Although the General Assembly has not yet made their state judgeship appointments, of which Brentsville District Supervisor Wally Covington is expected to be a recipient, unofficially, Republicans are preparing to hold a mass meeting to elect their candidate at the beginning of next month.
The official word from the Prince William Republican Party said there is no meeting scheduled.
“To be clear, until Mr. Covington is nominated for judgeship, there is no mass meeting nomination election,” their website reads.
However, word on the street is that Republicans have tentatively secured the date of Oct. 1 for a mass meeting to be held at Patriot High School in the large auditorium. They expect doors will open at 7 p.m., and the vote will likely take place at 8:15 p.m.
One thing is certain. No matter the date, local Republicans voted to elect their candidate by mass meeting. While a mass meeting is less inclusive than a primary or even firehouse primary, which takes place at just one location, it is more inclusive than election via a caucus.
In a caucus, the attendees of the meeting must sit through various speeches. Republicans who voted for the mass meeting were concerned that a too lengthy process might not be the best way to ingratiate new Republican voters, and thus favored the mass meeting.
The rules of the mass meeting are as follows: only Brentsville residents who are Republicans in good standing can vote. Independents or former Democrats will be able to swear allegiance to the Republican Party, but those who have voted in a Democratic Party primary will be required to renounced their allegiance to the Democratic party first. Those self-identifying as Democrats will not be able to vote.
Additionally, state election laws apply, so only registered voters may participate, thus voters should bring a valid ID with them.
During the first part of the mass meeting, the two Republican candidates, Scott Jacobs and Jeanine Lawson, will have a chance to speak to the public. Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1st) may also speak at the meeting.
Then, individuals will cast their votes. The winning candidate needs just one vote above his or her opponent to win.
However, after the winner of the Republican mass meeting is announced, that individual will still have to compete in a special election, said Diana Dutton of the Prince William Office of Elections.
Dutton explains that much is still not known about the Brentsville Supervisor election.
“Right now there is nothing certain at this particular moment. If Supervisor Covington is appointed to the General District Court, then he would have to resign. Then, the court in conference with others would set the date for the election,” Dutton said.
Because that election date has not been set yet, there is still plenty of time for another candidate, Democrat or Independent, to register.
While Prince William Democratic Chair Harry Wiggins said the Democrats are not planning to run a candidate for Brentsville Supervisor, others can still step forward.
Dutton said when word gets out that there is only one candidate, “that might spark the interest of other individuals.”
According to the General Assembly, they will delay filling judgeship appointments until December but may announce the appointments as early as this Friday.
While it is unknown if someone will choose to take on whoever wins the Republican election, be it either Jeanine Lawson or Scott Jacobs, it is clear the mass meeting election will be important for the district.
Brentsville voters may want to clear aside the evening of Oct. 1 should the Republican mass meeting be held on that date as expected.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!