From George Mason University’s School of Music:
George Mason University Jazz Department, Fairfax Law Foundation, and
Prince William Bar Foundation Pair Up to Raise Funds for Legal Aid and ScholarshipsFriday, November 10at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts CenterSaturday, November 11 at 8 p.m.
Center for the ArtsFAIRFAX—George Mason University’s School of Music presents the Woody, Bird, and Diz Jazz4Justice™ Concert on Friday, November 10 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas and Saturday, November 11 at the Center for the Arts in Fairfax. More information and tickets are available at hyltoncenter.org and cfa.gmu.edu.
The concert is presented in partnership with the Fairfax Law Foundation and Prince William Bar Foundation, and it will raise funds to support vital community legal services and George Mason University Jazz Scholarships. There will be an open jam session hosted by George Mason University students following each performance. Read More
Laura Sellers isn’t going to down without a fight.
“This game on. We’ve just begun,” she said Tuesday night.
A total of 17 votes separates the Democrat from her Republican challenger Mark Dudenhefer in their respective bids for the Garrisonville seat on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.
Sellers is fighting to keep her place on the board, while Dudenhefer is looking to take it back. He gave up the seat in 2012 when he was elected to serve in the House of Delegates 2nd District in Stafford and Prince William counties.
Jennifer Carroll Foy took the 2nd District House of Delegates seat from Mike Makee.
This marks the second time the seat has flipped to a Democrat since it was moved from the southwest portion of the state.
Foy will replace Republican Mark Dudenhefer who chose not to run for re-election to the seat. He went on to win back his seat on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, the one he vacated in 2011 to take the 2nd District House seat in 2011.
Foy won a landslide victory over Makee by more than 40 points.
While she had a decisive win in Prince William County, ballot count was still close in Stafford County as of this posting with Foy leading there with 18 votes.
We’ll update this post with the final numbers from both counties.
This year, Republicans were late to the game with Makee. Lauquan Austion has been the party’s nominee, but the Richmond Times-Dispatch learned that he had lied about his college record, leading to Austion’s withdrawal from the race.
Makee stepped up and agreed to run as a replacement candidate in August. He did not face Foy during a series of debates held before the election.
It wasn’t a quite race for Democrats, either, as Foy’s Primary Election challenger, Fairfax County sheriff Josh King demanded a recount after he lost his June Primary Election by 14 votes.
Updated
Mike Makee won Stafford County with 52 percent of the vote.
The 31st House of Delegates seat goes to political newcomer Elizabeth Guzman, who beat the long-serving Scott Lingamfelter.
The Alexandria social worker beat the decorated Army colonel who retired after 28 years in the service.
“”Elizabeth Guzman has proudly served Prince William County in the public sector for ten years and knows the challenges that many in the 31st District face every day. Elizabeth has worked hard as an immigrant and single mother, and we know that she will bring that same tireless commitment to her duties as delegate,” Virginia Democrats penned in a press release.
Guzman won a decisive 12-point victory over Lingamfelter. The 13th District encompasses portions of eastern Prince William County (Dale City) and a portion of Fauquier County.
Lingenfelter had a strong showing in Fauquier County with nearly 70 percent of the vote. But it was Prince William County voters who put Guzman in office, giving her more than 60 percent of the about 20,000 votes cast.
In an upset, political newcomer Hyla Ayala beat long-serving Delegate, Richard Anderson.
The Democrat won the 51st District that encompasses much of Prince William County by six points, beating Anderson who has served in the seat since 2009.
Ayala is a cybersecurity specialist by day and a community activist, as well as the President of the National Organization of Women Prince William County Chapter.
Anderson is a retired Air Force General who focused on veterans issues. He played an integral role in securing funding for a new veterans medical center to be located at Vint Hill and got legislation passed to curb texting and driving.
From a press release:
“I am so honored for the privilege to represent House District 51. I am humbled by the faith that my future constituents have placed in my candidacy and our message. I built my campaign on the promise of fair and equal representation of our community, in all of its wonderful diversity. I intend to make sure Richmond hears our local voices, especially as we fight to improve our schools, work toward long-term solutions to reduce traffic congestion and ensure affordable health care to those in need.
