News
By Ben Sellers
|
February 25, 2002
City Democrats chose Charlottesville Mayor Blake Caravati and local photographer and teacher Alexandria Searls as its two candidates in the upcoming Charlottesville City Council election.
During the five-hour nominating convention at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center on Saturday, six potential candidates competed for the nominations to fill the open seats of Caravati, who was up for reelection, and retiring Councilman David Toscano.
"We came here supporting six candidates and we leave supporting two candidates," said Russell Perry, co-chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee.
Of those who attended the event, many perceived that they, in effect, might be electing the next City Council members.
"With the lack of Republican candidates thus far, the chances of Caravati and Searls getting elected are extremely high," said fourth-year College student Amy Spitler, who attended the convention as an observer.
Robert Hodous, chairman of the Charlottesville Republican Committee, said the group has one candidate for certain, but will not run anyone unless it can find a second person to run.
He said the party would decide at its meeting this Thursday whether a Republican will run in the election.
"At this point, it's still kind of up in the air," Hodous said.
All five current Council members are Democrats.
At the event, 442 registered voters from eight city precincts cast their ballots four times in order to give the winning candidates the required majorities of the vote.
Many voters left before the event ended, without knowing who had won.
