Sterling resident Mark Gunderman knew U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf would be serving another term long before he arrived at Wolf's post-election party.
"They were planning his victory party this morning," Gunderman said after 8 p.m. Tuesday when Wolf (R-10) made his announcement, though final results would take another one to two hours. "He has longevity. He's been serving the community for 22 years, and he has integrity. He has a reputation for supporting the common man."
Cheers and clapping greeted Wolf, who has lived in Vienna for about 40 years, as Del. Thomas "Tom" Rust (R-86) made the introduction of the re-elected congressman. Wolf received 72.3 percent of the votes and his Democratic challenger John Stevens, 27.6 percent, according to the State Board of Elections unofficial election results. In Loudoun, 73.2 percent of voters supported Wolf, as indicated by the unofficial results.
Wolf, who has been serving as a congressman since 1980, said he ran his campaign on what he and his office accomplished and without making any attacks. "More importantly, we try to work together to bring people together, Republicans and Democrats, to solve problems," he said.
After Wolf made his speech, he said he was not "surprised" he won.
"We have a good record and have done a lot to help the community," he said. "To help people and to make a difference are two [important] things."
"Anybody who stays in office that long has to like being in government," said Scott Martin, a Potomac Falls resident and a campaign volunteer for Wolf's office. "He just runs because he makes a difference in his district. ... I appreciate he was able to think about everything so uniquely. I felt him to be a man of significant integrity."
WOLF PRESENTED his voting record to the public and asked his constituents to make up their own minds, Martin said. "It doesn't become mudslinging. 'Vote for me if that represents your values and views,'" he said about Wolf's campaign tactics.
Luke and Lilly Whitis of Ashburn Village said they voted for Wolf for his "integrity."
"He's always been a man for the people. ... He has compassion for all people. He doesn't select," said Lilly, who has known Wolf for the past 15 years. "We always felt very much at ease in his presence."
Luke agreed. "He has the aura of a Southern gentleman. I always knew if I wrote to him, I would get a response. .... He's honest. I'm real impressed with him, no scandals and a rock solid reputation."
Stevens, a Sterling resident for nearly nine years, said he ran as a community congressman, "somebody with roots in the community and someone who would bring community values to Capitol Hill."
"We feel very strong we have a strong lead with voters who heard our message," Stevens continued. "We need a community congressman who is concerned about being a regional leader in smart growth and transportation, health care and education, which are paramount for our neighbors."
Stevens plans to get his message out to more voters during the next two years and run in the next election. "We feel very strongly we had a winning message," he said.
Wolf said, "I wanted to thank John Stevens for a good campaign, a fair campaign."