primary

Poll: Are You Paying Attention to Local Politics?

By ARLnow.com

It’s shaping up to be a very interesting off-year election in Arlington.

There are competitive Democratic primaries set for local state Senate and House of Delegates races. There’s a strong Republican contender looking to pull an upset in a formerly safe Democratic state Senate district. And there’s a national Green Party official challenging two County Board incumbents.

Local political watchers used to lopsided elections are enthralled at the prospect of some legitimate horse races. But is anybody else paying attention at this point? Let’s find out.



Tribbett Decides Against State Senate Run

By ARLnow.com

Technology consultant and Not Larry Sabato blogger Ben Tribbett has decided not to run for state Senate, after all.

Tribbett had been considering running for the seat vacated by the retiring Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple. He would have faced a tough primary battle between County Board member Barbara Favola, who Whipple has endorsed, and Lt. Col. Jaime Areizaga-Soto, who is expected to officially announce his candidacy at tomorrow’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.

“We have two capable candidates,” Tribbett told ARLnow.com this morning, adding that he was not planning on endorsing either candidate quite yet.

Tribbett said his decision was a personal one that was made tougher because he had been receiving words of encouragement and pledges of financial contributions.

Photo via Twitter

Internal Changes for State Senate Campaigns

By ARLnow.com

There have been two minor but noteworthy developments in the Democratic primary battle for Mary Margaret Whipple’s state Senate seat.

Liz Chadderdon, a consultant who had been working with Barbara Favola’s campaign, has left the campaign. Political chatter suggests she may have quit.

“You have to find the right fit sometimes,” Favola told ARLnow.com last night, without specifically addressing the circumstances surrounding Chadderdon’s departure. “It’s probably good we figured this out sooner rather than later.”

Chadderdon did not return a call for comment.

Meanwhile, Englin Consulting — run by Shayna Englin and husband Del. David Englin — has been hired to assist Army Lt. Col. Jaime Areizaga-Soto in his soon-to-be-announced run for Whipple’s seat.

“We’re psyched to work with Jaime,” Shayna Englin told the Blue Virginia blog. “He’s a tremendous candidate who’s in it to win.”

Technology consultant Ben Tribbett, a potential third Democratic candidate for the race, chimed in with praise for Areizaga-Soto’s hire.

“I think Englin Consulting is one of the best groups of Democratic consultants in the state,” he said. “I can’t think of anybody better to help guide Jaime.”

More Endorsements for Krupicka, Ebbin

By ARLnow.com

There are two more endorsements to report in the three-way Democratic primary race for the 30th District state Senate seat.

Democratic congressman Gerry Connolly endorsed Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka over the weekend.

“Rob is an exceptionally qualified candidate, and will make an excellent addition to our region’s delegation in Richmond,” Connolly said. “Coming from local government myself, I know Rob’s service on the Alexandria City Council will be an incredible asset in the State Senate.”

Meanwhile former Rep. Leslie Byrne — the first woman to serve in Congress from Virginia — announced her endorsement of Del. Adam Ebbin today.

“Adam represents the progressive leadership this Senate District deserves,” she said in a statement. “I am proud to endorse him.”

Byrne served one term in the 11th District House seat that is currently held by Connolly.

Interviewed today by ARLnow.com, Rep. Jim Moran said he did not anticipate taking sides in the primary between Krupicka, Ebbin and Arlington School Board Chair Libby Garvey.

“I don’t think I’m going to,” he said. “They’re all friends.”

“I’m of course going to support whoever wins the primary,” Moran added.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Preschool Makes Headlines — Claremont Elementary’s Montessori preschool program is receiving lots of attention for its decision to suspend a three-year-old who has “difficulty making it to the toilet on time.” The Wall Street Journal opines: “Potty training poses a tough challenge for dual working-parents.” [Washington Post]

Virginia Primary Will Be Held in August — Virginia’s primary date has been pushed back to Aug. 23 to allow more time for the state to complete its contentious redistricting process. Normally, primaries are held on the second Tuesday in June. [Washington Post]

