Fairfax County Supervisor Linda Smyth held what appeared to be an insurmountable lead over challenger Charlie Hall as votes were tallied Tuesday evening, signaling victory for the Democratic incumbent after a rancorous primary fight.
Smyth, who had 2,245 votes to Hall’s 1,931 with nearly all precincts reporting, fought off a concerted challenge from the community activist and former journalist, who had attacked the sitting board’s development policies and treatment of the public. Smyth, however, held on, helped in part by a deeper bench of endorsements, including the Virginia Sierra Club, Gov. Tim Kaine, and Chairman Gerald Connolly.
The primary attracted a roughly 6 percent turnout, the highest of any Northern Virginia primary.
A Hall victory was seen as a distinct long-shot against the better established Smyth, who is a protégé of Connolly, a former Providence District supervisor. Hall had centered much of his campaign on his opposition to Pulte Homes’ enormous Metro West development at the Vienna Metro station that Smyth and the rest of the board approved last year. He also blasted what he called piecemeal planning and an overarching atmosphere of secrecy, charges Smyth vehemently denied.
In the second Fairfax County primary, to select candidates to succeed Elaine McConnell in the Springfield District, Pat Herrity, son of the board’s former chairman, scored a definitive victory over Stan Reid with 2,946 votes to Reid’s 1,361.
In the hotly contested Democratic primary race in the House District 34, activist Margaret Vanderhye beat lawyer Richard Sullivan by only 150 of the 3,300 votes cast. Vanderhye will vie with Republican David Hunt in the fall to replace Del. Vincent Callahan, R-McLean, who is retiring after 40 years in the Legislature. Callahan’s district is the last Republican-held House seat inside the Beltway as Northern Virginia becomes increasingly Democratic.
Retired government auditor Rex Simmons picked up 903 votes in the House District 40’s Democratic primary to top software consultant Morris Meyer’s 496 votes with 13 of 15 precincts reporting as of press time.
In the lone Senate primary in the region, nonprofit executive George Barker handily led defense analyst Greg Galligan 1,849 votes to 1,140 with 23 of 41 precincts reporting. Barker, who chairs Fairfax County’s Transportation Advisory Board, will challenge Sen. Jay O’Brien, R-Clifton.
In Arlington County, Treasurer Frank O’Leary collected 4,191 votes to dispatch challenger Bob James, who received 1,501.
Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill cruised past former County Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael Messier and law enforcement lobbyist James J. Fotis, out-polling his opponents by more than 1,000 votes. In the Woodbridge District, Frank Principi beat George Delimba with 65 percent of the vote. Results for the Dumfries District were not available bypress time.
With the primaries over and summer vacation season arriving, the general public tends to ignore politics until Labor Day. Sean O’Brien, who directs the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, said the downtime will give Tuesday’s winners a chance to replenish diminished campaign treasuries and show they can be viable in the general election.
“Candidates do not want to go into the thick of the campaign without the money to be competitive,” he added. “They do not want the public to see that they have not raised much money. You need to have a certain amount of money, depending on the district, in your bank account in September so people know you are a serious candidate. It might be $50,000, it might be $250,000.”
Three incumbent state senators lost primaries Tuesday night. In the Richmond area, Democrats ousted Sen. Ben Lambert for supporting former U.S. Sen. George Allen’s re-election campaign last year. They replaced him with Del. Donald McEachin.
In Hampton Roads, Sen. Martin Williams, R-Newport News, lost his party’s nomination to a more conservative opponent. Williams, who chaired the Senate Transportation Committee, had been among the chamber’s moderate Republicans willing to support tax increases.
Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke, also lost his party’s nomination after coming under heavy criticism for introducing legislation to ban smoking in most public places in Virginia.
Virginia primary results
STATE SENATE
District 39 (D)
» George Barker 61 percent
» Greg Galligan 39 percent
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
District 34 (D)
» Richard Sullivan 48 percent
» Margaret Vanderhye 52 percent
District 40 (D)
» Morris Meyer 36 percent
» Rex Simmons 64 percent
ARLINGTON COUNTY
Treasurer (D)
» Robert “Bob” James 26 percent
» Frank O’Leary* 74 percent
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Springfield District Supervisor (R)
» Pat Herrity 69 percent
» Stan Reid 31 percent
Providence District Supervisor (D)
» Linda Smyth* 54 percent
» Charlie Hall 46 percent
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
Dumfries District Supervisor (R)
» Maureen Caddigan Results not available
» Charles “Cliff” Brewer
Woodbridge District Supervisor (D)
» George Delimba 35 percent
» Frank Principi 65 percent
Prince William County Sheriff (R)
» Glendell Hill* 63 percent
» James Fotis 17 percent
» Michael Messier 20 percent
* – incumbent
As of 8:30 p.m. with nearly all precincts reporting
