"All politics is local."
It’s a famous declaration from longtime Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil. Had he been speaking about Charlottesville and Albemarle County, he might have added a corollary: "and local politics is boring."
That seems to be the consensus anyway, since only about a quarter of all registered voters in the City and County bother to cast ballots for local elections. And it’s not just the citizens who seem disinterested–the November 4 ballot contains nine uncontested races. Apparently no one could find a reason to challenge the leadership of Creigh Deeds, Steve Landes, Mitch Van Yahres, Rob Bell, Jim Camblos, Lindsay Dorrier, Nick Evans, Steven Meeks or Paul Garrett.
So everything must be hunky dory, right? Not hardly. Do you want Albemarle County to look like one big strip mall? Do you want your Sheriff’s Department fighting terrorism? Should we try to build a new reservoir or learn to be more careful with the water we have? Is the school system responsible for closing the achievement gap between black and white students?
We interviewed each candidate and offer the fol lowing guide to what makes them tick. While many of the candidates lack political experience, they at least seem to exercise some civic interest–according to available local voting records, every candidate from the City and County voted in the last election, except Sheriff’s candidate Barry McLane (oops!).
National politics may make for interesting television, but the local election is where your voice gets heard. Read on to see where the candidates stand on local issues, and maybe you’ll find you’ve got something to say.-John Borgmeyer
Senate of Virginia,
24th District
Emmett Hanger, Jr.
Incumbent
Age: 55
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, five children
Education: B.A., James Madison University; M.A., JMU
Previous political experience: House of Delegates, 1983-1991; State Senate, 1996-current
Occupation: Commercial real estate broker
Turn-ons: Farmland–Hanger has sponsored bills making it easier for Virginia to protect farmland and place land in conservation easements. Other turn-ons include major campaign contributors such as Exxon-Mobile, Philip Morris, Sprint and The Realtors PAC.
Turn-offs: The tax code–Hanger is chairman of the State Commission on Tax Reform and Restructure.
The pitch: "I want to correct the inequities in the tax code that put a disproportionate share of the State’s tax burden on the shoulders of low-income residents."
Steven Sisson
Age: 46
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, four children
Education: U.S. Navy Photography School; U.S. Navy Photojournalism School; Florida Junior College; attended Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at UVA
Previous political experience: City of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Reform Party Chairman; 6th District Chairman; Rockingham County Democratic Chairman; Rockingham County District V Planning Commissioner
Occupation: Waste reduction and recycling manager at the Coors Shenandoah Brewery, Elkton
Turn-ons: Taking incumbents to task–Sisson has criticized his opponent, Hanger, for supporting former Governor Jim Gilmore’s car tax repeal, Hanger’s failure to vote for a 2001 bill expressing official regret for the State’s eugenics movement, and for Hanger’s alleged inaction as State Song Committee chairman.
Turn-offs: Taxes–It’s not often you see Virginia Democrats biting the Republicans’ "no new taxes" line, but Sisson has made such a pledge the cornerstone of his campaign.
The pitch: "I believe we need a Senator who understands that public office is about service, and someone who encourages the public to hold them accountable for their actions. I have a strong record, and I believe that if the people of the 24th District put their faith in me, I can be that kind of Senator."
Senate of Virginia,
25th District
Creigh Deeds
Incumbent
Age: 45
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, four children
Education: B.A., Concord College; Wake Forest Law School
Previous political experience: Elected Bath County Commonwealth Attorney in 1988; House of Delegates, 1991-2001; Elected to State Senate in 2001
Occupation: Attorney
Turn-ons: Speeches–Deeds has the "Aw, shucks" western Virginia thing down, and it plays well in Richmond.
Turn-offs: Environmental degradation– Deeds received the Leadership in Public Policy Award from The Nature Conservancy, and the Preservation Alliance of Virginia named him Delegate of the Year.
The pitch: "Government isn’t about sitting on a hilltop saying how everything should be. It’s about creating situations where everyone can win a little bit. You can be very specific about what you want to do, but we’re elected to work together."
House of Delegates,
25th District
Steve Landes
Incumbent
Age: 43
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, one child
Education: B.S., Virginia Commonwealth University
Previous political experience: Delegate since 1996
Occupation: Executive director of Newbiz Virginia
Turn-ons: God and business–Landes proposes handing health care for the elderly over to corporations. He’s also supported teacher-led voluntary prayer and 10 Commandment displays in schools.
Turn-offs: Inheritance taxes, restricting campaign contributions, same-sex marriage and expanding State services for the poor.
The pitch: "I try to listen to people’s concerns, and make sure the State is providing good customer service."
