2015 Arlington County Board Democratic Primary – How They Stand

@rcannon100 117396 wrote:

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Write in candidate Mark Blacknell has withdraw from the race.

What? No one told us! Mark, gotta have a talk with your publicist, lol.

The difference between 2nd place and 3rd place will be a few votes. So VOTE damn you! Even you Dread…. cross county and party lines and VOTE!

@chris_s 117621 wrote:

Anyone registered to vote in Arlington County can vote.

By voting in the Democratic primary aren’t you required to sign something or otherwise affirm to the effect that you will vote for the Democratic candidate in the general election?

Loyalty Oaths….. hows that going for ya???

Results: http://www.arlnow.com/2015/06/09/county-board-primary-results/

So…. this should make the election interesting. Four candidates for two slots. One candidate can be discarded (Audrey). So its a three way race. And it looks like the republican is a home boy.

@ShawnoftheDread 117755 wrote:

The republican. You’re so funny, Bob.

Audry is green party running as an independent, and isnt worth the campaign trash her campaign regularly produces

Michael McMenamin is a republican also running as an independent. Like Vihstatd, he seems to be a home boy – ” a 21-year county resident, long-time civic activist, and current President of the Arlington County Civic Federation.” McMenamin has run before and lost – but could have a base that will support him – and make this a horse race.

So, um – what’s so funny? (Are you assuming I used the word ‘republican’ pejoratively?)

Yeah, I dont know. That certainly has been the rule.

And yes I am baiting discussion here because I would love to see people’s responses.

But the last three elections have been rejections of the “progressive” democratic agenda. Garvey, Vihstadt 1 and Vihstadt 2. Now the agenda in question (the street cars, the aquatic center, and having audits) have apparently been resolved more or less. But it is also true that it could be read that Arlington’s general voting base could best be described as moderate democrat (willing to vote outside the box when candidates hold views closer to their own than “progressives”) and that Arlington’s loyal democratic voting base is progressive. When the voting base in the primary votes one way – and the voting base during the election votes another – you have a party problem.

So now – let’s say – and I am not sure if this is right – we have

* Cristol – progressive democrat – I think lived in Arlington 5 years
* Dorsey – moderate democrat – Arlington resident ~ 22 years
* McMenamin – moderate republican – Arlington resident 21 years

Last election 67K arlingtonians voted. During this primary, 10K voted. That’s a lot of room for swing. One dem will get elected. Will both? (this isnt who SHOULD get elected – this is more a rejection of your “no chance” comment – I think we got ourselves a horse race)

Mark? Chris? Steve? Arguments? Thoughts?