Candidates gathered at Gillie’s in Blacksburg have announced winners of the town council race.
Ten candidates were on the ballot for four at-large positions. Incumbent Susan Anderson, Blacksburg native and Virginia Tech graduate student Krisha Chachra, Tech staff architect John Bush and Blacksburg native Cecile Newcomb have won the positions, according to the candidates at Gillie’s.
Virginia’s State Board of Elections has not officially reported results for the town council election.
After thanking supporters, family members and campaign contributors, Creigh Deeds acknowledged defeat in the governor’s race with a will to go forward.
His concession speech came to a roaring end, as Deeds held onto a sense of duty to Virginia.
“There are still people that need a voice and we’re going to give them that voice,” Deeds said.
“This chapter is closed, but the next chapter has yet to be written.”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds is conceding the governor’s race to Republican Bob McDonnell.
“I called Bob McDonnell a little while ago and congratulated him and wished him well,” Deeds said.
Deeds said the campaign has been the “adventure and highlight of my life. Carrying your banner for governor is just the highest honor.”
Deeds is now looking forward to Virginia’s future.
He said Virginia’s issues “are not going away just because we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight.”
Creigh Deeds is taking the stage in Richmond as his campaign closes in a losing effort.
Fellow Democrats Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon have just spoken to supporters.
Keep it on the blog for updates.
Democratic rule over the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond has ended. U.S. Senator Mark Warner and departing Gov. Tim Kaine are speaking at the Westin in Richmond, congratulating Republican Bob McDonnell on victory and looking to the future.
Warner and Kaine won the previous two elections by dominating population centers such as Northern Virginia.
Deeds, who hails from Bath County near the West Virginia border, was down by 14 points in the last Public Policy Polling survey before tonight’s election. He has controlled many rural areas, especially southwest Virginia, but has struggled in Northern Virginia.
McDonnell currently holds commanding leads in Congressional districts 10 and 11, which occupy much of the Northern Virginia area. Although it is still early, McDonnell votes make up more than 60 percent of the votes in each district.
Virginia’s blue result last year punched President Barack Obama’s ticket to the White House. The enthusiasm even seemed to carry Deeds in the primary elections this summer, Virginia Business President and Publisher Bernard Niemeier said.
“Deeds was great in the primary, but that does not seem to be the case,” Niemeier said. “There was a hope that Deeds could reach out to the younger and maybe disenfranchised voters as happened during last year’s Presidential election, but that hasn’t really happened in this campaign.”
Many Democratic supporters say this year’s Democratic state campaign did not have the same ideals, or results, as the Obama campaign.
“When Deeds was asked if he was an Obama Democrat, he hesitated and said that he was a ‘Creigh Deeds Democrat.’ This is showing that Deeds was not fully embracing the top of the Democratic party–he was basically saying he was ashamed of it,” said Democatic supporter Amir Malik.
Deeds has been questioned during the campaign about his views on guns and other social issues. He has supported gun rights in the past, even garnering an endorsement from the National Rifle Association in a previous campaign.
Democratic supporter Imran Chaudhry said the energy shown by last year’s Democrats has been more apparent in the Republican party this year.
“Democrats should learn their lesson,” Caudhry said. “The Republicans had a better outreach program, without a doubt they were more aggressive. Democrats were unable to inspire the base of the supporters.”
Small business owner LaMar Dixon, also a Democratic supporter, said lessons from this campaign can be applied to future endeavors in the state.
“I think that hopefuls will take the lessons learned from the campaign and move forward for a greater success in the future. It has been proven over the last eight years that the Democratic thought process of people first is better,” Dixon said.
Chaudrhy said attorney general candidate Steve Shannon holds the future of the party.
“If Shannon is head of the ticket next time and he engages in more outreach opportunities, people will actually listen to what Shannon says. Overall, I believe the Republicans had stronger candidates, they had the stronger more outreach-centered ticket,” Chaundry said.
We’re at the Westin in Richmond, and the Democratic supporters are filing in.
