Virginia Politics Blog Archive: Election Day '09: Chesterbrook Precinct
Chesterbrook Precinct: Swing Fairfax polling place voted for Deeds
Democrat R. Creigh Deeds lost the statewide race, but defeated his Republican rival Robert F. McDonnell at McLean's Chesterbrook precinct, according to officials at the polling place who just finished tabulating ballots. McDonnell received 612 votes (47%) to Deeds' 685 (53%) at the Fairfax County polling place we've been reporting from these last 15 hours. Just over 1,300 ballots were cast here today, a fraction of last year's total turnout in the presidential election and about 5 percent fewer than in the governor's race four years ago. Deeds' victory at this precinctin the heart of a Democratic-leaning district with an independent streak might bring some solace to Democrats on an otherwise bad night. Despite big GOP gains in a year that wasn't favorable for the president's party, the Democrats retain strong appeal to voters in the growing and affluent area of McLean south of Route 123. The forceful Democratic turnout...
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 8:40 PM ET |
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Election Day '09: Chesterbrook Precinct
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Chesterbrook Precinct: The stragglers
Less than five minutes before the polls closed, Brian Zimmer screeched up to the entrance of the Chesterbrook precinct on his bicycle. The 63-year-old had biked from his office at 11th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue - where he's the president of a think tank - all the way to the heart of McLean. "I've never made it this fast," he said, taking off his helmet as he collected his ballot. Then, just after a poll worker announced one minute remained before the polls closed, Dave Burg rushed in with his two-year-old daughter Caroline. A consultant who had spent the day in Miami, he didn't land at Reagan National Airport until 5:30 p.m. "I thought I could squeeze in just before seven," said Burg, 40. "And it worked." Neither would say which gubernatorial candidate he voted for....
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 7:19 PM ET |
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Chesterbrook Precinct: An independent sides with McDonnell
Paul M. Hanafin, a 54-year-old executive at a commercial real estate firm, is an independent. He said he voted for Barack Obama one year ago, but he decided to cast his ballot for Republican candidate Robert McDonnell in the final 45 minutes of voting at McLean's Chesterbrook precinct. In the end, his decision was more about the candidate's "temperament" than a national vote of confidence on Obama, he said. Hanafin explained in the darkness outside the polling site that his two most important priorities are Northern Virginia getting more of its share in tax dollars from Richmond and better area roads. He chastised Democrat Creigh Deeds for not getting specific about his transportation plan. "It's almost, in my mind, grounds for disqualification when his major plan for dealing with a big problem is a blue-ribbon commission," Hanafin said. He also faulted McDonnell, though, for saying that he will privatize ABC...
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 6:46 PM ET |
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Chesterbrook Precinct: McDonnell voters laud his transportation plan
Partisan volunteers say they're surprised by how small the line is here at McLean's Chesterbrook precinct at 6 p.m., considering that this is a time many people would normally begin stopping by after work. It's now chilly and dark outside, and some speculate that people may figure that the gubernatorial election isn't competitive. Interviews suggest that Republican candidate Robert McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds are running about evenly with this crowd in the penultimate hour of balloting. Transportation is an issue that's important to many McDonnell backers, especially at this hour of night. Magaly B. Torres, 53 of McLean, is a Republican backing McDonnell. She's convinced Deeds would raise her taxes and wouldn't fix transportation problems. "They raised our taxes too much, and we're not happy with that," she said. "I'm certain he would do it. The government already has a lot of money now so we need to stop...
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 6:05 PM ET |
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Chesterbrook Precinct: Late support for Deeds?
Republicans are said to vote early, as Democrats vote late. Afternoon turnout here at the Chesterbrook precinct in McLean has stayed fairly low since about noon. But many who have come say they're backing Democrat Creigh Deeds. In fact, we just talked with nine Democrats in a row who backed Creigh Deeds. Statistically, especially given the polls, the chances of this are quite small. But, as statisticians also would say, the group that turns out from 4:30 to 5 p.m. self-selects. "I think it's going to be very close in the end," said David Hunt, a 55-year-old Democrat who backed Deeds. "It's a real late push here," said Louise Klein Hodin, 70, who still thinks Deeds might win. "He came out of nowhere, and he was running against some very prominent Democrats and then he fell asleep at the wheel." "I was not tremendously impressed with Deeds, but there's high...
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 5:21 PM ET |
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Chesterbrook Precinct: A happy, if divided, marriage
Pat and Beth Echols are happily married, even though he voted for Robert McDonnell and she voted for Creigh Deeds at the Chesterbrook precinct near their home in McLean this afternoon. "Even though we vote differently, we still have a good marriage," said Beth Echols, 85, a self-described "liberal Democrat." Pat Echols, 84, served in the state senate in the late 1960s and always votes for the GOP. These days, he's assisted by a walker. "All this stuff they brought out about him didn't matter," he said, of McDonnell. "You judge a man by his record, not by his thesis. He's done right. Beth Echols said she appreciated Deeds' candor on his transportation plan. "I believe in raising taxes," she said. "I think that's the way to go right now, and he's been very straightforward in saying that's something he'd consider." After each took a turn explaining their vote, the...
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James Hohmann
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November 3, 2009; 4:01 PM ET |
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