The campaign sounds very organized. I wonder how 8" of snow on the ground will affect their plans. Standing at the grocery stores and distributing lit that way would probably be more effective than trying to go door-to-door in the snow. I'm out of town this weekend and won't be able to help with the lit drop. Hopefully, others can.
Dear Fellow Anti-Taxers,As promised, here are the details about the anti-referendum victory party.
First, directions:
Directions to Virginia Crossings Resort from Northern Virginia:
Take 95 South. Exit 86 onto Route 656, turn right toward Elmont. Turn left onto Route 1 South for one mile. Turn right onto Virginia Center Parkway and look for brick entrance on the left.
Second, we will be in room 433. There are actually two receptions, first from 5-7 p.m., and then the main party begins at 10 p.m., both in rm. 433.
I hope that I will see many of you there!
Sincerely,
Ken Cuccinelli
Dec 15, 2002
GOP favored to win in 40th
Four candidates are vying to replace O'Brien
BY PAUL BRADLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
CENTREVILLE - A Republican candidate who began campaigning even before the seat was officially vacant is the heavy favorite to win Tuesday's special election for the 40th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Timothy D. Hugo, 39, of Clifton, is one of four candidates seeking the seat vacated when James K. O'Brien Jr. was elected to the state Senate last month. O'Brien, a Republican, had held the seat for 11 years.
The other candidates seeking the seat are Democrat Carol A. Hawn, 43, a citizen activist who has served on numerous boards and commissions; and independent candidates Mark A. Calhoun, 33, a newspaper distributor, and Joseph P. Oddo, 44, an Internet consultant.
The 40th District comprises Centreville, Clifton and Fairfax Station in the heavily Republican western swath of Fairfax County. Last year's redistricting by the General Assembly carved out the district as a safe Republican seat.
Tuesday's contest will be the county's third special election in four months. Voters distracted by the holiday season and a compressed four-week campaign are expected to keep turnout low, election officials said.
Hugo, however, started campaigning in September, as soon as O'Brien announced he would seek the state Senate seat. He won the nomination at a firehouse primary.
Hugo is the executive director of CapNet, a national technology industry association that lobbies lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for a House of Delegates seat in 1995, losing to Del. Vivian E. Watts, D-Fairfax.
This time around, Hugo is the odds-on favorite to win. O'Brien is a strong supporter, and Hugo has raised more than $80,000 for his campaign, far more than his opponents, who combined have received about $23,000 in contributions, according to the latest campaign-finance filings. Hawn, the Democrat, has raised about $18,000 in support of her bid.
Taxes have dominated the political debate. Hugo, Calhoun and Otto oppose tax increases, and each of them worked for the defeat of the sales-tax referendum for transportation projects that Northern Virginia voters rejected last month. Hawn favored the measure.
She has said she would focus on local issues and would work to limit development in the Occoquan River watershed. She also supports legislation allowing neighborhoods to limit trucks carrying hazardous materials on their streets. Hawn is making her first run for public office.
Hugo has touted his experience in dealing with technology and transportation issues and backs increased telecommuting to ease congestion on area highways.
For Oddo, this election marks the second time he has tried to win a General Assembly seat. He lost in a Republican primary to O'Brien 11 years ago. He said he is running to provide an alternative to Hugo who, he complains, was hand-picked by the Republican establishment.
Calhoun is also making his first bid for public office. He is president of his homeowner's association. Calhoun opposes the extension of a rail line to Washington Dulles International Airport and said resources instead should be directed at creating more jobs.
Contact Paul Bradley at (703) 548-8758 or pbradley@timesdispatch.com
RTD