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BurkeBurke Batter, Up News, Page 8 Mickey Mouse was on George Mason’s campus the day Nick Balenger moved into student hous- ing this fall. Balenger will receive the NRH Medstar Follow on Twitter: @BurkeConnection on Twitter: Follow Victory Award for strength and courage in recovering from traumatic injury. Classified, Page 12 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 14 ❖ Entertainment, Page 10 Addressing Poll Position Domestic Violence Election 2014, Page 3 News, Page 9 Photos courtesy of Nick Balenger www.ConnectionNewspapers.comOctober 30 - November 5, 2014 online at Burkewww.connectionnewspapers.com Connection ❖ October 30 - November 5, 2014 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ October 30 - November 5, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Photos by Photos Tim Peterson Tim /The Connection The 11th District incumbent Gerry Connolly (left), Burgermeister Greg (From left) Ann Juliano of Bristow, Suzanne Scholte of Falls Church Burkheart of Vienna (center) and Delegate Mark Keam practice their and Janet Gorn of Montclair enjoy the late afternoon sun at a cam- Deutsche at Vienna’s Oktoberfest celebration. paign event in Gorn’s backyard. Local academics following the 11th Districts race say Poll Position there’s really no substitute for the strength of incumbency. By Tim Peterson the perception he’s one of those hard-to- name recognition and funding, both factors ing Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, who used The Connection beat incumbents now,” said Mark J. Rozell, making it that much more difficult for out- to represent Vienna.” acting dean and professor of Public Policy siders to pull an upset. Travis believes a shift could come in “sort espite low public opinion of for the George Mason University School of As of an Oct. 15 OpenSecrets.org report, of purple” Northern Virginia, and issues like President Obama and a mini- Policy, Government and International Af- Connolly had raised $1,886,601, spent immigration have the potential to “become Dmally productive Congress, fairs. $986,053 and had $1,768,494 in cash on real change” in favor of a challenger, at least representative Gerry Connolly Connolly won his first two congressional hand. one with more election experience. has plenty going for him as the incumbent races by 12 points (2008) and 26 points Scholte, by contrast, had $42,856 on “It’s a training ground,” said Travis, “be- seeking re-election in Virginia’s largely (2010). hand, raised $224,457 and spent $182,601. cause these things shift in Northern Virginia. democratic 11th district. And now that he’s stuck around, proven Harrold was reported with $6,547 raised, Maybe next time [Scholte] might prevail.” Republican challenger Suzanne Scholte himself a winner, “most voters differenti- $4,583 spent and $1,962 on hand. Galdo As well, Rozell doesn’t discount the value and independents Marc Harrold (Libertar- ate between Congress as an institution and wasn’t part of the report. of third-party candidates in the electoral ian) and Joe Galdo (Green) have been try- their own incumbent member,” said Rozell. Toni-Michelle Travis, GMU associate pro- process. ing to use that unproductivity to their ad- “It doesn’t necessarily weaken any incum- fessor of Government and Politics, agrees “They can force major candidate to ad- vantage, citing their lack of experience in bent who may have the favor of his or her with Rozell that the race is “pretty clear- dress different issues that might get ignored elected office as affording an advantageous, constituents,” he continued. cut.” otherwise,” he said, “add something impor- fresh perspective. Scholte has come after Connolly for be- “He’s doing all the right things, but I tant to the debate that’s going on.” “They’re not only not hearing us, they’re ing “completely out of touch with people in wouldn’t say he’s got the seat indefinitely,” not taking the time to listen to us,” said this district.” Connolly has countered that, she said. Travis cited changing demograph- HARROLD AND GALDO have high- Scholte. “I think we see that in the partisan “there’s no excuse for people seeing you as ics in Northern Virginia as something in- lighted the need for more government trans- shift, the bitterness in how people are deal- getting distant. I come home every night. cumbents shouldn’t sleep on in future elec- parency as well as pragmatic planning for ing with each other.” When I pick up my dry cleaning I’m in my tions. simplifying the tax code, among other is- And though that’s not a bad