Voters motivated by immigration concerns in Prince William County appeared to hand Chairman Corey Stewart his first full term Tuesday in an election widely viewed as a referendum on his controversial crackdown on illegal residents.
Stewart, a Republican, was leading Democratic challenger Sharon Pandak 55 percent to 45 percent hours after the polls. If those numbers held up when all the votes were counted, it would mark a modest increase from Stewart’s support in the 2006 special election, in which he garnered 53 percent of the vote.
Recommended Stories
The hard-fought race topped a ballot in which no supervisors up for re-election appeared headed for defeat. The four-way contest to replace longtime Woodbridge Supervisor Hilda Barg was coming down to Democrat Frank Principi and Republican Chris Royse. Republicans werelikely to hold at least six of the eight positions, with Democrats holding at least one.
Voters at several polling stations Tuesday told The Examiner the immigration issue was on their minds as they cast ballots.
The Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved measures last month that denied several county services to illegal immigrants and expanded police powers to check residency status. The controversial debate has dominated water-cooler talk for months.
Stewart set a high bar for his supporters last month, saying he would need to improve his 53 percent share of the vote last year. “If I’m just narrowly re-elected or if I’m defeated, it will send a signal that I’m not supported on this.”
Anti-illegal immigrant sentiment appeared high at polls in Woodbridge.
“Go back home where you came from,” was the message Rex Hunt wanted to send with his vote for incumbents.
Fellow voter Lori Bridges wanted a stiffer but “humanitarian law that is enforced on everyone.”
Immigrant leaders were concerned they would fall short in attempts to oust the four supervisors facing opposition, yet seemed optimistic.
“I see it as a positive,” said Mariano Claudio of the Ayuda Business Council. “Today we realized the community as a whole should be more involved politically.”
Anti-illegal immigration leader Greg Letiecq said if the early totals held, it would amount to a mandate for stiff measures on illegal immigration. “This is what the voters wanted,” he said.
