Voters Turn Out Across County

By Chris Jenkins

Originally published at 3:12 p.m., November 6, 2007
Updated at 6:00 p.m., November 6, 2007

Voters in Loudoun braved a stiff afternoon wind as they headed to the polls, where volunteers said generally it had been a busy morning and early afternoon. Family values, affordable housing, illegal immigration and taxes were the things that many people said were of particular concern.

Barbara Davila, 54, a Loudoun County worker who was voting at the county's new recreation center, said that she had voted Democratic because she felt that they were more sensitive to the issues of affordable housing. She said it had become expensive to live in the county over the years, and she was concerned that current residents might be pushed out in the coming years. She listed keeping taxes reasonable as another issue for her.

On illegal immigration, however, she reflected the view of four other voters interviewed. "Nobody know what the answers are or what the right way to go is," she said. "Most people know are torn over the issue...I'm torn over the issue. But I don't think either party can really do all that much."

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward

South Riding resident Maggie Howland marks her ballot with the help of her neighbors, Jack Wheatley, 1 1/2 years old and Caroline Wheatley, 3 1/2 years old, at Precinct 107, Little River Elementary School.

Several other voters said that illegal immigration seemed to be a problem that state politicians may not be able to resolve. They said they wanted the federal government to do something more definitive and not pass responsibility on the state.

"What can any of these state politicians really do?" said Margaret Fuller, 32, a recent transplant from Chicago. She said she considers herself an independent. "I mean people want to make a big deal of it here, but it's just politics. People know there isn't much they can do."

But others said they wanted the state to do more — even if it was only symbolic — and said they perceived the Republican candidates as being more articulate on the issue.

"It's the federal government's responsibility, I know, but I guess I'm looking to vote for someone who reflects a view of getting the illegal immigrants out of this country," said Jack Donald, 67, a retired contractor who identified himself as an independent. He said he voted for Marshall, but didn't vote for a Senate candidate. "I guess it's like a protest vote I made."

Several voters who identified themselves as Republicans said they continued to support their party unequivocally yesterday. In some cases they wanted a lawmaker who would represent what they termed 'conservative values," particularly on the issues of abortion and gay marriage.

"That's a very important issue to me," said David Moticka, 52, who works for Federal Express. He voted to reelect Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) and challenger Patricia Phillips (R) who's running against Sen. Mark Herring (D). "I want a representative who reflects my values on these issues."

"I guess because I have my three boys and I'm concerned about public safety, I tend to be conservative and vote Republican," said Patti McCarthy, 38, a homemaker who's lived in Loudoun since 1999. Standing in front of Hillside Elementary School, she also said she voted a straight Republican ticket in local and state races yesterday.

In some cases people who said they were independent offered that they had voted largely for Democrats, citing dissatisfaction with state and national Republican parties.

But Randy Anderson, a consultant who has lived in Loudoun for 15 years, was one of several independent voters who said that they were voting Democratic this year. On local issues, he said he was concerned that county supervisors were influenced too much by special interests. He voted the Democratic line in the local races. In state races he said that it was time for a change.

"The Republicans have had seven years to try to make this state and this country better, and I don't feel as if they have," he said, standing out in front of Broad Run High School in Ashburn. "So I figured it's time to give the Democrats a chance this time."

On local issues he said: "This board is too much in the pocket of special interests. There's too many conflicts of interest on the board." He declined to name specifics but said he voted largely for Democrats in the local races.

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