House of Delegates,
57th District
Mitch Van Yahres
Incumbent
Age: He turns 77 on Election Day
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, five children
Education: B.S., Cornell University
Previous political experience: Charlottesville City Council 1968-1976; Charlottesville Mayor 1970-1972; elected to House of Delegates in 1981
Occupation: Retired arborist
Turn-ons: The little guy–"I have always tried to be a voice for those who are neglected or ignored by the system."
Turn-offs: Low cigarette taxes–Van Yahres has repeatedly tried to introduce legislation raising the current tax of 2.5 cents per pack to 60 cents per pack, to no avail.
The pitch: "Sometimes I feel my function is to remind my colleagues that there is more to governing than winning elections and cutting taxes. We are responsible for helping our fellow citizens who can’t help themselves."
House of Delegates,
58th District
Rob Bell
Incumbent
Age: 36
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, one child
Education: B.A., UVA; J.B., UVA
Previous political experience: Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Orange County from 1996-2001
Occupation: Attorney
Turn-ons: Teachers
Turn-offs: Drunk drivers
The pitch: "We need to be sure tax reform will not be used as a way to disguise a tax hike."
House of Delegates,
59th District
Watkins M. Abbitt
Incumbent
Age: 58
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, two children, five grandchildren
Education: B.S. in economics, VCU
Previous political experience: Elected to House of Delegates in 1985; sat on the State Water Control Board, 1981-1985
Occupation: Owns insurance and real estate companies
Turn-ons: His top campaign contributors are auto dealers, Realtors, commercial builders, lumber companies.
Turn-offs: Cutting the State law enforcement budget last year.
The pitch: "I’ve been a voice for rural Virginia, and I’ve worked hard to see that we got our fair share of funding in this district. Last year, in a budget decline, there were no cuts to education, and we were able to keep law enforcement almost whole."
Allen Hale
Age: 60
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, two children, three stepchildren
Education: B.A., UVA
Previous political experience: Treasurer and chair of Nelson County Democratic party; member of the 5th District Democratic Committee; serves on the Industrial Development Authority for Nelson County
Occupation: Land surveyor and bookseller
Turn-ons: Small businesses
Turn-offs: Virginia’s position as last in the country in spending on natural resources.
The pitch: "Tax reform is my priority."
Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney
Jim Camblos
Incumbent
Age: 57
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., UVA; J.D., Western New England College School of Law
Previous political experience: Elected Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney in 1991
Occupation: Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney
Turn-ons: His Republican buddies–Camblos has donated thousands of his leftover campaign money to fellow Republican candidates.
Turn-offs: The understaffed conditions which Camblos says plague his office.
The pitch: "It is my hope that the citizens of Albemarle County share my view that I, as well as my assistants, do a good job."
Albemarle County Sheriff
Ed Robb
Incumbent
Age: 65
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, three children
Education: B.A., Thiel College
Previous political experience: Virginia State Senator,
1992-1996
Occupation: Albemarle County Sheriff
Turn-ons: Rubbing elbows–Robb received campaign contributions from such notables as writer Rita Mae Brown ($1,000) and former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger ($200).
Turn-offs: Newspaper stories about Steve Shifflett, whom Robb hired despite Shifflett’s record of violence as a Louisa County Deputy. Shifflett left the Albemarle force this summer after police discovered he lied about getting shot by a black man, but not before Robb declared the "incident" a "hate crime."
The pitch: "I am eminently better qualified and more experienced."
Larry Claytor
Age: 49
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, three children
Education: Two years at Virginia Tech; associate’s degree from Piedmont Virginia Community College
Previous political experience: None
Occupation: Albemarle County master police officer, forensic specialist
Turn-ons: Being a forensic specialist
Turn-offs: The incumbent Sheriff’s focus on anti-terrorism campaigns, instead of the department’s actual duties of guarding local courtrooms and delivering court papers.
The pitch: "My focus is to be the best Sheriff I can be, to put the focus on the department’s duties."
Barry McLane
Age: 48
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, three children
Education: Attended Ferrum and Lynchburg colleges
Previous political experience: None
Occupation: WorldStrides executive
Turn-ons: His own managerial expertise
Turn-offs: The high turnover of Sheriff’s deputies since Ed Robb took office four years ago. McLane puts the turnover rate at 60 percent.
The pitch: "I will work as hard for the community as I do for my stockholders."
Board of Supervisors, Rivanna District
Peter Hallock
Age: 61
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, three children
Education: B.S., University of Maryland
Previous political experience: Sits on Albemarle County Housing Committee; president of the Little Keswick Foundation for Special Education; sits on Albemarle County Fiscal Impact Committee; Child Youth and Family Service Board; Piedmont Environmental Council Board
Occupation: Co-owns the Garden Spot, with wife, Andrea
Turn-ons: Smart growth, ala Downtown Charlottesville
Turn-offs: Sprawl
The pitch: "I think I have a better handle on the growth issue than my opponent does."