Cuccinelli Suing Bank on Behalf of Arlington Retirement Fund — Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is suing the Bank of New York Mellon Corp., accusing the financial giant of ripping off several state retirement systems, including the Arlington County Employees’ Retirement System Fund. The complaint alleges that BNY Mellon overcharged for foreign exchange transactions. [Wall Street Journal]

Draft Beer at the Clarendon Whole Foods — You can now get 32- or 64-ounce growlers filled up with draft beer at the Clarendon Whole Foods. Recently, the selection included Avery Brown Ale, Lagunitas IPA and Eggenberg Pils. Sorry, Whole Foods diners, “sales are for takeout only.” [Patch]

Transportation Group Calls Out Arlington — The pro-HOT lanes Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance is taking a dig at the county in response to our article about the anti-Arlington budget amendments proposed by Fairfax Republican Del. Tim Hugo. Says the NVTA: “It is unfortunate that the Arlington Board’s actions could cause Arlington citizens and businesses to lose state revenue and potentially pay even higher taxes. However… Bad Decisions Can Have Bad Consequences.” [NVTA]

County Tax Assessor Unveils New Campaign Song

By ARLnow.com

Ingrid Morroy may be best known for being Arlington’s chief tax assessor, but on the campaign trail she’s known as the chief singer-songwriter for county Democrats.

Morroy, the county’s Commissioner of Revenue, often performs songs about political causes and candidates at Arlington County Democratic Committee events.

Together with her sister Judith, Morroy unveiled a new tune over the weekend, in support of Commonwealth’s Attorney candidate Theo Stamos. Stamos is expected to face defense attorney David Deane in the Democratic primary later this year.

Morroy, who’s also up for reelection this year, performed the song at the home of former Falls Church mayor Robin Gardner. The Morroy sisters also perform locally with their band, The Constituents.

Video courtesy of James E. Martin

Virginia Primary Date Could Be Pushed Back This Year

By ARLnow.com

Virginia lawmakers, preparing for a drawn-out redistricting battle, may consider pushing back this year’s state primary.

Redistricting occurs every ten years in conjunction following the U.S. Census. It traditionally is a partisan process, with the majority party drawing districts in a way that helps their election chances the most. This year, however, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates will have to work with the Democratic-controlled Senate.

As an added wrinkle, the plans will for the first time face the scrutiny of a Democratic Justice Department. Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department has oversight over Virginia’s redistricting process. Since the Voting Rights Act passed in the 1960s, redistricting has always occurred during a Republican presidential administration.

The legislature will enter a special session in April to carry out the redistricting process. To make sure delays don’t affect the state primary, scheduled for June 14, Del. Mark Cole (the Fredericksburg Republican of microchip implantation fame), has introduced a bill that would move the primary date to Sept. 13.

If passed, the bill would apply to all primaries in the state, including those for county officials.

Del. Bob Brink (D-Arlington), speaking to the League of Women Voters of Arlington last night, said he believes the proposal will become law.

“I think it’s highly likely that this bill will go through,” Brink said.

Moran wins DPVA Chair, Rousselot Mulls Next Move

By ARLnow.com

A collection of party leaders voted former Del. Brian Moran (brother of Rep. Jim Moran), chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia on Saturday. Moran defeated an underdog bid by Peter Rousselot, former chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

Rousselot says it was worth the trouble to advance his agenda for the state party.

“I set a reform agenda in my DPVA Chair campaign, and I gained many new supporters for reform both in Arlington and around Virginia,” he said.

At least one activist is now calling for Rousselot to pursue another intra-party fight. Ben Tribbett, who runs the Not Larry Sabatao blog, says he’s trying to convince Rousselot to challenge state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple in next year’s primary.

Tribbett cites Whipple’s endorsement of Moran for chair and her willingness to serve as a “token” Democrat on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s government reform commission as reasons why she should be unseated by a fellow Democrat.

“Senator Whipple has represented Arlington for 16 years in the State Senate without ever having a serious election where voters had a serious choice of who was best to represent Arlington,” Tribbett said. “I think after her recent actions it’s time for the voters to have a chance to speak.”

So far, Rousselot is not dismissing the idea outright.

(more…)

Berry Says He’ll Vote for Murray

By ARLnow.com

It’s not exactly a heartfelt, ringing endorsement, but former GOP candidate for congress Matthew Berry has written a letter to supporters saying that he will vote for Patrick Murray.

