Election Day
Local political history and a statewide trend are on the line tonight as voters across the commonwealth head to the polls.
Published: November 3, 2009
Updated: November 3, 2009
Local political history and a statewide trend are on the line tonight as voters across the commonwealth head to the polls.
In Culpeper, if Bill Chase is re-elected, he’ll be the county’s longest-serving supervisor since Reconstruction. The 72-year-old independent is vying for his eighth term to represent the Stevensburg District on the Board of Supervisors against F. Dewayne Payne Jr. and Gardiner Mulford.
Abraham S. White (Cedar Mountain District, 1920-48) is the only other county supervisor with such an extensive period in public office, according to Culpeper historian Donnie Johnston.
In the gubernatorial race, if Republican Bob McDonnell wins, he’ll continue the longstanding trend of Virginians electing a candidate from the party not occupying the White House. The last time Virginia chose a governor from the same party as the president, it was 1973.
If the campaign for governor has a familiar feel, it’s because McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds are no political strangers. Four years ago, McDonnell beat Deeds by 360 votes to become state attorney general.
This time around, it’s not expected to be that close. A poll conducted this weekend by the Richmond Times-Dispatch put McDonnell’s advantage at 12 percentage points, with only 6 percent undecided.
During the campaign, Culpeper became a popular stumping ground, as McDonnell and Deeds both logged three visits. And on Friday, the entire GOP state ticket came to town: McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (seeking re-election against Democrat Jody Wagner) and Ken Cuccinelli (campaigning for attorney general against Democrat Steve Shannon).
With recent polls giving Bolling and Cuccinelli sizeable leads, Republicans are hopeful for a sweep.
In the final race for state office, voters in Culpeper, Orange and Madison counties will be selecting a representative for the House of Delegates’ 30th District. Three-term Republican Ed Scott, of Madison, is going up against political newcomer Matt Carson, an independent from Rixeyville.
On the county level, two of the three supervisor races are uncontested: Brad Rosenberger (Jefferson) and Larry Aylor (Cedar Mountain) are running unopposed.
For School Board, incumbent Elizabeth Hutchins faces Richard Goff in the Cedar Mountain District while Bob Houck and John Cerio run for the West Fairfax seat left empty by Jimmy Lee’s resignation in May. George Dasher (Stevensburg) and Leanne Jenkins (Jefferson) are uncontested.
Culpeper County has 27,400 active, registered voters. So be on the lookout for more than a few “I voted” stickers.
When to vote
» Polling locations are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where to vote
West Fairfax
Culpeper United Methodist Church, 1233 Oaklawn Drive
East Fairfax
Culpeper County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center
Catalpa
Eggbornsville: Emerald Hill Elementary, 11245 Rixeyville Road
Cardova: Culpeper County High School, 14240 Achievement Drive
Salem
Eldorado: Salem Vol. Fire Dept. 13428 Scotts Mill Road
Browns Store: Reva Vol. Fire Dept., 18230 Birmingham Road
Jefferson
Jeffersonton: Jeffersonton Center, 5073 Jeffersonton Road
Rixeyville: Hazel River Assembly of God, 14383 Hazel River Church Road
Cedar Mountain District
Mitchells: Mitchells Presbyterian Church, 12229 Mitchells Road
Pearl Sample: Pearl Sample Elementary School, 18480 Simms Drive
Stevensburg District
Brandy Station: Brandy Station Fire Department, 19601 Church Road
Lignum: Hopewell Methodist Church, 23557 Lignum Road
Richardsville: Richardsville Fire Hall, 29361 Elys Ford Road
On the ballot
Virginia governor
Robert F. “Bob” McDonnell (R), R. Creigh Deeds (D)
Virginia lieutenant governor
William T. “Bill” Bolling (R), Jody M. Wagner (D)
Virginia attorney general
Ken T. Cuccinelli II (R), Stephen C. Shannon (D)
Virginia House of Delegates District 30
Edward T. Scott (R), Matt A. Carson (I)
Culpeper County Board of Supervisors
» Jefferson District: Brad C. Rosenberger (R)
» Cedar Mountain District: Larry W. Aylor (R)
» Stevensburg District:
F. Dewayne Payne Jr. (R), William C. “Bill” Chase Jr. (I), Gardiner S. Mulford (I)
Culpeper County School Board
» Jefferson District: Leanne S. Jenkins (I)
» West Fairfax District: John L. Cerio (I), Robert A. Houck (I)
» Cedar Mountain District: Richard H. Goff (I), Elizabeth S. Hutchins (I)
» Stevensburg District: George T. Dasher (I)
More coverage
TV
» Channel 21: Live Culpeper election updates starting at 7 p.m.
» Channel 16: Va. Living TV will discuss the election Wednesday.
Online
» StarExponent.com:Afternoon updates from the polls
» Up-to-the-minute results:sbe.virginia.gov/cms/
CSE
» Breaking down Culpeper: Pick up tomorrow’s Star-Exponent for locally geared election stories, commentary and photos.
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Reader Reactions
Perhaps they used this one since it is one of the VERY FEW pics where Deeds is actually smiling, rather than looking dowdy and glum. Just a thought…BTW, it makes no matter to me what a candidate looks like, but I do appreciate a candidate that attempts to sound intelligent.
atl, sandy, how could you possibly think that I based my vote on Deeds’ suit?
But do you really think that it doesn’t make any difference how candidates for shown to the public? Show me one picture of a candidate in any race whose suit is more rumpled-looking. The CSE has plenty to choose from. Why did they choose this one?
My comment to CSE is why so late on this info. I really had to research for quite sometime last week to find what was going to be on the ballot and what polling times were going to be. Some of us like to make an informed decsion BEFORE getting to polls.
You are basing your vote on how a man’s suit fits, rjma? Personally, IF I was going to finalize my voting decision by the two pictures I would go with Deeds. He is smiling and looks like a very nice person. I’m sure he probably is, but my vote will be cast for McDonnell today.
Actually the philosophies represented is exatly why I will not vote for McDonnell. Since he isn’t going to raise taxes he is either A. gonna do nothing or B. cut funding somewhere that it is needed rather than from places his contributors won’t like.
Heaven help us if you are basing your vote on how the suit fits. No, it is not the suit or how it fits, but the philosophies represented that make Bob McDonnell the more suitable Governor.
There’s the CSE candidate in his nice crisp suit. And then Creigh Deeds in a awkward pic with his suit all askew mostly because he’s raising his arm which is out of view.
It’s fine that you use your editorial page for editorializing but I think your readers would like you to keep your news section relatively unbiased.
Can anyone imagine that the CSE would choose Mr. McDonnell in a less favorable photo than Mr. Deeds? How many Deeds photos did you pass over before choosing this one?
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