There were a few highs, but many lows for local Democrats on Tuesday as they gathered at several Roanoke watering holes to watch the election results. At Fork in the Alley Gwen Mason, who only won 38% of the vote, saw her bid for the open 17th District seat in the House of Delegates thwarted by Bill Cleaveland. The Roanoke City Councilwoman put on a brave face and glibly declared, before conceding, that she would just call herself the winner. In actuality, Cleaveland bested her by more than 5000 votes.
Mason, surrounded by friends including State Senator John Edwards, former Mayor Nelson Harris and current Vice Mayor Sherman Lea, first watched Governor Tim Kaine on television (after Republican Bob McDonnell was elected Governor) declare, “we’re going to win a lot more races to come. [But] we’ll have to redouble our efforts.” Kaine is also the current Democratic national party chairman.
After conceding to Cleaveland via cell phone, Mason gathered her family, thanking them and others for their support, and for “the privilege to campaign as hard as we did. [Now] the Masons are going to go home and get some sleep.”
Mason also said she would have lunch with Cleaveland in a few weeks, “to talk about what I can do to help him.” She called the process “democracy in action,” and said she was grateful for the chance to take a “positive message” on issues like education to voters’ doorsteps. “Economic anxiety is really rife in the region. Bill Cleaveland has a tough job ahead of him.” Mason said City Council would have to work closely with Cleaveland, an attorney who lives in Botetourt County.
Mason couldn’t see what she would have done differently to beat a formidable foe in a Republican-leaning district: “Bill Cleaveland [was] a strong candidate and a good guy. He has three decades of experience in serving this valley. I’m happy for him.”
Patrick Patterson and his supporters were celebrating an apparent victory in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Mike Altizer in the Vinton district Board of Supervisors race. The mood turned glum at Fork in the City however, when it was announced that his margin of victory had disappeared after absentee ballots were counted.
“I think a lot of people felt…they wanted to see some change,” said a discouraged Patterson as he waited for official word from the Roanoke County Board of Elections. Job creation and education had been major components of the William Byrd High School guidance counselor’s campaign.
Patterson campaign manager Dawn Erdmann was not happy after learning that several local Republican operatives had apparently opened ballot boxes to review the results. “We’ve called the state party and asked for attorneys,” said Erdmann on the sidewalk outside Fork in the Alley.
A glum Carter Turner, easily turned back by House Majority leader Morgan Griffith in the 8th District race, was hoping for a better finish. “I’m not sure we could have worked any harder. A lot of people made a lot of sacrifices for me.” Several weeks into the campaign a poll revealed that only seven people out of more than 350 knew who Turner was, but the Radford University professor was pleased that he earned more than 5000 votes against an entrenched incumbent. “At that level it’s progress, but you’re not in it for moral victories, you’re in it to win it. I said what I needed to say [but] I’m not sure the electorate heard it.”
Hollins Board of Supervisors candidate Charlene Waybright was “very happy with the race I ran,” in losing to incumbent Republican Richard Flora. “It was a positive and polite campaign. We did not get negative and I’m proud of that. If Richard learns anything from this process maybe he’ll listen more to citizens.” Fellow first time Democratic candidate Sarah Goodman lost her supervisors race in the Windsor Hills district to Ed Elswick.
Democrat challenger and Roanoke City deputy sheriff Garrett led his boss, Sheriff Octavia Johnson, for much of the night, before the Republican incumbent pulled out the victory to gain a second term. Garrett, who said he and Johnson have avoided each other while the campaign went on, worked the phones as a last precinct was counted and the absentee ballots were tallied.
Garrett said he wasn’t a politician at heart and couldn’t say if the votes that went to independent candidate Brian Keenum might have hurt his candidacy more than Johnson’s. “I’m at peace with this. I knew if I was meant to be the sheriff then I would be. I’m a Christian and I left it up to Him.” Garrett wasn’t sure about asking for any recount and said the whole process was “new to me.”
There was some good news for local Democrats: Onzlee Ware (11th District delegate) celebrated his reelection over Republican challenger Troy Bird at 202 Market St. and Sherman Holland survived a spirited challenge from Douglas Walker to retain his Commissioner of the Revenue position.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]