The final broadcast of tonight's Rockbridge Report election coverage is now on Cable Channel 18. If you're out of the area, don't worry -- we'll offer both broadcasts for download via the Web site.
The results are in
We're busy updating the Web site for our second launch and prepping for the second broadcast, but the results are in.
Three of the five supervisors have been unseated, two by large margins. Hanger is still the State Senator for the 24th district, with Cox in second and Sime receiving less than 100 votes.
For more information, tune into the Rockbridge Report's Channel 18 broadcast at 10 p.m.
Results trickle in
Rockbridge Report -- Live!
Tune in now to Cable Channel 18 in Lexington to watch the Rockbridge Report special election night coverage live with anchors Kristi Williams and Elliott Walker. We'll post the broadcast in podcast format online later tonight.
Bob Gibson to be on 10 p.m. broadcast
Production Assistant Jacob Geiger helped secure an interview with Bob Gibson:
On our 10 p.m. newscast we’ll be talking to Bob Gibson, the long-time reporter with the Daily Progress in Charlottesville. Gibson has been covering the state house for years, and we’re hoping he can help us interpret the returns and predict which party will control the state Senate and House of Delegates.
Also on our 10 p.m. program you can count on phone-in interviews from reporters in the field. Jacob Geiger and Laura Sanders will report from the home of David Cox (D., Lexington). Cox is challenging incumbent Sen. Emmett Hanger (R., Staunton) in the 24th District.
The Race for County Sheriff
Reporter Queenie Wong writes about covering the sheriff's race:
Rockbridge County Sheriff Bob Day fires his opponent, former Deputy Robert Clark, when he finds out Clark plans to run against him in the upcoming election.
Its a great story -- nobody on The Rockbridge Report could deny that . But as an outsider looking in, it was difficult for me to filter all the rumors and hearsay circulating about the two candidates. Sometimes being a reporter is a bit like being a messenger. Clark accuses Day of -- insert the numerous accusations brought against Day here -- and Day denies the accusations. I was just the liaison between the two and their constant bickering match.
Right up to election night, Clark accused and Day denied. Clark says that Day unfairly promoted a friend of his to lead investigator; Day denies it. Clark says Day wont hire a female deputy to patrol the roads because of gender; Day denies it. Accuse, accuse, accuse. Deny, deny, deny. It was a cycle that knew no end.
So how do you filter this he said-he said game? Both candidates were equally cooperative and both openly shared their views about one another. As a reporter, I realized you can get closer to the truth, but youll never get to truth with a capital T. Can you really trust the opinions of two people who want the same job?
In the end, I leave the judgment call in the hands of the public. Ill continue to report, report, report, and I hope youll continue to read, read, read.
Ben Cline Coming Up
Election Editor Julie von Sternberg just completed an interview with Delegate Ben Cline. Cline is hosting a party tonight to celebrate the election. He feels confident that Emmett Hanger will hold onto his senate seat. Tune into our broadcast on channel 18 to hear the Cline interview in its entirety. Also, we will interview Cline again later in the night as election results are released.
Doug Harwood talks to the Rockbridge Report
One of tonight's anchors, Elliott Walker, spoke earlier with one of the Rockbridge Area's "more eclectic citizens" about local politics:
As the deadline for voting in this year's races drew to a close, I sat down to chat with one of Lexington’s more eclectic citizens about the elections. Doug Harwood is the well-known editor of the Rockbridge Advocate. He came into The Rockbridge Report's studio to talk about voter turnout, races to watch and the lack of political enthusiasm in local elections.
I found Harwood's insights on local politics a bit surprising. He says local citizens don't get really involved with the elections that will affect them. Why is that? Harwood spoke at length about a theory he has. He also made some disconcerting remarks concerning the lack of importance the issues seem to have in local races. Harwood believes voters may not be compelled to install new Board of Supervisors members even though the Board's land use policies have been controversial. Is winning a local race like running for student government in high school? Do local residents look for the pretty faces and family connections?
We also talked about local races to watch this evening. Harwood says the supervisors' races may be ones to watch, especially the one in Walkers Creek. Apparently Walkers Creek doesn't like to keep incumbents around, but with two candidates running in opposition to incumbent Monty Fix the result could be interesting.
Tune in to The Rockbridge Report at 8 and 10 p.m. on Cable Channel 18 to hear more about our interview.
Weather shouldn't hurt turnout
Rockbridge Report Production Assistant Jacob Geiger enjoys writing about the weather. Here's his take on how it affected today's turnout at the polls:
If Rockbridge County voters don’t go to the polls today, they won’t be able to blame the weather. Skies were sunny today, though temperatures never got much higher than 50 degrees.
During last year’s national elections voters turned out in force despite miserable weather.
But the good weather is unlikely to help turnout numbers that much. Turnout in the city of Lexington was about 30 percent in 2003, when the same offices were up for election.
By contrast, turnout in 2005 and 2006 was between 50 and 55 percent in Lexington and Rockbridge County. But both of those years featured a statewide race: for governor in 2005 and senator in 2006.
Because some of the heaviest turnout happens after people get off work, we’ll have to wait until polls close before we get solid turnout numbers.
Deeds: Local election could have national significance
Julie von Sternberg, the Rockbridge Report elections reporter, had this to say about her recent interview with Creigh Deeds:
Sen. Creigh Deeds, who is running unopposed in District 25, came to Washington & Lee on Election Day to speak about the neighboring 24th District State Senate race and its influence on national politics.
In District 24 Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger is being challenged by Democrat David Cox and Libertarian Arin Sime.
Deeds says that Hanger has been silent during this campaign season because he is running in a district that was drawn to elect a Republican. Deeds supports Cox, whom he refers to as an old friend, and says that Cox could win if Libertarian Arin Sime can peel some votes away from Hanger.
A Democratic-controlled state Senate could re-draw Congressional district lines in 2011 to favor more Democrats in Congress from Virginia. To gain control of the state Senate the Democrats need to win four new seats, in addition to holding on to their current 17. Deeds says he is confident that the Democrats can pull it off.
“George W. Bush is the gift that keeps on giving,” Deeds said. “Republican problems at the national level will help Democrats all over the nation.”
But Deeds acknowledges that it will be tough. The Republican Party last drew the district lines in a way that he believes favors their party.
“It’s like playing every game without home field advantage,” says Deeds of his fellow Democrats.
Deeds has served in the state Senate since winning a special election in 2001 to fill a vacant seat. In 2005 he ran for Attorney General and lost to Bob McDonnell by only 300 votes, .017 percent. Deeds says that he plans on another statewide run, but right now he is focusing on party building and helping the current challengers throughout the state.
Creigh Deeds visits the Rockbridge Report
I just spent some time watching reporter Julie von Sternberg interview Creigh Deeds (D), the Virginia State Senator from the 25th district. The district includes part of Rockbridge County and Buena Vista.
Von Sternberg and Deeds discussed how the state's Democratic party has a chance to take control of both the House of Delegates and the Senate as well as the three-way race for the 24th district Senate seat.
Tune in to tonight's broadcast at 8 p.m. on cable channel 18 to see video of the interview. We'll also post clips on the Web site.
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