Mount Vernon Mardi Gras
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Mardi Gras celebration! Here are the results of the straw poll for the 8th Congressional District:
Specific vote breakdown was:
1. Don Beyer: 105 votes /25%
2. Lavern Chatman: 83 /20
3. Patrick Hope: 81/19
4. Mark Sickles: 51/12
5. Adam Ebbin: 42/ 10
6. Charniele Herring: 15/03
7. Bill Euille: 11/02
8. Alfonso Lopez: 11/02
9. Derek Hyra: 7
10. Mark Levine: 7
11. Bruce Shuttleworth: 3
419 votes cast.
Below is a press release from the Mt. Vernon Democrats:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee
mvdemocrats.com
Contact: Mary Paden mary.paden@gmail.com 703-298-2176
Beyer Wins Straw Poll by Mt. Vernon Democrats
Former Ambassador Donald Beyer won a straw poll held as part of a fundraising event sponsored by the Mount Vernon Democratic Committee (MVDDC) Saturday with 25 percent of the vote. Eleven candidates for the 8th Congressional District seat in the Democratic primary were on the straw poll ballot at an annual fundraising event held by MVDDC. Lavern Chatman came in second with 20 percent of the vote, and Del. Patrick Hope of Arlington garnered 19 percent. About 470 Democratic activists attended the event and 419 cast votes.
Other candidates finished as follows: Del. Mark Sickles (12 percent); Sen. Adam Ebbin (10); Del. Charniele Herring (3); Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and Del. Alfonso Lopez (2); and Derek Hydra, Mark Levine, and Bruce Shuttleworth with less than 2 percent.
Beyer, 63, is the co-owner of several car dealerships and served as lieutenant governor for two terms before losing the 1997 race for governor. Most recently he served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 2009 to 2013. Beyer and his wife Megan live in Alexandria.
Retiring Congressman Jim Moran was honored at the Mardi Gras-themed event with presentations and songs. MVDDC presented him with a print of the U.S. Constitution annotated by George Washington from the Mt. Vernon Estate and a photo book with pictures from his 12 terms in office, highlighting some of his activities in Mt. Vernon.
Committee members also wrote new lyrics to and performed two songs: “Stay (a Little Bit Longer),” and “This Man is Our Man,” (to the tune of “This Land is Your Land).”
The straw poll has been held for the past six years by MVDDC as part of its annual fundraiser. The event was at Don Beyer Volvo showroom on Rt.1 in Mt Vernon District where it has been held for the past four years.
The straw poll tests the strength of the campaigns at the 100-day point prior to the June 10 Democratic Primary in terms of their ability to organize supporters and Democratic activists.
Primary candidates will also be featured at an MVDDC-sponsored moderated public forum scheduled for April 12 at Mt. Vernon High School.
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Specific vote breakdown was:
1. Don Beyer: 105 votes /25%
2. Lavern Chatman: 83 /20
3. Patrick Hope: 81/19
4. Mark Sickles: 51/12
5. Adam Ebbin: 42/ 10
6. Charniele Herring: 15/03
7. Bill Euille: 11/02
8. Alfonso Lopez: 11/02
9. Derek Hyra: 7
10. Mark Levine: 7
11. Bruce Shuttleworth: 3
419 votes cast.
