In what the Alexandria Gazette Packet called an “Election Shocker”, independent Alicia Hughes was elected to Alexandria’s city council.
As reported by Michael Lee Pope, outgoing Democratic Councilman Ludwig Gaines called for a new party leadership after this defeat, saying “The buck stops with Susan Kellom.”
According to the article, Hughes was “adopted” by the local Republican Party when she made a habit of asking incumbents to justify their votes.
Voters cast votes for up to six of the ten candidates seeking a seat, and the top six are elected. By encouraging their supporters to vote only for two candidates, the Republican Party was able to elect one of their own as well as Hughes. Part of the campaign was the use of a mascot, called “Plunkie”, to call attention to this tactic.
With a total of 7,031 votes, Hughes won by a margin of fewer than 300 votes.
Rich Williamson, another independent candidate, came in last with 2501 votes.
Hughes came in first in seven of the city’s 26 districts, according to the City of Alexandria election report.
H/T to Eric Dondero and Ballot Access News where Dondero’s comment about this election outcome was noted.
We here at Third Party Revolution congratulate Alicia Hughes on her victory for Alexander, Va city council race. We will continue to endorse other third party and independent candidates running for public offices nation-wide, ranging from local to federal levels.
What exactly does “endorsed and supported by the Independent Greens of Virginia” mean? Specifically did the party give her money? Did she accept the endorsement? In 2005 the IGV submitted to the state a candidate list comprised of candidates from other third parties and Independents. This fraudulent list claimed all the Independents (and several candidates from other third parties) running for the house of delegates as IGV candidates. When contacted by the state all the candidates said they were not IGV candidates and some claimed to have never heard of the party. So claiming a candidate as endorsed and supported after an election sounds suspect, especially in light of the parties history. There was no endorsed list on the party website and nothing in the news, on the web (even this site when she was discussed earlier), etc. The party also has never filed campaign finance reports with the state so there is no way to tell if the party gave her money. Since the party has never had a winning candidate of their own I can understand the desire to try to claim some of her glory, but that does not remove the sleaze of it.
Alicia Hughes apparently ran a great campaign and broke through two party rule Alexandria, for this she deserves all the credit!!
Did anyone remember that I wrote an article about this woman? I was seeking independent candidates and thought she looked interesting. Then, through more investigation and some reader comments, I lost interest in her…
Evidently she’s interesting…
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/03/in-alexandria-va-an-independent-candidate-runs-a-classic-campaign/
“This is almost as big of a set-back for Democrats as NY-20. Oh, wait…”
They almost lost NY-20, it was VERY close. Look for Republican gains in 2010.
This woman was endorsed and supported by the Independent Greens of Virginia.
But it’s still kind of a pity that Mr. Williamson didn’t win.
Congratulations to Ms Hughes on her victory. It was indeed a smart tactic for the Republicans to back her.
Now that Democrats totally control the federal government, we can applaud every setback for that wing of the pro-government party. But it is not a major victory if the Republicans felt they could only elect 2 people out of ten.
This is almost as big of a set-back for Democrats as NY-20. Oh, wait…
We dont really report on state chairs being replaced in any of the three major parties–unless the incomeing chair were someone of major interest (like Chuck Baldwin in Florida or kat swift in Texas, get me?).
We do report on national officers though.
Nevada elected a new person to every excomm seat we have . Afew we’re just moved around like me but most were filled with new folks entirely.
@4 – State party officer turnover doesn’t often make it onto IPR. Tennessee elected a new chair at their convention the other week, and I believe Florida, Nevada, and at least a few other states have, as well.
Single-shot is perfectly fair. I’d wager that at least 1/3rd of Alexandria isn’t Democrat. This just shows a crack in the system crafted by the parties.
“Say, when will it be reported that Eric Sundwall is no longer the NYLP chair? Chris Edes won the spot last week, yet nothing on IPR has anything on it.”
I imagine that’ll happen when/if someone provides information to Trent or whomever in regards to this. I’ve never seen such information as this (changing of state party chairs) posted before, but I also doubt there are a ton of press releases about such things (to do so would require quite an ego, I’d imagine).
Definitely GOP pick-ups in NJ and VA.
But this is an interesting story about one of N Virginia’s most liberal cities.
Say, when will it be reported that Eric Sundwall is no longer the NYLP chair? Chris Edes won the spot last week, yet nothing on IPR has anything on it.
This is a huge setback for the Democrats. This is their own backyard. They’ve been bragging for years how Northern Virginia is now “solidly Blue,” and how the entire State is swinging Dem.
Apparently, not so fast.
A portend for the ’09 off-year elections in NJ and VA perhaps?
Yes, single-shot voting is a common strategy in multi-member elections. In my area, it is especially promoted among black voters.
Congratulations on her victory.