UPDATE: Voter Turnout Picks up in Brentsville Supervisor Special Election

Republicans meet voters outside Buckland Mill Elementary School Tuesday.

Brentsville Candidates for Supervisor were out on the campaign trail this morning, meeting with voters at various precincts in the magisterial district. Despite a slow morning turnout, candidates remain hopeful that many registered voters will come out to cast their ballots throughout the day.

By midday, precincts saw a more steady turnout of voters. Readers informed Bristow Beat that they were still able to cast their ballots without any wait time, but they were not alone at the polls.

While visiting polls, Bristow Beat saw a similar turnout.

Republican Jeanine Lawson started her day by voting at her home precinct of Gainesville Middle School on Limestone Road. Next she headed to Buckland Mills Elementary in Gainesville to meet with voters and supporters there.

Alyson Satterwhite, School Board member for the Gainesville District, was at Buckland Mills in Gainesville at 8:45 a.m. to meet with voters. Later in the day, Satterwhite said she planned to volunteer by stumping for Lawson at Haymarket Elementary School and making phone calls.

“Jeanine has been a friend of mine for years, so I’m out here supporting a friend,” Satterwhite said.

Gainesville School Board Representative Alyson Satterwhite and Congresswoman-elect Barbara Comstock stump for Jeanine Lawson outside of Buckland Mills Elementary School in Gainesville.

Newly elected U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10th) also stopped by Buckland Mills to show her support for Lawson.

Comstock said she made an appearance in order “get out to visit folks here and help out with the race.” Comstock said she is confident that Lawson will make “a great supervisor,” and that it is “always great to have more women”

When Lawson arrived, she thanked her campaign volunteers and made campaign plans for the afternoon.

A man, who noted Lawson took time to speak with his daughter twice when visiting in her neighborhood, greeted the Republican Candidate.

The flow of voters at Buckland Mills was sparse Tuesday morning. Those at the location attributed the slow turnout to absentee voting, an election date near the holiday and people who were perhaps home from work and planning on voting in the afternoon.

Lawson said there were a good number of absentee voters, but not enough to account for most of the expected voters in the district, which is why she is still pushing for residents come out and vote at their local precincts today.

Independent Candidate Scott Jacobs laughs with Nokesville resident Gerry Sproles outside of polling place, Brentsville District High School.

Meanwhile, Independent Candidate Scott Jacobs had spent his morning at Brentsville District High School. When Bristow Beat showed up around 10 a.m., Jacobs was there as were a steady flow of voters entering and existing the building.

“This precinct will probably perform better than most,” Jacobs said. “People from Nokesville make it a point to come out and vote in every election.”

Gerry Sproles, Nokesville resident since 1964, stopped to talk with Jacobs outside of the high school. He asked him about the likelihood of Nokesville Elementary School becoming a community center.

Jacobs explained that was something he was pushing towards, however, it may be complicated since the School Board would like to see money return to the schools from the sale of that property. Jacobs said he would like to see the county buy it via a land swap, but there are already private bids on the property.

However, Jacobs said he knows what the elementary school means to the people of Nokesville and would work to help provide Nokesville with a community center or meeting location.

“The people in this area are very sensitive to that,” he said.

Jacobs said that since he spent most of the morning at Brentsville, he would soon be moving on to visit other precincts around the district.

Candidate Jeanine Lawson with friends former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and Nokesville resident Ken Woolfrey outside Brentsville District High School.

Just then, Lawson arrived to make an appearance at the polling place. Former Attorney General/Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ken Cuccinelli joined her.

Cuccinelli explained the reason he came out on the rainy Tuesday to support Lawson.

“First of all, we always vote, but especially when we have a good friend running, who we already know the quality of,” he said.

Cuccinelli went inside the school to vote as Lawson stayed outside under an umbrella to speak with other voters. She asked them their concerns, and one couple explained how they would like to see a traffic signal or service road over on Route 28 and Pennsylvania Avenue near the Manassas Swirlies and McDonalds.

From Brentsville, Lawson was heading out to work more on her campaign. She planned to make some phone calls and knock on doors to get out more voters.

Democratic Candidate for Brentsville Supervisor, Eric Young, talks with first time voter Parker Anderson.

Democratic Candidate Eric Young met with voters at Marsteller Middle School at 2 p.m.

Young said he had to work in the morning, but since departing work was able to stop at Cedar Point, Bristow Run, Buckland Mills and Victory precincts.

He said he has mainly thanked people for coming out to vote on a cold day before Christmas Eve.

However, when he spoke to first time voter, Parker Anderson, he learned that for Parker the big issues are school crowding and supporting small businesses.

Young said he believes that people understand that the message from all of the candidates has been responsible government and transparency.

"We're trying to make people more aware of the need for a more responsible public servant, and especially me and Jeanine believe we need transparency in government. [I think people sense that in this election] their representative wants to hear them out; their voices won't fall upon deaf ears," Young said.

Looking in on other precincts, they had picked up in the afternoon and evening hours.

Polls close at 7 p.m. The winner of the election for the Brentsville District Supervisor is expected to be announced between 7:15 and 8 p.m. tonight.