Murray, who defeated Berry in June’s Republican primary, raised the ire of many local Republicans by sending out a controversial last-minute mailer about Berry. One local conservative blogger called the mailer “foul” and “disgusting,” although Murray maintained that his campaign’s conduct was aboveboard.

Nonetheless, two months after the mailer went out, Berry appears to be trying to bury the hatchet.

In the letter, Berry writes that “Patrick is generally on the right side while [incumbent Democrat] Jim Moran and [Green Party candidate] Ron Fisher are generally on the wrong side.” He also notes that “Patrick is the only candidate who will vote to give Republicans control of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

One month ago, Berry would only go so far as to tell an audience of Arlington Republicans that Murray “deserves our respect.”

(Earlier we mentioned the conspicuous lack of the word “endorse” in the letter, but it turns out the subject line was “Endorsement.”)

Murray Looks Forward, But Berry Supporters Looking Back

By ARLnow.com

Patrick Murray is gearing up for a tough general election fight, but many supporters of the candidate he defeated in Tuesday’s GOP primary still haven’t moved on from what they say was a dishonorable finish to the campaign.

Supporters of Matthew Berry have taken to the comment section of the local Republican politics website RedNoVA to vent their frustration.

Said one: “People I’ve spoken to in the last three days are shocked and disgusted by Murrays tactics… There is no better chance that I will [support] Murray than there is of Murray defeating Moran. Period.”

Another wrote: “Upon losing you pause for a moment and then shift gears to throw your support behind the winner. In the end, we’re all Republicans, right? Well not this time for me. I saw the ugly, inside game Murray put up especially the final 96hrs and I refuse to reward that with my vote in the fall.”

Much of the controversy revolves around a mailer sent out by the Murray campaign on the eve of the election. The last-hour mailer didn’t explicitly point out that Berry is openly gay, but it included statements like “Matthew favors Gay Marriage in Virginia,” and “Matthew, who has never served in the Military, supports change of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

RedNoVA called it “one of the most foul mailers ever.”

Murray, however, disputes the notion that his campaign did anything morally objectionable.

“I want us to be nothing but positive,” Murray said during an interview at his victory party in Alexandria Tuesday night. “There was a little ugly back and forth… but I’m very confident and comfortable that we stayed on the high ground the entire time.”

Murray had an explanation for the last-minute timing of the mailing.

“I delayed the sending of our one mailer — we only did one mailer — I delayed it for days to the aggravation of my campaign staff… because I got involved to investigate in painstaking detail that we were being accurate with my opponent’s position… and we were,” he said. “I feel comfortable about what we did, and I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

(more…)

Patrick Murray Wins GOP Nom in Surprise Squeaker

By ARLnow.com

Despite a lopsided fundraising disadvantage, retired Army colonel Patrick Murray managed to narrowly defeat his organized and well-connected opponent, government attorney Matthew Berry, in a contest to see who will face ten-term Democratic congressman Jim Moran in the fall.

Berry called Murray to concede the race just before 9:00 last night. Murray won with 7,133 votes, or 51.75 percent of the vote, to Berry’s 6651 vote, or 48.25 percent.

Berry had an edge in Arlington and Alexandria, but unofficial voting numbers show that Murray won by a relatively wide margin in Falls Church and Fairfax County.

Murray issued the following statement today:

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for the faith and trust you have shown by nominating me as your candidate to restore honor and dignity to the representation of Virginia’s 8th District seat in Congress.  I pledge to you my best effort to reward your trust come November.

I thank Matthew Berry and his supporters. Matthew has my appreciation and congratulations on an energetic and spirited campaign.  His commitment to the Republican principles of limited government and individual responsibility energized an army of Republican voters eager for change from profligate spending policies of the Obama-Pelosi-Moran regime in Washington.

The press has taken notice there were almost 14,000 voters in this Republican Congressional Primary.  This clearly shows the high level of discontent among 8th District voters with Jim Moran’s long record of divisive and partisan representation.

We kicked off our campaign this morning on FOX5 at 9:00am this morning.  Join the Murray Momentum as we work together to take our country back and send Jim Moran into political retirement.

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