Author: Cay Smith

Creigh Deeds is the democratic candidate for Governor of Virginia. Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1958, he received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Concord University and then received a law degree from Wake Forest University in 1984. From 1988 to 1992, he was a prosecutor in Bath County and was elected in 1991 to the House of Delegates representing the 18th District. In 2002, Deeds began his career in the Virginia Senate, representing the 25th District, after winning a special election to fill the seat of Emily Couric who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001. In 2005, Deeds ran against republican Bob McDonnell for Attorney General but lost by 323 votes.

Deeds and his wife Pam have four children.

Photo by flickr user KentonNgo.

Biography of Bob McDonnell

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Bob McDonnell, 55, is the republican candidate for Governor of Virginia. According to his campaign website, McDonnell was raised in Fairfax County, graduated from Notre Dame in 1976 with a degree in management on a ROTC scholarship. He entered the Army and while stationed in Germany, he earned a masters in business administration from Boston University. After retiring from active duty in 1981, McDonnell moved to Atlanta to work for American Hospital Supply Corporation.

At Regent University, in Virginia Beach, McDonnell simultaneously earned a masters in public policy and communication and a law degree while working for the Virginia Pilot. In 1991, he was elected to the House of Delegates representing the 84th District. Then, in 2005, he ran against democrat Creigh Deeds for Attorney General and won by 323 votes.

McDonnell and his wife Maureen have five children.

What is the House of Delegates?

There are two branches of the Virginia General Assembly, the Senate and the House of Delegates. The House of Delegates is a one hundred member legislative body. The entire House is up for reelection every two years and is in session during the months of January, February and April. When the Governor deems it necessary, a special session may also be called.

George Mason University’s four campuses are represented by three delegates. David Bulova (D) is currently the delegate representing district 37 where the Fairfax campus is located. The Loudoun and Prince William campuses are in the 13th district and are currently represented by Bob Marshall (R). District 47, contains the Arlington campus and is represented by Albert Eisenberg. Bulova and Marshall are up for reelection while Eisenberg is not seeking another term.

House of Delegate members receive a salary of $17,640.

Photo by flickr user jamacdonald.

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Barack Obama Elected President of the United States

Barack Obama, senator from Illinois, has been elected to the Office President of the United States. Moments after Virginia’s Electoral College votes were called for Obama and the polls closed on the west coast, all major media organizations called the election in his favor.

In his concession speech, Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain said, “the American people have spoken and they have spoke clearly.” Boos erupted when Obama’s name was mentioned but McCain responded by holding up his hands in protest of their reaction. “His success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance,” said McCain of Obama.

After Obama was announced as the next president of the United States, an estimated 400 students gathered in an impromptu celebration rally outside Chesapeake. The rally moved across campus and gathered participants on it route to Presidents’ Park, Patriot Circle, and ending in the Johnson Center to hear Obama’s acceptance speech.

Students, many of whom were overcome with emotion, were screaming with excitement and chanting phrases such as “yes we can,” “Obama,” and “no more Bush.”

Live Video | Live Blog | Vote Vans | Student Reactions

Woodson High School Voting Lines Run Smoothly

by Kevin Loker
Mason Votes Correspondent

On a rainy day after a marathon two-year campaign race for the White House, George Mason University students registered on the Fairfax campus finally boarded vans to cast their vote.
“We’ve been running vans to and from W.T. Woodson since the polls opened,” said senior Student Government member Andrew Roth, who volunteered to drive one of the MasonVotes three shuttle vans, “and so has Students for Barack Obama.”
Though their name may sound partial, Students for Barack Obama did take non-Barack Obama supporters to the polling place. “We all have the same goal,” said Roth. “We just want to make it easier for Mason students to vote.”
During midday, many students said their long-awaited poll experience at W.T. Woodson High School ran rather smoothly.
“I didn’t have to wait very long at all,” said first-time voter and Mason student Brittany Higgs, “and they had some great little arrows to point you to the right place.”
Other students using the vans have responded similarly.
“Most of the students I have asked have gotten in out within around ten and fifteen minutes,” said Roth.
“I actually waited longer for the van than to actually vote,” said Higgs

Obama Concludes Campaign with Final Rally in Manassas

With less than eight hours before polls open and 24 hours until the polls close around the nation, Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama made his final campaign stop. The choice of Manassas, Virginia for this event is a testament to how important the state is to the campaign.

