Fairfax City Results (GOOD NEWS UPDATE)

Mayor Rob Lederer has, sadly, cruised to reelection.  So expect more traffic congestion and more local  businesses to be squeezed out of the city.  The City Council reelected two members, two retired, and one was defeated. 

1. Steve Stombres     -  1,974
   
2. David Meyer         -  1,974
   
3. Jeff Greenfield      -  1,836
   
4. Gary Rasmussen  -  1,793
   
5. Joan Cross            -  1,717            
   
6. Dan Drummond   -  1,664
   

Couple things strike me here.  First off, its a BIG night for Steve Stombres and David Meyer, who as first-time candidates out-polled every incumbant city councilmen.  Chap Petersen protege Drummond also made the cut, though barely.  I'm rather suprised, given that his mailers where pasted with Chap and Bulova, that he didn't do better.  It should be interesting to see where the Council goes from here.  Only three incumbants remain, so change is afoot.  Ideologically, I roughly put it at 3-3, with the three on the Dem side going further left with Drummond and the three on the GOP side go further right with Stombres.  Should be fun to watch.

This is a good night for Republicans, too, with Stombres.   A star is born, friends, just in the fact that in the heart of Fairfax County Congressman Eric Cantor's chief-of-staff could win an election in this manner.  He was able to reach across the spectrum, earning the vigorous endorsement of outgoing councilman Scott Silverthorne.  I've gotten to know Stombres a little bit during this brief campaign, and wish I could have done more to help, but his victory has made my week.  He's a great guy, will be a great councilman, and he has a  bright future.

ANOTHER UPDATE!

More great news.  Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis has been RE-ELECTED MAYOR! Huzzah for my old home-town, where my folks lived while I was at Mason.

Here is the State Board page.

Comments

Chris...Steve won big because he ran an honest and honorable campaign. In addition, he understood from day one that the council is non-partisan. Never, ever once did he introduce party into his campaign. He had as many Dems (me) working for him as he did Republicans.
What makes Steve so special is that his future is on the Hill. He is not "punching
his ticket" with the thought of going on to Richmond. He will study the issues, look to what is in the best of ALL in the City and vote accordingly.
I am sad Patrice did not win. I think the Council would have benefited from Bill Foster's financial knowledge and if it wasn't going to be Patrice I wish it had been Bill. Dan Drummond will add nothing to the Council.

[Chris]

Yeah I'm basically with you. Patrice has become a friend and I am sad that Drummond overtook her at the end. He's just another cookie-cutter Fairfax Dem.

To be honest, I was suprised Steve did this way - perhaps it was my pessimistic GOP instincts. I thought Foster, Drummond, and Meyer would get the three open spots.

Dan Drummond is a Chap wannabee. He even started his campaign wearing newly acquired Chappy bow ties. Is he Chap's protege or Chap's lapdog? He ran a campaign that made this Dem sick. I was all but attacked in the Trader Joe's parking lot by one of the City's most gullible. She with distaste noted I must be a Republican. Given that I have Gerry C Mark W and Brian M bumper stickers on my car, I thought that strange. She pointed to Steve's bumper sticker. She had heard all about that "Steve guy" He works for a high power Republican Congressman.
...Doesn't reflect the City's values. She went on and on about how the City has turned Blue and we need to turn the Council Blue...we need to elect Dan. My evil twin then took over and we had quite a chat. I had the advantage as for 4 years I "experienced" Dan's do nothing leadership of the City Dems Committee. . When we got to "values" this flake learned her hero is Powell-Tate's lead lobbyist for payday lenders...(When Steve's employment was brought into this election, I thought Dan's was fair game. Steve would not go there.)
One suggestion Chris...get away from the party labels when it comes to Council. The City is approx 22,000 people and the talent pool for those who want to run or should is small. The Council cannot afford to be limited by party. I am a Dem, but since day one I have supported among others, Joan Cross and consider her a friend. The City has some major issues that are going to have to be addressed and I hope each and every Council member will look to what is in the best interest of the community and not what is in their personal best interest.
I know beyond a doubt that is what Steve will do.

Maybe now with some fresh blood on the council and people with real political experience (primarily Stombres and Drummond) they will start asking the right questions of city staff, the business community and residents and make rational, commonsense decisions. I believe this marks the end of the back room deals that have been so prevalent the past few years.

I think the new guys will realize that the past 2 years of the Mayor's "revitalization" has brought us nothing but higher taxes, big debt, a 10% loss in business revenues, a glut of commercial office/retail vacancies, a 3-story mini-mall that sticks out like a sore thumb in Old Town and is half empty, and horrible traffic.

I think this new crop of councilmembers, regardless of party, understands that we can't afford any more of the Mayor's "revitalization" and put an end to the ousting of existing businesses (TT Reynolds is next on the chopping block!)and fix the traffic disaster in Old Town which is hurting the local businesses (and angering the city residents).

I'm not surprised that Winter lost. I'm surprised that Cross hung on. While these two ladies are very nice to be sure, they simply didn't understand such basic concepts like businesses need parking to be prosperous. They were two of the strongest advocates behind dropping $3 million of your taxpayer dollars on the ridiculous "pocket park" in Old Town (currently a temporary parking lot) and other such wasteful, unnecessary spending. And you wonder why your taxes have gone up...

[GeneralPatton]

Steve Stombres did an incredible job this campaign and will do an even better job on the council. The people were wise to elect him.

[FYI]

I taught this to my fourth graders this week - its i-n-c-u-m-b-e-n-t, not incumbant.

And this dem says GO STEVE!!