At their joint headquarters in the Penn Daw Shopping Center Tuesday night, Virginia General Assembly Delegates Kristen J. Amundson (D-44) and Mark D. Sickles (D-43) were all smiles and full of accolades for the staffs that had secured another win for the two incumbents.
"It's looking better than it ever has for us [Democrats] in Northern Virginia. It is so clear tonight that there is a complete revulsion to negative campaigning. This is a great night," Amundson proclaimed to the crowd gathered in the store front headquarters.
Amundson was re-elected with 59 percent of the vote, while Sickles was re-elected with 64 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election returns.
"I obviously couldn't have done this without a great campaign staff," Sickels said. "This coordinated campaign effort in our area was outstanding. And, we are expecting a great victory statewide," he told the more than 60 workers and friends crowded into the small area.
But, Sickles did not view their win as the end of the effort — only the beginning. "We've got a lot of work to do in Richmond. Kris and I are going to work with Tim Kaine to keep Virginia moving forward."
Earlier in the day Amundson and her Republican opponent, Greg Scoma, a first-time candidate, both arrived at their common polling place, Woodley Hills Elementary School, at approximately the same time. While greeting voters with his wife Rodica, Scoma said, "I've gotten a lot of positive feedback in the last couple of days. I think it's a very competitive race."
That observation was born out by results from what has been known as a bell weather precinct in the Mount Vernon district — Stratford Landing Elementary School on Riverside Road. When the polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday night Amundson had 1100 votes to Scoma's 756 — a margin of three percent.
Amundson was also not taking anything for granted at 10:30 a.m. when she arrived to cast her ballot. "We are cautiously optimistic," she replied when asked for a prediction.
In assessing the statewide situation that morning, Amundson said, "I think Tim [Kaine] surged at just the right time. But, the big question is how are we going to do down state."
Following their visit to the joint headquarters just off Richmond Highway, both Amundson and Sickles were heading for the Democrat's party at the Sheraton Premier Hotel in Tysons Corner. "It's time to celebrate with everyone else now. We hope many of you will join us there," Sickles told the crowd.
Just the opposite was the case at Scoma headquarters on Richmond Highway across from Beacon Hill Mall. There the lights were out by 9 p.m.