As expected, Obama touched on health care, the economy, taxes and rallied the crowed to continue their energy through to the end of the campaign. “We are less than one day away from bringing about change in America. In the last 21 hours…we can’t stop now, not when there is so much at stake. We are going to change America, Virginia, starting tomorrow,” said Obama.

Obama’s entire speech:

Interview with Gerry Connolly

Below is the text of Mason Vote’s Interview with Gerry Connelly, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 11th District.

Q: As people go to the polls what do you want them to think about?
A: I want them to think about the future of the country. this election is a big deal. We have the opportunity to make history and to change the course of the country and I think we’re going to do both of those things tomorrow.

Q: How are you feeling about your chances for a win?
A: Um, cautiously optimistic

Q: What would be your first priority if elected?
A: Well if think our first priority for all of us, should we be elected tomorrow, would be righting our economy. This is the worst economy melt down since 1929.

Q:What kind of affect do you expect George Mason University students’ votes will have on the outcome of the election?
A: You know I have never seen the campus as energized as I have this year. For example, I don’t know if you knew that the head of young democrats is a part of my campaign structure.

I was on campus the night of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in August and we had 200 students plus on a summer night.

Q: How will you help students if you are elected?
A: One of the things I certainly want to do is make college more affordable and student loans more available. We also, obviously, the Federal Government needs to put a premium on higher education especially if we want to stay competitive in the global marketplace.

Claims That Election Day has Been Moved Are False

At 1:16 a.m., an email was sent from an address that appears to belong to Provost Peter Stearns. The email reads as follows:

To the Mason Community:

Please note that election day has been moved to November 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

This information is false. Election Day is always the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. It would take an act of Congress for the date of a national election to be moved.

Stearns was not available for comment by deadline.

Hillary Clinton Rallies for Obama at Mason

Today, Hillary Clinton spoke at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. Virginia is a battle ground state and both campuses are fighting hard for the 13 electoral votes it has to offer.

Supporters were out in large numbers standing in lines that extended from the North Plaza to Enterprise and circling outside the northern portion of the Johnson Center. Mason students represented a relatively large portion of the crowd and of the volunteer staff.

For students like Carly Whelan, a junior biology major, this was their first time volunteering for a political campaign. “I like Barack Obama,” said Whelen of her reason for assisting at the Clinton rally.

“We like Hillary Clinton and support Barack Obama,” said Amy Glibort a Mason graduate student while she waited in line to be admitted to the event.

Gregory Thompson, president of Mason’s chapter of Students for Barack Obama introduced Clinton and presented her with a Mason letter jacket.

Clinton offered a message of full support for the Obama campaign in an attempt to heal deep wounds created during the primary season. “If you were there for me, I’m asking you to do everything you can in these closing hours so that we can win Virginia,” said Clinton.

She also responded to Republican Presidential Candidate McCain’s use of her primary speeches in opposition of Obama’s run for the presidency. “My name is Hilary Clinton and I do not approve that message.”

The majority of her speech, however, was a comparison of President George Bush’s administration’s results to that of her husband former President Bill Clinton and democratic ideals in general. “Wouldnt it be wonderful if even at anytime during Bush’s administration he had said the buck stops anywhere,” said Clinton

She promised that a Obama presidency would create jobs, bring troops home, and make health care affordable.

Mason Votes provided live tweets, photos and video feed which is still available. The full audio of the event will be uploaded to this blog soon.

Mason Votes will be providing extensive coverage during the final days of the election process.

Photo by Courtney Erland.