We won!

At least that’s what the Fairfax County web site says (more on this later).  We received 59% of the vote.  The count took much longer than even I had anticipated due to the new prohibition on wireless transmission of results.  Sorry for all those that I missed at the Fair Oaks Marriott – we did not arrive until 10:30. Mike McClanahan did call late last night and offer his congratulations.

Election Evening Message. My message to the crowd in Fair Oaks was that we had run a positive campaign based on solid principles with a message that was clearly endorsed by the people of the Springfield District – making transportation a county priority again, holding developers accountable for infrastructure, attacking the budget so our taxes do not double again in the next four years and protecting our suburban neighborhoods.  I announced the formation of the Springfield District Citizen’s Budget Review Committee to help with the review of the budget.  It will be bipartisan and have several budget experts.

Thank you.  There are so many people that made this possible that I need to thank – family, friends, campaign staff, fellow candidates, neighbors, kids I coached, contributors and the many, many volunteers.  Please bear with me as it will take me time to get to all of you.  I am starting this morning by putting thank-you signs on the 4X8s to thank the voters this evening on their way home.  To all of you that helped – thank you so very much – this first win will always have a special place in my heart.

Problems With Results. The State Board of Elections web site is still totally wrong.  When I went to bed early this morning – we had heard results from all the precincts, but we still did not have a single vote showing. (I guess I pushed the wrong button.)  This morning as of 11:30, we had 760 votes showing – the absentee ballots.  Unfortunately several media outlets have been reporting off the state electoral board site and have reported that I lost. I have contacted the State Board of Elections but have received no response yet.  Fairfax County’s Public Affairs Office was kind enough to send out a press release identifying the error so the media outlets will hopefully get it correct going forward.

Request.  I have already been out pulling up signs and will be going out again shortly.  It took many volunteers many hours of work to put signs up all over the County.  Now, we want to get them down as quickly as possible.  If you have a minute to pull up some signs, please do.  All of the Republican signs can be removed except the 4X8 signs.  You can discard the signs in your regular trash service (recycle preferred).