If WaPo thought the recent special election in Fairfax County for Braddock's seat on the Board of Supervisors would be a quiet way to put another endorsement in the R column, they were mistaken. Scott Surovell, Chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, dismantles the WaPo endorsement of Cook using Cook's own swearing in ceremony speech.

http://fairfaxdemocrats.org/?p=1315

Cook Pulls Off The Sheep’s Clothing
By FCDC Chair on Mar 25, 2009

FCDC Chair Scott Surovell, has come out swinging against Virginia's newly inaugurated Supervisor, Republican John Cook.

Well, Cook has spoken. He spoke at his swearing in ceremony. You can watch it here. The sheepskin has come off of the wolf.

It’s amazing how easily The Washington Post Editorial Board was so thoroughly spun. This speech was dripping with the same Republican Snake Oil that we’ve been listening to for twenty years. It is full of “you can have your cake and eat it too” promises and nice sounding sloganeering with no actual REVENUE to back it up. It is exactly what the voters rejected on November 4, 2008.

At the risk of reopening possible sore wounds, I would like to briefly revisit the issue of the straw poll at Gerry Connolly's St. Paddy's Day event, and the issue of tickets and campaigns. I decided to write this after returning from Friday's annual Gala for the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, this year honoring the Virginia Congressional Delegation. Several House members attended - I saw Moran, Perriello, and Connolly. Several canceled at the last minute because there were no Friday votes, so they left town - Nye, Wolf, Scott. Paul Reagan was there on behalf of Jim Webb. 5 Statewide Democratic candidates showed - Deeds, McAuliffe, Shannon, Signer and Wagner. I talked with them, with staff, and with a lot of other people. And as a result I think I can, without sourcing statements to any particular person, authoritatively describe what happened at the straw poll and the event.

Due to budget shortfalls, Fairfax County cannot afford paper ballots for their optical scan machines, and will only be using their electronic machines - the same kind of machine that crashed in the March 10th special election.

What's more, they will not be opening the Satellite Locations around the county as they did last November. Only the Government Center will be open for In-Person Absentee Voting.

(this is satire in the spirit of Jonathan Swift, nothing more. I'm posting this because alot of people need to relax, take a deep breath, and look at the situation we are in and what the campaigns have been reduced too. So don't be a jerk about it. While I do support Brian, I'd be posting the same thing about him if he won)

Gerry Connolly has been hosting his St. Patrick's Day event ever since he first ran for Providence District Supervisor in 1995. It has gone from just a gathering of his supporters in his home to now being held in the Kena Temple because hundreds of people are expected to attend. While this event obviously is a good fundraiser, I look at it more as a great way to support the local Democratic community and get excited about upcoming elections -- especially when you consider that there's a straw poll at the event.

Now there has always been a lot of speculation about how credible straw polls are and what they actually mean in the race. I think that depends a lot on the reputation of the event the straw poll is held at AND how the actual candidates approach the poll. The straw poll at Gerry's St. Patrick Day event has a history of producing accurate results and people tend to realize this so candidates pay attention to the race. In past years, candidates have encouraged their supporters to attend the event -- often through sending out emails or making some phone calls -- so that they could receive their vote. This has largely resulted in seeing which campaign did a better job of rallying it's supporters to the specific event. Based upon the accuracy of the results, many of the victorious candidates have been able to then use those organizing skills to win in the primaries.

Where the skepticism of straw polls comes in is sometimes candidates try to buy up a large number of tickets in order to make it look like they have a lot of grassroots support. In the past this has happened at other events, but most people respect the tradition of trying to have this event truly be a test of grassroots organizing. I truly hope that remains to be the case this year, but we shall see tomorrow evening. Hope to see you there.

Moon's statement

March 11, 2009

For Immediate Release:
I was certainly hoping for better numbers from the voting machines at Fairview Precinct today, but the numbers show otherwise. Even though I have a right to ask for a recount under state law and also challenge the election result due to irregularities with the voting machines used at Fairview precinct, I have decided not to do so. Given the state of our economy, the taxpayers' resources should be focused on providing services to Fairfax County's residents and Braddock District's residents need someone to represent them on the Board of Supervisors to start working on important issues such as budget and transportation as soon as possible. I do not want to cause any delay.

I am humbled by and grateful for all the support that I have received from many supporters and more than 6,000 votes cast in the special election on Tuesday. I would like to congratulate Mr. John Cook for waging a strong campaign and wish him well on the Board. I look forward to working with him on education issues as a school board member.

Ilryong Moon
Candidate

Cook (R) wins Fairview by 19 votes, Braddock district by 89..

So here’s the deal – this Tuesday (3/10), voters in Fairfax County’s Braddock District can move the County Board forward by electing a Harvard-educated School Board veteran, Ilryong Moon , as the County Board’s first Asian-American Supervisor. If they are wise enough to do so, Braddock then gets a chance at a two-for-one special – Moon as their Supervisor, and Braddock’s Liz Griffith as his School Board replacement.

Her leadership among Democrats includes serving as a member of the FCDC Steering Committee and serving as one of the first leaders of the Brigades group of former Webb volunteers. But besides being a good Dem, she is also well suited to the School Board. Her experience includes a PhD in Political Science, four children who have attended Fairfax County Public Schools, and work as a high school teacher, former PTSA President and Program Director of a children’s summer arts camp. She is currently active on the School Board's Human Relations Advisory Committee, serving as chair of its Communication Subcommittee.

Liz went out on a limb for the Democrats 2 years ago, challenging an incumbent Republican on the School Board in her very first race – and coming only 153 votes shy of victory. She is well known among Democratic volunteers in Virginia for her enthusiastic and energetic work on the Webb and Obama campaigns. For Obama, she helped set up the volunteer leadership team in Fairfax County, worked Hampton Roads, and for her efforts was elected an Alternate Delegate to the Democratic Convention in Denver.

One thing people notice about Ilryong Moon, democratic candidate for Braddock District Supervisor in the upcoming special election on MARCH 10, is how soft spoken he is.

Barely registering on my tape deck, he explains a philosophy of public service that leads to a habit of quiet:

You know, there are people who make up their own mind and pretend to listen to people.

I don’t do that. . . .

I listen patiently, patient to listen before I reach a decision.

That is something I would like to continue doing as a member of the Board of Supervisors.

Moon is running against Republican John Cook and independent Carey Campbell to replace Sharon Bulova in the second special election to hit Braddock Distirct since November, after one of the most active firehouse primaries anyone can remember. Republicans are banking on democratic burn out to sneak another one onto the board, in the aftermath of unexpectedly close races in special elections for the 46th HOD, and for Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair. There's MORE!