With losses in 2016 and Councilwoman Bass stepping down, can the GOP take back Manassas City Hall in November?

MANASSAS — November elections can be a game changer for government at any level, and Manassas City was no different.

The November 2016 City Council election brought in two new Democrats and unseated a long-term Republican.  

How it happened and what the City of Manassas Republican Committee intends to do about it were issues Andrew Harrover, the committee’s chair, addressed in a recent interview.

“The party was successful in running in the May election,” said Harrover, a former Manassas City Council member. “We were good at that. Then elections changed to fall. The party had some adjusting to do in terms of strategy and approach.”

According to Harrover, a November local election is a “hazard.”

“We’re having people for City Council in November, and it will be very hard for them to be heard over the commotion at the national level,” he said. “The local elections just get lost.”

When asked why in the previous election long-term members like Jonathan Way lost, Harrover said, “Almost every election is unique. It’s hard to draw conclusions for the next election from the previous one.”

“The top of our ticket hurt at the state level, and it hurt some of our candidates. Changing demographics and polarization at the top of the ticket makes life difficult,” said Harrover.

Strategy and reach will be important if the Republicans want to take back the lost seats.

“The Republican party will have to take a more muscular approach to campaigning and will have to engage every constituent in the city,” Harrover said. “Especially in November, more and more people come from every corner of the city to vote. You have to go talk to all the voters.”

“You have to give the Democrats credit. They put together an aggressive campaign, and that is kind of new,” he added.

Bass won’t run again for Manassas City Council

Republican Sheryl Bass announced that she will not run for City Council again in the fall. She’s served on the Council since 1982, and before that on the School Board.

Bass’s April 4 Facebook post says in part, “At this time I do not intend to run for office this Fall, but will fulfill my work as a Councilwoman and Vice Mayor until my current term concludes at the end of December. Last year proved to be a challenge with the passing of both of my parents and the birth of my first grandchild. I plan to catch up with life and look to the next year or two as other avenues to serve may arise. I will not let the mean-spirited polarizing politics in Manassas compromise my principles, because… Together, we can make a difference in OUR City.”

Harrover said he’s sorry to see her go, and added that she’d be a great candidate.

“I completely get where Cheryl is,” Harrover, a former Manassas Vice-Mayor, said, citing his own decision to step back when his daughter was in high school and participating in activities he wanted to be part of.

“It’s hard to step away from politics. Not a lot of people do it. I give her credit.”

The search for new candidates begins

According to a recent press release from the City of Manassas Republican Committee:

A GOP canvas will be held at Metz Middle School – April 28th – from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.  All registered voters in Manassas who want to help elect leaders for our City are welcome to vote anytime during those hours. The voting process itself will be very similar to a general election.

Manassas will elect three individuals this November to serve for four years on the Manassas City Council. The GOP’s Party Canvas will select up to three individuals to be the official Republican candidates for those three seats. Candidates selected at the Canvas w.ill automatically have their names on the November General Election Ballot.

Harrover said about the canvas, “The Democrats have a lot of energy in Virginia. For the city, it’s important that people figure out who they support. You can’t outsource local government and expect great results. On either side, the city is better if there’s a healthy contest. We’re going to do our best to convince people that our party is the best to bring the city forward.”

Traditionally, candidates spend between ten and twenty thousand dollars in their campaign. “It may go up some,” Harrover said. “But I don’t think there will be a material change. It might go up incrementally.”

The official Canvas Call, which includes details on how to become a candidate, can be found at the City of Manassas Republican Committee’s Facebook page and on their website, www.manassasgop.com. Individuals who want to run for the GOP nomination must be registered voters in Manassas, consider themselves Republicans and file with the party by April 13.