Former Charlottesville Mayor David Toscano, University Urban Planning Prof. Rich Collins and local developer Clement "Kim" Tingley will compete June 14 for the Democratic Party's nomination to run for the 57th District's seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The winner of the primary will vie for the House seat vacated by Del. Mitch Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, who plans to retire after 24 years in office.
This primary is especially relevant, given that the 57th District is so heavily Democratic that the election's winner likely will determine who takes over Van Yahres' seat in the fall.
"The 57th is one of those districts where the primary is the election and the regular election is just an afterthought," Politics Prof. Larry Sabato said. "The winner of the primary will be the next member of the House of Delegates."
Toscano served as a Charlottesville City Councilor from 1990 to 2002 and as mayor from 1994 to 1996.
"I believed for a long time that citizens have a right to control more of their political and economic destiny then our legislatures permit us to do," Toscano said. "I support more emphasis on education and giving more control to localities so they can control how their communities are planned."
Collins said he plans to retire from teaching in June. Collins also has served as chair of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, as well as the Rivana Water and Sewer Authority
"I feel that my experience in state government in resolving governmental disputes without having a lawyer has led me to believe in the need for a great progressive delegate from this district," Collins said. "I am so familiar with working across party lines that I will bring an unusual ability."
Tingley has served as president of the local Homebuilders Association.
"Like Delegate Van Yahres, I am a small-business man, and I think small businessmencommon sense to the General Assembly," Tingley said. "They don't think ethereal thoughts. They come to get things done. As a builder, I get things done."
One of the major issues facing a potential representative is the fiscal relationship between state and local government.
"The big issue the representative is going to face is getting the House in Richmond to meet its [fiscal] obligations," Charlottesville Mayor David Brown said.
Another important issue is the implications of explosive residential and commercial growth in the region.
"Affordable housing is a key concern, as fewer and fewer of the middle class can afford housing in our area," Richards said.
Although the Charlottesville City Republicans are not holding a primary for the election, they plan to select a nominee through a mass meeting June 6.
"When you look at the statistics of the area, Charlottesville is 72 percent Democratic," Reinicke said. "It would be a difficult battle, but not impossible."
Charlottesville Republican Committee Chair Bob Hodous said local irritation with high taxes and other issues could pave the way for a Republican candidate.
"There could be some things that could happen in this election that could make it very possible for a Republican to win," Hodous said.
Whoever wins the election will need to fill the shoes of Van Yahres, an outspoken representative for Charlottesville since 1981.
"Mitch is called the conscience of the House," Richards said. "He always focuses on doing what's ethical and humane and represents our values."
According to Brown, any successor to Van Yahres will need to be a real advocate for his constituents.
"We need someone who is willing to work hard and to be very accessible to the community," Brown said.
This task is made more challenging by the major ideological differences between the majority of Charlottesville constituents and the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.
"I think we could use a little bit of burnishing of our image," Richards said. "Charlottesville is regarded as being very marginal politically in the General Assembly."
Van Yahres' prospective successors also will face the difficult task of luring voters to the polls in a year without primaries for more high-profile state offices.
"I would expect turnout to be moderate to low," Sabato said.
Low voter turnout will mean that the candidates will need to work hard to stay in touch with voters.
"The candidate who can really get the grassroots fired up will win the election," Sabato said.
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