Community Corner
This Week: Special Election to Fill Herring's State Senate Seat is Tuesday
Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Get details here.
The special election to replace Attorney General-elect Mark Herring's seat on the State Senate for the 33rd District, which includes parts of Chantilly, Oak Hill, Herndon, Sterling and Leesburg, is will take place this Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The winner will hold the seat for just under two years, through the remainder of Herring's term, which ends Jan. 16, 2016. Herring's resignation from his State Senate seat officially became effective last Saturday, Jan. 11.
Many are calling this special election a game-changer that will determine which political party dominates the state Senate.
The Washington Post said a victory for Wexton will bring the Senate to a split 20-20 vote on issues, with Lt. Governor Ralph Northam acting as a tie-breaker and securing a Democratic victory. Conversely, a vote for either May or Whitbeck would give Republicans the upper hand, as either candidate would surely back GOP leaders in Senate votes.
Election Day on Tuesday
Polls in the 33rd District will be open all day on Jan. 21, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Local polling places in the 33rd District for the special election will include:
- Herndon #1 (Herndon Elementary School)
- Herndon #2 (Herndon Community Center)
- Herndon #3 (Herndon Middle School)
- Hutchison Elementary School, Herndon
- Coates Elementary School, Oak Hill
- Rachel Carson Middle School, Oak Hill
- Frying Pan (Visitor Center at Frying Pan Farm Park, Oak Hill)
- McNair Elementary School, Oak Hill
The Candidates
There will be three candidates on the ballot for the State Senate seat.
In a recent firehouse primary, Leesburg attorney Jennifer Wexton received the Democratic party nomination over Herndon Town Councilwoman Sheila Olem.
Read more about Jennifer Wexton on her website.
John Whitbeck, an attorney and chairman of the 10th Congressional District Republican Committee, won his party's nomination in a Mass Meeting last month over public relations specialist Ron Meyer of Herndon.
Read more about John Whitbeck on his website.
Former Delegate Joe May, who lost re-election to his seat in the last election, originally announced his intention to seek the Republican party nomination for the State Senate seat, but just hours later announced he would instead run as an Independent, denouncing the way the Republican party opted for what he called a "secret Mass Meeting" rather than the usual firehouse primary.
Read more about Joe May on his website.
* See a sample ballot on Fairfax County's elections website.
FOLLOW HERNDON PATCH FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS!
Facebook | Twitter | Daily & Breaking News E-mail UpdatesFind out what's happening in Chantillywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
