Great Falls Connection

Hurricane Sandy means that the week preceding the election will not be what we were expecting. This editorial is being written Sunday night, Oct. 28, as forecasters predict five inches of rain and 65-mile-per-hour winds over the next two days.

With some predicting that power could take a week or more to restore, we have to worry about the likely condition of the Eastern seaboard will be on Election Day, Nov. 6. Absentee voting in person had been canceled for Monday, and most government offices were closed in anticipation of the storm. What will this mean for voter turnout, for access to voting places on Election Day?

We don't believe that there are significant numbers of undecided voters in Northern Virginia. There are voters who know who they would vote for if they did vote, but they might not be committed to voting if circumstances are difficult. The outcome of the national election, both who will be president and which party controls the U.S. Senate and by what margin, could depend on voter turnout in Virginia. Make a commitment to have your vote counted, no matter how many days you might be without electricity.

We are not endorsing candidates for elected office this year. We do recommend that voters support local bond questions for investments in libraries, schools, transportation, parks, storm water management and public safety.

Four years ago in the presidential election of 2008, there were 5,034,660 voters registered in Virginia, and 3,752,858 actually voted. On Oct. 3, Fairfax County reported 723,967 total voters registered. Arlington reported 163,919 total voters. Alexandria reported 104,947 registered voters.

At the top of the ticket, in addition to choosing a president and vice president, Virginians will choose a new U.S. senator. Tim Kaine (D), former governor will face George Allen (R), also former governor and former U.S. senator, to replace U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D) who is retiring from the Senate after a single term. Webb defeated George Allen six years ago. Connection coverage of the U.S. Senate race is available at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/Election/National/Senate/.

Two constitutional questions will appear on all Virginia ballots, one about the use of eminent domain and one about the timing of a particular session of the General Assembly to consider overriding vetoes by the governor of legislation that was passed by the assembly. See http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/webdocs/201211ConstitutionalAmendmentsPoster.pdf.

Coverage of the eminent domain question in particular can be found at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/Elections/.

In the races for U.S. House of Representatives, it's worth noting that redistricting resulted in significant changes in Northern Virginia in terms of who your U.S. representative will be. If you live in Reston, for example, in the last election you were represented by Jim Moran and the 8th district, now you are in the 11th district where the incumbent is Gerry Connolly. See the map for details. Fairfax County is represented by three Congressional Districts, 8, 10 and 11. Connection coverage of congressional races is available at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/Election/National/Representatives.

In the 8th District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D), seeking his 12th term since being elected in 1990, will face Patrick Murray (R), and two independent candidates, Janet Murphy and Jason Howell. The 8th district includes all of Alexandria and Arlington, plus parts of Fairfax County including Mount Vernon, Lorton and parts of McLean, Tysons and Falls Church.

In the 10th District, Frank Wolf (R), elected to office in 1982, will face Democrat Kristin A. Cabral and independent J. Kevin Chisholm. The 10th district sprawls from McLean to Winchester, and includes Great Falls, Chantilly, parts of Fairfax Station, the Town of Clifton, part of Burke and Springfield.

In the 11th District, Gerry Connolly (D), former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, elected to congress in 2008, will face Republican Chris Perkins and Independents Joe Galdo, Peter M. Marchetti and Mark T. Gibson. The 11th district now includes the City of Fairfax, the Town of Herndon, Reston, central Fairfax County including parts of Burke, Springfield and Lorton.

In Fairfax County, we recommend that voters support investment in infrastructure based on four bond questions, answering yes to support $75 million for parks, $55 million for public safety facilities, $25 million for library facilities and $30 million for storm water and sewer improvements (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/nov_2012_county_bond_issues.pdf).

In the City of Alexandria, voters will also choose a mayor, members of the city council and school board. If you are voting by paper ballot, don't forget to vote both sides of the ballot.

In Arlington, voters will choose one member of the County Board from three candidates: Libby Garvey (D), incumbent; Matt Wavro (R), and Audrey Clement (G). There are two candidates for two seats on the School Board: Noah Simon

And incumbent Emma Violand-Sanchez. Both Arlington boards are made up entirely of at-large members, so both races will appear on all Arlington ballots.

Arlington voters will also decide yes or no on four bond questions, whether to authorize raising $32 million for public schools, $28 million for community infrastructure, $50 million for local parks and recreation, and $32 million for Metro and transportation (http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/voterregistration/forms/Bonds2012ENG.pdf).

There is more information on our website under http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/Elections/.

Stay safe while navigating the aftermath of the storm.