Early returns show Republican Bob McDonnell leading the governor’s race 64 percent to Democrat Creigh Deeds’ 35 percent. Republican candidates Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli also lead statewide races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
No results have been posted for Montgomery County or Blacksburg.
Stay on the CT News Blog for updates. Zc
Blacksburg Transit will provide service to many local polling places until 7 p.m. tonight.
The following polling locations will have service: Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Middle School, Community Center on Patrick Henry, Gilbert Linkous Elementary, Kipp’s Elementary, Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Margaret Beeks Elementary and Slusser’s Chapel.
Blacksburg Middle School, Kipp’s Elementary School are not typical stops on BT routes.
Blacksburg Middle can be reached from Burruss Hall on the bus labeled Hethwood Tripper. It will be at Burruss every half hour starting from the top of the hour.
Kipp’s Elementary can also be reached by the Hethwood Tripper from Burruss.
There is extra service to Margaret Beeks Elementary School from Squires East, labeled South Main Tripper. It will run every half hour beginning with the top of the hour. Zc
An e-mail to Virginia Tech residents Tuesday announced new Saturday hours of operation for Hokie Grill.
The dining facility, which is typically open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, has been operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Now, the facility will open and close one hour later on Saturdays, opening at noon and closing at 8 p.m.
Hokie Grill was closed on Saturdays and Sundays at the beginning of the 2008-2009 fall semester, but began operating on Saturdays in the middle of the semester due to high demand from students. Zc
One polling place that experienced overcrowding issues during last November’s election has been moved to a new location.
As the release below explains, voters who are assigned to vote at St. Michael’s Church on Merrimac Road are now being asked to vote at Kipps Elementary School on Prices Fork Road. The entire release can be viewed below.
This is a message from Blacksburg Alert, a public notification service of the Town of Blacksburg.
Blacksburg E-1 Precinct to Change for Elections and Voter Information
The Montgomery County Voter Registrar’s office would like to advise Blacksburg voters of a temporary precinct change and remind all voters to update their registration.
The E-1 Precinct at St. Michael’s Church on Merrimac Road will be temporarily moved to Kipps Elementary at 2801 Price’s Fork Road due to parking and convenience concerns. Voting will take place in the school cafeteria, which may be entered from the parking area.
New residents and others who have moved since the previous November election must notify the Registrar’s office to receive a new voter card and precinct information. This will save time and allow for easier access to polling places.
Residents may go to the library or post office to obtain a voter registration application or stop by the Voter Registrar’s office, <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=755+Roanoke+Street,+Christiansburg&sll=37.229303,-80.487471&sspn=0.046881,0.077162&ie=UTF8&ll=37.131342,-80.393078&spn=0.012163,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A>755 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg, Suite 1F, to fill out a change of address form. The forms may also be available at voter registration drives on college campuses.
The ballots will contain candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. Depending on residence, voters will also cast ballots for Blacksburg Town Council, Blacksburg Mayor, House of Delegates (12th or 7th District), Board of Supervisors and Montgomery County School Board.
Town of Christiansburg voters will have a question regarding a change of town elections from May to November. As with all constitutional voting, there will be a space for write-ins.
The last day to register or update your registration is October 5. If you are not able to vote in person, you may vote absentee. Absentee ballot applications are available on the Virginia State Board of Elections website (<http://www.sbe.virginia.gov) or can be picked up at the Voter Registrar’s office. If mailed to the Registrar, the absentee ballot must be received by October 27. In-person absentee voting will begin September 21 and will be available at the Registrar’s office until October 31.
To find polling places, candidate information, election results and more, visit <http://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/vote>www.MontgomeryCountyVA.gov/vote. For more information, please contact the Registrar’s office at 540-382-5741.
That will be something to pay attention to in November, as Blacksburg elects four town council spots and the state elects a governor. Zc
Some bizarre news off of a college campus today: The Associated Press reports, as seen here on the Richmond Times-Dispatch Web site, that a Johns Hopkins University student armed with a samurai sword, killed a man who broke into his garage.
The intruder died at the scene, and the local authorities are not releasing any names.
Police did say the student cut off the intruder’s hand and caused a severe laceration to the upper body. Zc