Ken Boyd
Age: 55
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, four children
Education: American College
Previous political experience: 2000-2003 School Board; PTO president of Monticello High School (1997-98); Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) board; Computers for Kids board; government affairs committee for Regional Chamber of Commerce
Occupation: Owner, Boyd Financial Services
Turn-ons: The Buck Mountain Reservoir, a proposed reservoir deemed unbuildable in the early ’90s by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
Turn-offs: Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population (ASAP), a group that advocates more cautious growth to help solve traffic and water problems.
The pitch: "I would like to stop companies from leaving this area by contacting large employers to see what they need us to do to stay here. Large employers are good neighbors not just in terms of taxes they pay, but also in philanthropic terms. I’m worried about them."
Board of Supervisors, Scottsville District
Lindsay Dorrier, Jr.
Incumbent
Age: 60
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., Trinity College; J.D., L.L.M., UVA Law School; M.B.A., James Madison University
Previous political experience: Board of Supervisors from 1976-1980, 2000-present; Commonwealth’s Attorney from 1980-1990; director of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice services from 1990-1994
Occupation: Attorney
Turn-ons: Running unopposed
Turn-offs: The State, which Dorrier says has neglected to fund its share of the County school budget.
The pitch: "I’ve got experience. I’ve been on the board. One of the things I’d like to work on is making sure Albemarle’s zoning laws channel growth to the growth areas and provide for affordable housing, and make sure they don’t contain excess red tape that drives up the cost of development."
Board of Supervisors, White Hall District
Eric Strucko
Age: 38
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., Vanderbilt University; M.A., George Washington University; M.A., Georgetown University
Previous political experience: Development Initiative Steering Committee; County Housing Committee; Governor-appointed to the Miller School of Albemarle Board of Trustees; member of the Meriwether-Lewis PTO
Occupation: Vice-president of finance for AIMR Association
Turn-ons: Growth management and planning
Turn-offs: The construction of a multi-million dollar fire facility in north Albemarle that Strucko says isn’t needed–the money could be better spent on a library and sidewalks for Crozet, teacher compensation, public service salaries and the Acquisition of Conservation Easement program, he says.
The pitch: "I believe I have the best qualifications, a clearer vision and a better plan for Albemarle. I don’t think my opponent has enough experience to handle the complex issues in the County."
David Wyant
Age: 56
Political affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife, three children
Education: B.S., M.S., UVA
Previous political experience: Transportation Research Board, a committee of the National Academy of Science
Occupation: Consulting engineer, NFL referee
Turn-ons: Private property rights, a new 29 Bypass
Turn-offs: Urbanizing Crozet
The pitch: "I believe the role as Supervisor is to listen to the people of my district and represent their desires, not my own. From our recent debate and campaign materials from my opponent, I get the impression that he believes he ‘has all the answers’ and knows what’s best for the people of White Hall."
Soil and Water Director, Thomas Jefferson District
Nick Evans
Incumbent
Age: 52
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., UVA; Ph.D., Virginia Tech
Previous political experience: Elected Soil and Water Director in 1999; graduate of Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, 2000; County Groundwater Committee
Occupation: Hydrogeologist, driller, president of Virginia Groundwater, LLC
Turn-ons: Evans favors laws requiring developers to reimburse counties for any wetlands they destroy during construction.
Turn-offs: The Nature Conservancy, which currently gets wetland reimbursement payment from developers. Evans says it’s questionable how that money is used, because the Conservancy "has very focused interests of their own."
The pitch: "I am an activist. I have a progressive view toward making the soil and water district an entity that will have real impact on water quality issues."
Steven Meeks
Incumbent
Age: 44
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: One child
Education: Attended UVA
Past political experience: Most senior director, first elected in 1989
Occupation: Rental property manager, custom renovation
Turn-ons: The Buck Mountain Reservoir
Turn-offs: The State’s lack of funding for soil and water conservation on Virginia farms.
The pitch: "I’ve always enjoyed public service and working with the general public. I see this as a means to contribute to the county and the state. It’s an all-volunteer position."
Albemarle School Board, At Large
Linda McRaven
Age: 57
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Husband, five children
Education: B.A., George Washington University
Previous political experience: Served on Chamber of Commerce government affairs committee since 1994
Occupation: Construction company administrator
Turn-ons: Teachers, early childhood education
Turn-offs: Fiscal irresponsibility
The pitch: "I believe a child has to learn that going to school is their job, that they are there to learn. Teachers need to be paid appropriately, and they are not right now. I have 22 years experience working with the school system. I have raised five children who have been involved in all kinds of things."
Brian Wheeler
Age: 37
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., UVA
Previous political experience: None
Occupation: Chief information officer, SNL Financial
Turn-ons: Small class size
Turn-offs: Inefficiency
The pitch: "There’s a real gap in experience. I think that’s what separates our campaigns. I’ve been PTO president, and a member of the parent council for three years. I have an extensive public record as a parent activist."
