) The developers and the current Board aren’t responsible for everything, but both contributed significantly to creating and enlarging this problem. The elected candidates say they're anti-growth. That's a good start, but it’s only a start-- with plenty of work to be done and no time to rest.
There’s an old saying about it being too late to "close the barn doors" once the horses have escaped. These new Supervisors have quite a task ahead-- they must close Loudoun's "barn doors" to new development (for now) while devising ways to “capture the horses” that have already run. Translation: they must do more than just stop the overgrowth; they must fix the problems created by past growth. They must ensure our school system continues to provide quality education. They must ensure that our teachers, firefighters, and others are properly trained and equipped. They must determine where to build new schools. They must figure out how to wrestle more transportation money from Richmond. And they need to figure out how to do this without creating additional tax burdens on people that are already overtaxed. I hope they're up to the challenge and succeed. I'm looking forward to their comprehensive plan. And I'm cautiously optimistic. In closing, I'd like to suggest some priorities:
1. Find a location for the new west end school other than Purcellville; most residents don't want it there. How much money has the county wasted in litigation on this? Why is the county so entrenched in foisting a new school on Purcellville when Round Hill and Lovettsville want it? Build the school elsewhere: it’s quicker, easier, and makes Purcellville happy. This issue has been discussed ad nausea, but should be considered again.
2. Stop the proposed development on route 287 outside of Purcellville. The developers are forcing themselves on the town. If the new Board is truly anti-growth, then make this development an example. This helps solidify the support of those who oppose new development in the west.
3. Remember the growth and development plan the Board tried to adopt a year or two ago? Remember how the Virginia courts struck it down over a technicality? Do whatever it takes and adopt this plan-- quickly.
4. Don’t raise taxes. This will require making tough choices. Ask agencies to do more with less. Enough said.
Posted by clrankin
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It will be interesting to see what does not occur for the Blue Ridge District in the next 4 years (WOW). How can so many dream so much and accept so little.
Posted by deathbreath2
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