“In such endeavors, I look forward to expanding our coalition in making Prince William County an even better place to live, work and raise a family. As his constituent, I thank Delegate Anderson for his years of military and civilian service.
“After tonight, our work begins.”
Democrat Lee Carter won his election bid over the longtime incumbent Jackson Miller.
The political newcomer beat Miller by at least nine points and will take the 50th House of Delegates District seat in Manassas, and a portion of Prince William County.
Miller did not face Carter in a series of debates held leading up to the election.
In a press statement, Virginia Democrats called Carter an activist.
“Lee Carter has been a strong progressive in his fight to support working families in Northern Virginia. As a Marine Corps veteran and an activist, Lee has built his career on helping others.We are proud to work with Lee as he fights for his constituents in the General Assembly.”
Danica Roem defeated incumbent Bob Marshall in the 13th District House race.
The victory makes the Democrat Virginia’s first transgender delegate in Richmond.
Roem, a former reporter at the Gainesville Times, ran on a platform of fixing Route 28 for commuters who live in Prince William County and work in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
She referred to her opponent — who had 25 years experience in the legislature — as “bigot Bob.”
More in a press release;
Virginia House of Delegates candidate Danica Roem will become the first out transgender person to win and serve in a state legislature – and the only out trans state legislator in the entire United States. Her historic victory at the polls Tuesday night is imbued with symbolism, as she defeated 25-year incumbent “Bigot Bob” Marshall, one of the most anti-LGBTQ state legislators in the nation and the author of the anti-trans bathroom bill. Victory Fund invested heavily in her race – raising more than $200 thousand for her campaign, running get out the vote efforts during her primary and on election day, and helping raise her profile to a national audience.
Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Fund, released the following statement when her victory was announced:
“Tonight voters chose a smart, solutions-oriented trans leader over a divisive anti-LGBTQ demagogue – sending a powerful message to anti-trans legislators all across the nation. Danica defeated ‘Bigot Bob’ Marshall not because she is transgender, but because she presented a positive vision for her constituents that will improve their lives. We are determined to replicate this race nationwide – using constituent-focused LGBTQ candidates to takedown elected officials who use their positions to target our community. Tonight was the opening salvo.
“Danica’s victory is a historic milestone in our continued march toward equality – becoming the first out trans person to ever win and serve in a state legislature. Her campaign was hard-fought – she shared her personal story with her constituents and braved constant, dehumanizing anti-trans attacks from her opponent – but that is the burden trailblazers often face. Danica has inspired trans leaders across the country, and it is inevitable more will follow in her footsteps and become powerful voices for our community.
“2017 will be remembered as the year of the trans candidate – and Danica’s heroic run for office the centerpiece of that national movement. Victory Fund was among Danica’s first endorsements because of her ambitious but realistic campaign plan and her dedication to knocking on doors and talking about the issues that matter. We believed in her – bundling more than $200,000 on her behalf, sending dozens of staff and volunteers to get out the vote for her in the primary and general election, and helping her secure the national media platform necessary to raise additional contributions. Trans elected leaders like Danica are the antidote to the anti-trans efforts we see across the nation, so Victory Fund will continue working tirelessly to elect more of them.”
QUANTICO — A man who was reported missing over the weekend was found dead at Quantico.
Kevin Tscherch, 48, was found on the Marine Corps Base, according to a Prince William County Police Department spokesman.
Tscherch went missing at noon on Sunday from his home on Savannah Court in Stafford County. It’s unclear what led to his death.
Prince William police say the NCIS is investigating his death.
On Sunday, police said Tscherch might be in the area of Quantico Marine Corps Base. They added he might be in need of assistance, which would qualify him as a missing endangered person.
We’ll update this post with new information once we have it.
Republican Ed Gillespie took questions from the press and posed for photos with voters outside Montclair Elementary School.
The candidate arrived at the polling place just after 1 p.m. and was greeted by smiles from voters, many telling them “I hope you win.”
The rain that had persisted for much of the morning and early afternoon stopped briefly while Gillespie answered our questions about job growth, attracting new business, appealing to voters in heavily Democratic Northern Virginia, and his one-time Primary Election opponent, and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman, At-large Corey Stewart. Read More
