It didn't take long to tally up the votes. Shortly after the four-hour mini-primary ended at Carl Sandburg Middle School Thursday, the final vote was 324 for David Kennedy, 44 for Lou Kobus.
The main primary was held on Tuesday; this was one of several mini-primaries held throughout the county for candidates who had filed after the closing date for the main primary. Kennedy said that in cases where candidates file late, the district chairman decides whether to have a mass meeting with the Republican committee or hold a firehouse or mini-primary like this one.
Kennedy received 88 percent of the vote and was chosen as the Republican nominee for the 44th legislative district of the Virginia House of Delegates. He will run against incumbent Delegate Kris Amundson in November.
"This is an exciting start to what will be a very challenging campaign," said Kennedy. "This was an excellent opportunity to focus Republicans in Mount Vernon on the fall elections. I am honored that I was selected as their nominee."
Kennedy plans to start sending out fund-raising letters in July, going door-to-door and attending community events.
"I want to get down and talk about the issues," he said.
A statement released to the media said, "As we move on to the general election, I am looking forward to demonstrating how I can effectively represent our area in Richmond. We face many challenges including ever increasing property taxes and inadequate transportation funding. We need a state delegate who can go to the legislature and get things done."
AFTER THE PRIMARY, Kennedy said that he shook hands with his opponent, Lou Kobus, and thanked him for mounting an honorable campaign.
"We both had agreed before that whoever won we’d support," said Kennedy.
Regarding his race, Kobus said, "It was a tough primary, held during the week and not a major primary. People who said they'd show didn't. We ran a good, clean race and I'm happy with the people we worked with. I'm sorry that we couldn't muster as many people as Kennedy."
Kobus said that he is planning to actively support Kennedy and said, "Let us go forward."
Amundson had no comment about either candidate, but said, "This district was drawn to be very competitive. I look forward to a spirited race."