Albemarle School Board, Rivanna District
Sue Bell Friedman
Age: 50
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Husband, one child
Education: B.A., Purdue; M.A., Indiana State
Previous political experience: None
Occupation: Regional Business Assistance Director for the Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
Turn-ons: Volunteering for the United Way, Southerland Middle School and Albemarle High School
Turn-offs: Apparently, none. "We have a good school system that has the opportunity to be a great school system."
The pitch: "Quality education is the most important thing the public sector does, and I have been in and around education for a long time. I think I can help every student achieve a vision of success."
Franklin P. Micciche
Age: 50
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, two children
Education: Associate’s degree, Concordia College
Previous political experience: President and vice-president of college student council
Occupation: Home improvement contractor
Turn-ons: Programs for non-college bound students
Turn-offs: Lack of funding for extra-curriculars in middle school
The pitch: "I am the candidate best equipped to get a grasp on the day-to-day operations and construction needs of our school system."
Albemarle School Board, Scottsville District
Steve Koleszar
Incumbent
Age: 57
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, two children
Education: B.A., Washington and Lee
Previous political experience: Elected to Albemarle County School Board in 1995
Occupation: Accountant
Turn ons: Foreign language–Koleszar wants to expand the County’s pilot program of including foreign language in elementary school curriculum to all County schools.
Turn offs: The County’s failure regarding non-college bound students–Koleszar advocates more County partnerships with PVCC and UVA, as well as expanding a health sciences academy that is forming at CATEC.
The pitch: "My opponent doesn’t have any experience. I’ve got a proven track record of success over the past eight years. If I’m not re-elected, there will be only one school board member with more than two years of experience."
D.L. "Denny" King
Age: 59
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Wife, three children
Education: B.A., California State University; stint in U.S. Navy as a medic; continuing education classes at Georgetown University and University of Maryland
Previous political experience: Worked on Governor’s Commission for Motion Picture Development through Department of Tourism; board of directors for WHTJ-TV; board of directors for Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center; advisory board for Virginia Youth on the Move
Occupation: President and CEO of Location Lodging Worldwide, Inc.
Turn-ons: The community, children and teachers, as in: "I want to give back to the community," and "I have a tremendous love for children," and "We have to have respect for teachers."
Turn-offs: Redistricting, growth in the classroom and school board members who don’t address parent concerns in 24 hours, as King promises he will.
The pitch: "It is through education that we will create all of our tomorrows. We have to recognize young people early on in their school life, because by the time a young person is in the sixth or seventh grade they have already established their habits so that by the time they are in the 11th or 12th grade they have lost their tomorrows. I am determined to do everything we can do to make those tomorrows happen."
Barbara Massie
Age: 53
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Single
Education: B.A., College of William and Mary; M.A., University of Maryland; J.D., George Mason University
Previous political experience: Statewide task force to study Virginia Standards of Learning, 1999-2000
Occupation: Attorney
Turn-ons: Small class size
Turn-offs: Bullies, low teacher morale
The pitch: "In addition to having been a teacher for a total of 16 years, I grew up in the Albemarle schools, graduated from AHS and came from a family of educators who served in the Albemarle schools for almost 30 years. My legal training has given me analytical skills that help me break problems down into their component parts and solve them."
Louise Ward
Age: 51
Political affiliation: Independent
Family: Husband, two children
Education: Attended Michigan State; nursing degree from Providence Hospital School of Nursing
Previous political experience: Albemarle County Schools Health Advisory Committee; Skyline Council of Girl Scouts board member; Commander of Monticello Squadron Civil Air Patrol
Occupation: Volunteer reading tutor at Crozet elementary and Western Albemarle
Turn-ons: Higher teacher salaries, stricter bus discipline
Turn-offs: The achievement gap
The pitch: "One thing we’re not doing to close the achievement gap is recruiting teachers from traditionally African-American colleges. We go to the Curry School, where the ratio of minorities is about 2 percent. I have past and ongoing experience with the schools, and I’ve been involved in my daughter’s education since kindergarten."
Clerk of Charlottesville Circuit Court
Paul Garrett
Incumbent
Age: 57
Political affiliation: Democrat
Family: Widowed, one child
Education: B.A., Brown University; J.D., UVA Law School
Previous political experience: Clerk of court since 1981
Occupation: Clerk of court
Turn-ons: Improving the technology of office operations
Turn-offs: State budget cuts that reduced his budget by 18 percent last year.
The pitch: "We need to continue with the progress we’ve made. It’s a very critical time right now, I would think I’d be able to provide that stability and continuity. Hopefully we’ve delivered efficient service, and hopefully I’ll be able to continue to do that."