strategy, lo- constituency. When I grab a meal, it’s in my According to the Office of Elections, there sues. cal academics following the race say there’s constituency.” are 25,122 new voters registered in Fairfax “Unfortunately for them,” said Rozell, really no substitute for the strength of in- “And as long as Connolly can present him- County since Nov. 5, 2013. That figure in- “voters remain strategic creatures, under cumbency. Especially when you’ve made self as an authentic representative who’s out cludes transfers as well first-time regis- the belief that they’d be throwing their vote yourself as a household name like Connolly there fighting for his people,” said Rozell, trants. away otherwise. It somewhat becomes a has. “fixing the problems with hyper bipartisan- “Every incumbent’s got to be very atten- self-fulfilling prophesy.” “Once he fended off a serious challenger ships, that protects him a good deal.” tive to it,” said Travis. “This could erode, Visit Elections.virginia.gov to see the new in two separate election cycles, when people this could begin to change because of the requirements for voter identification re- thought he was vulnerable, that established INCUMBENCY COMES with superior new voters. That’s tripped up many, includ- quired at the polls on Nov. 4. Just Days Left for Voting Early, Absentee irtually every voter in Virginia is will be at his place of work and commut- ment Center Pkwy, Conf. Rooms 2/3, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, 22152 Veligible to vote absentee, which ing to and from his home to his place of Fairfax, 22035 Mason Governmental Center - 6507 includes voting in-person absen- work for eleven or more hours of the thir- Now through Oct. 31, Monday thru Fri- Columbia Pike, Annandale, 22003 tee at a variety of locations from now teen that the polls are open (6 a.m. to 7 day - 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Thursday: 8 a.m. - 7 Mount Vernon Governmental Center - through Saturday, Nov. 1. After that, vote p.m.). p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria 22306 on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4 at your You can download an absentee ballot ❖ Satellite Voting Locations: Sully District Governmental Center - assigned polling place. and mail it to your local voter registra- Franconia Governmental Center - 6121 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly 20151 There are many reasons that voters tion office, or you can vote “absentee in Franconia Road, Alexandria, 22310 Monday - Friday, through Oct. 31, 3:30 are allowed to vote absentee, but the person.” Dolley Madison Library - 1244 Oak Ridge p.m. - 7 p.m. most broad of these applies to almost In person absentee voting is available Ave., McLean, 22101 Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. anyone with a job: “Any person who, at the Fairfax County Governmental Cen- North County Human Services Bldg. - For more, call 703-222-0776 or visit in the regular and orderly course of his ter and multiple satellite locations. 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, 20190 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/ business, profession, or occupation, ❖ Office of Elections, 12000 Govern- West Springfield Governmental Center - absentee.htm www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ October 30 - November 5, 2014 ❖ 3 News Author to Discuss His ‘ABC Animals’ Book Nate Hausmann, who describes himself as an autistic entrepreneur, will share his story and his first book “ABC Animals” at a Northern Virginia j.talks event on Sunday, Nov. 2. The Jewish Community Center of North- ern Virginia presents j.talks, conver- sations with authors and artists. Hausmann began drawing during elementary school. In middle school, he began his tradition of illustrating one-of-a-kind personalized animal alphabet books as baby gifts for fam- ily and friends. After high school graduation in Baton Rouge, he illus- trated this English/Hebrew animal alphabet book with its color-pencil- drawn animals, set in watercolor habitats. The event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike in Fairfax. Gen- eral admission tickets are $11, $9 for J members and seniors (65+), and $7 for those under 30. JCCNV Cul- tural Arts programming is partially funded by the JCCNV Arts Fund, and the Arts Council of Fairfax County, supported by Fairfax County. For more information about JCCNV Cultural Arts programs, visit www.jccnvarts.org or call the JCCNV Photo contributed box office at 703-537-3000. 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