Four years after voter outrage helped sweep four newcomers onto the Board of Supervisors, things have settled down in Chesterfield County.
This year, four of the five incumbents are heading back for another term.
The only loser Tuesday was Marleen K. Durfee, who was trounced by former county Fire Chief Steven A. Elswick in the Matoaca District. Elswick's hand's-off approach to campaigning paid off as he outpolled Durfee in 10 of the 14 precincts.
"I'm a little numb right now," Elswick said Tuesday night, several hours after the polls closed. "It hasn't sunk in yet. It's just a real honor. Serving the public is an honor."
James M. "Jim" Holland in Dale and Dorothy Jaeckle in Bermuda also won, proving that four years of keen financial management — and a never-shy approach in spreading the news about it — was a winner with constituents. They're coming, back along with two colleagues who ran unopposed: Daniel A. Gecker in the Midlothian District and A.S. "Art" Warren in Clover Hill.
"I think it's proof that the voters in Chesterfield paid attention," Holland said. "It's what I call the Chesterfield miracle: In the midst of the worst economic times, Chesterfield has not only succeeded but flourished."
Of the three contested races, the most contentious was in the Bermuda District, where Jaeckle held off Mark Fausz, who published a weekly newspaper in the district.
Fausz made an all-out assault on the record of Jaeckle, typically in advertisements in his newspaper, the Village News. Jaeckle went the technicality route, challenging Fausz repeatedly on the disclaimers on his ads and complaining that Fausz was biased.
Jaeckle was not available for comment last night.
"It's not bad," Fausz said. "I thought we won. The numbers show that, because of the money she had, and we were still there in the end. We haven't started passing the crying towel. Everybody on the team is satisfied."
In the Dale District, the campaign started off on a low-key note and, a few complaints aside, stayed there. Holland, the county's lone Democrat, beat Republican challenger G. Cliff Bickford in 10 of the 14 precincts.
"It's just a wonderful feeling," Holland said. "It's really energizing. It means the voters recognized the hard work I did, but it also puts me on the notice that I have to work even harder. I'm coming out of it with a renewed commitment, a renewed resolve."
In the lone contested race for a constitutional seat, longtime Commissioner of the Revenue Joe A. Horbal easily beat challenger Michael J. Marcotte. Treasurer Richard A. Cordle, Commonwealth's Attorney Billy Davenport and Sheriff Dennis Proffitt won without opposition.
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