Election Day Has Arrived

Neighbors who endorse opposing political candidates can still remain friends, according to yard signs at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Second Street in Harrisonburg. (Photo by Nikki Fox / DN-R)

HARRISONBURG — Finally, it’s here.

After months of campaign rhetoric, candidate promises and enough mailers, lawn signs and ads to fill the White House several times over, the moment of truth, Election Day, has arrived.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. For real-time results tonight, check www.sbe.virginia.gov.

Topping the list of decisions to be made in the Shenandoah Valley and across Virginia and the nation is the presidential race. Voters actually have five, not two, choices: President Barack Obama (Democrat); Mitt Romney (Republican); Virgil Goode (Constitution Party); Gary Johnson (Libertarian); and Jill Stein (Green Party).

Statewide, a seat in the U.S. Senate is up for grabs between two former governors: Tim Kaine, a Democrat, and George Allen, a Republican who lost his seat in the Senate in 2006.

The race for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Page and Rockingham counties and Harrisonburg, has a battle between 20-year incumbent Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and Democrat Andy Schmookler, a Shenandoah County author and first-time candidate.

Two proposed constitutional amendments are also on the ballot: one requiring that eminent domain only be used for public purposes and another allowing the General Assembly to delay the start date for its veto session.

Numerous local races will end today as well. Here is a glimpse at all of them:

Harrisonburg

Mayor Richard Baugh and City Councilman Kai Degner seek re-election to council and are two of the eight candidates looking to fill three spots available.

Baugh and Degner are Democrats.

Also running for office are Planning Commission member Deb Fitzgerald (Democrat); former Mayor Rodney Eagle (Republican); Anthony Bailey, a Republican who is the senior assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County; University Outpost co-owner Christine Johnson (Republican); former city manager Roger Baker (independent); and math teacher Abe Shearer (independent).

Elkton

Three residents, including incumbent Mayor Roy “Gene” Davis, look to lead the town, and six others vie for three positions on Town Council.

Councilman Phillip “Rick” Workman II and former Mayor Lee Dearing are Davis’ competition in his bid for a second term as mayor. Davis defeated the same candidates in 2010.

On council, incumbents Margaretta Isom and Randell Snow seek re-election, while Workman’s seat on council is available because he cannot run for both council and mayor.

The other candidates for council are Jim Berg, the town’s volunteer economic development director; Jason Blose, a Planning Commission member; Joshua Gooden, a 2012 graduate of East Rockingham High School; and former mayor Wayne Printz.

Dayton

Five people, including all the incumbents, seek four spots on Town Council.

Jeff Daly joins incumbents Jerry Critcher, Laura Daily, Joshua Lyons and Gregory Trissel on the ballot.

Council appointed Critcher to the panel in March after Donna McCormick resigned, and that term expires at the end of the year. Daily was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2010, and then won a special election last year.

Lyons was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2011 and then won a special election later in the year to finish the term.

Earlier this year, Trissel also was appointed to fill a vacancy for a term that expires at the end of the year.

Bridgewater

Four residents, including three incumbents, seek election to Town Council.

Council members Roscoe Burgess, Rosetta Harris and William “Bill” Miracle look to keep their spots on the panel as Planning Commission chairman Steven Schofield also tries to grab a seat.

The same four candidates also ran in 2008.

Stanley

Residents will choose between two candidates for mayor and three people for two spots on Town Council.

Mayor Doug Purdham seeks re-election to the post he’s held for 20 years, facing challenger Mike Uram. For Town Council, incumbents Martha Graves and Michael Knight have competition in Steven Thomas.

 
Where To Vote

If you live in …

Harrisonburg, call 432-7707

Rockingham County, call 564-3055

Page County, call 743-3986

Shenandoah County, call 459-6195

Augusta County, call 245-5656

Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com