With tired smiles and campaign-worn handshakes, the two candidates for the 42nd District's House of Delegates seat spent Tuesday morning greeting voters at Silverbrook Elementary School in Lorton.
"It's hard to judge how things are going," said Werkheiser (D).
After several hours of introducing himself to voters in front of the school, Werkheiser said he hadn't been answering many questions about his campaign platform.
"We're just saying hello for the most part," he said. "Most people show up ready to vote, they just want to get in and get out."
By late morning, the exhaustion of running a campaign was beginning to wear on him. "At this point, everything's being driven by adrenaline," he said with a tired smile.
Further down the sidewalk in front of the school was the incumbent, Del. Dave Albo (R), welcoming voters from the community he's represented since 1994.
The morning had gone smoothly for Albo, starting in Lorton before he and his wife, Rita Albo, went to Silverbrook to vote and talk with residents.
"Everyone's been really friendly," he said. "There have only been maybe two nasty people, but I've probably seen 400 or 500 voters. Even in a landslide victory, one-third of people you see won't vote for you," Albo said confidently.
A LONG-TIME FRIEND of the Albo family, Cheri Winkler spent the morning handing out samples of the Republican Party ballot and welcoming voters at Silverbrook.
"Dave has been a strong force in our community," she said.
As a parent of school-aged children, she credits Albo with helping to get the funding for the South County Secondary School, preventing her young son from having to board a school bus at "dark-thirty in the morning."
"A lot of parents are very happy with the work he's done in the community," said Rita Albo.
Having a delegate that grew up in the community he serves is important to Winkler, whose husband graduated from West Springfield High School with Dave Albo. "It means a lot that he's lived here so long. It was important for me to help support Dave any way I could."
Werkheiser had been endorsed by the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff Coalition, Local 5016, and two representatives from that organization spent the day handing out flyers for their candidate.
"Based on his positions on issues relative to law enforcement and public safety, we feel he's got a better grasp on what we need," said Chris Helfin, president of the Coalition in Fairfax County.
"A lot of people talk about being tough on crime, but only a few will actually come out and talk about public safety and what they want to do," said Kevin Pittman, another representative with the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff Coalition. "Greg Werkheiser is one of those people. I'd gladly give up a month of my time for people like him. Electing politicians like Greg is a service to the citizens of this community."
Hayfield Secondary Student Katie Lee spent her day off from school handing out information on the Fairfax County School Bond Referendum, part of a project for her government class.
"People should support the bond, it's an important thing," said Lee, adding that the art and music departments in her school often do not have all the funding needed for projects.
"Schools need all the help and support they can get," she said.