<sh>Black Fundraiser Draws Supporters
<bt>Bill and Jeannie Soltesz hosted a kickoff fundraiser for Del. Dick Black (R-32) at their home in Ashburn on Sept. 6 with more than 300 people in attendance.
The outdoor family barbecue drew candidates such as Sen. Bill Bolling, candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia, and Del. Bob McDonnell, candidate for attorney general. Also in attendance were Del. Tom Rust (R-86), Bob Gordon, candidate for chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Jim Plowman, candidate for Commonwealth's Attorney, Supervisor candidates Mick Staton (Sugarland Run), Lori Waters (Broad Run), Steve Snow (Dulles), and School Board candidate Joe Guzman (Sugarland Run), along with other candidates.
<sh>Candidate Luncheon
<bt>The Committee for Dulles (CFD) will host candidates from the Dulles area senate and house races on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn. A reception will begin at 11:30 a.m.; lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. Cost to attend the luncheon is $40 in advance or $45 at the door. CFD Members pay $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Reservations are required by Tuesday, Sept. 16 for the luncheon. For more details, call the CFD office 703-430-8749.
<sh>Channel 3 Candidate Forums
<bt>Adelphia Channel 3 has candidate forums scheduled this fall which are all free and open to the general public:
* Thursday, Sept. 25 at Banneker Elementary School from 7-9 p.m. there will be a candidate forum of all western Loudoun Candidates and county-wide positions. Call Arthur Bland at 540-687-6966.
* Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Bluemont Community Center at 7:30 p.m. there will be a candidate forum sponsored by the Bluemont Citizens Assoc. Call Evelyn Johnson at 540-554-8448.
* Thursday, Oct. 30 at Sykes Hall at the Loudoun County fairgrounds, the Farm Bureau is sponsoring a candidates forum. Time to be determined. Call Ann Shomaker at 703-777-2581.
<sh>Murphy Calls for Debate
<bt>Candidate for Dulles District Supervisor John Murphy has called for a formal debate with his opponent, Stephen J. Snow. Murphy has scheduled a public debate for Monday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Ashburn. Paul Draisey, who moderates debates on Adelphia Channel 3, has accepted the position as moderator. Debate questions will be taken from official press representatives in attendance and will not be made available to the candidates prior to the debate.
<sh>Candidates Forum
<bt>The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce will present a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Dulles, 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd. Organized in conjunction with the Herndon Dulles and Loudoun County chambers, the event includes representatives from races in the U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. There is an admission fee of $15. Register online at www.restonchamber.org. Call 703-707-9045.
<sh>County Democrats Endorse Candidates
<bt>The Loudoun County Democratic Committee formally endorsed 15 candidates at its monthly meeting on Aug. 28. Meeting at the Thomas Balch Library, nearly 60 members voted, in a symbolic gesture of support, to endorse the 12 candidates who are running as Democrats in Loudoun: State Senate candidate Mark Herring (D-27); House Delegate candidates Patti Morrissey (D-32) and James Kelly (D-86); Sheriff candidate Chris Jones; Commissioner of the Revenue candidate Franco Luz; Board of Supervisor candidates Alfred Van Huyck (Chairman, At-Large), Chuck Harris (Broad Run), Sally Kurtz (Catoctin), John Murphy (Dulles), Kelly Burk (Leesburg), Afeefa Syeed (Potomac), and Doug Reimel (Sterling).
In an unprecedented move, the LCDC also invited all School Board candidates who sought the Democratic endorsement to address the meeting. The Committee endorsed three School Board candidates who spoke: Priscilla Godfrey (Blue
Ridge), Phyllis Randall (Broad Run), and Tom Marshall (Leesburg).
A fourth candidate, Marlene Barney (Sterling), an LCDC member, sent a letter that was read at the meeting stating that in keeping with the non-partisan role of School Board Member, she had decided not to seek the endorsement of any political party.
For more information about the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, visit the LCDC Web site at www.lcdems.com.
<sh>Flannery Endorses Barney
<bt>Leesburg attorney John Flannery, visiting executive at George Washington University Graduate School in Ashburn, has endorsed Marlene W. Barney to represent the Sterling District on the Loudoun County School Board.
In a written statement, Flannery said:
"I am endorsing Marlene Barney not only because she is the best candidate, but because Warren Geurin is an embarrassment. ... I am supporting Marlene Barney, a businesswoman and an educator herself, because she will be a work horse ... not a show horse like Geurin."
<sh>Pledge to Combat Gang Activities
<bt>According to Loudoun County law enforcement, there are at least 15 different criminal gangs fighting for turf in the county. Bob Gordon (R), candidate for chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Commonwealth’s Attorney candidate, Jim Plowman (R) and Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson (R) released a statement saying that the climate invites the infiltration of national gang organizations into Loudoun County.
A member of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore’s statewide “Anti-Gang Task Force,” Simpson recently participated in its first meeting. The Task Force was formed because criminals do not adhere to jurisdictional, county or state boundaries. Working with U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf and regional law enforcement leaders, Simpson also was instrumental in helping to establish the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force.
"I can assure you that if the voters elect Bob Gordon, Steve Simpson and Jim Plowman, they will be getting a close knit team that pledges cooperation, not discord," Gordon said in the statement.
<sh>Allen, Warner Endorse Gordon
<bt>Bob Gordon, Republican candidate for chairman of the Board of Supervisors has received endorsements from Republican United States senators George Allen and John Warner of Virginia.
“I am honored to have the support of these proven leaders” Gordon said in a written statement. “My campaign for lower taxes, controlling residential growth and improving education is enjoying support county-wide. Having the endorsement of both of our Republican United States Senators shows that our Republican Party is united and ready to lead Loudoun County into the future”.
<sh>Jones Pledges Police Cooperation
<bt>Chris Jones, candidate for Loudoun County Sheriff, announced in a written statement that the current Sheriff's inability to cooperate with the Virginia State Police is an issue that negatively impacts the people of Loudoun County.
In a press conference held Sept. 2 near the corner of East Maple Avenue and Enterprise Street, Jones spoke next to a building marked with gang-related graffiti. The candidate stated that the graffiti was symbolic of the serious issues of gang-related crime and growing fear of crime being felt by the community. A 6-foot wide banner read: "Our current Sheriff does not maximize the resources of the Virginia State Police. Why?"
Jones has more than 18 years of service in law enforcement and has served in managerial roles in the Leesburg Police Department and the United States Department of Justice. He currently teaches with the Virginia Community Policing Institute.
<sh>Realtors Endorse Candidates
<bt>The Dulles Area Association of Realtors has endorsed candidates for the Board of Supervisors:
* Chairman: Republican Robert M. Gordon and Democrat Alfred P. Van Hyuck;
* Blue Ridge: Ben Weber;
* Broad Run: Lori Waters;
* Catoctin: Geary Higgins;
* Dulles: Stephen Snow;
* Leesburg: Jim Clem;
* Potomac: Bruce Tulloch;
* Sterling: Eugene Delgaudio;
* Sugarland Run: "Mick" Stanton, Jr.