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Cleaveland Takes 17th Primary – McNamara Ousted

Bill Cleaveland is flanked at podium by Morgan Griffith (left) and William Fralin (right).
Bill Cleaveland is flanked at podium by Morgan Griffith (left) and William Fralin (right).

Botetourt County attorney Bill Cleaveland bested businessman Chris Head, former Roanoke County Supervisor Mike Wray and two Roanoke City lawyers (Josh Johnson and Melvin Williams) to capture the 17th District Republican House of Delegates nomination in Tuesday’s lightly voted primary.

All five candidates gathered with other Republicans at Hotel Roanoke to watch the returns. Outgoing Delegate William Fralin, leaving the General Assembly after three terms, was also on hand, as was Majority leader Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), who has no opposition this fall, and State Senator Ralph Smith.

Griffith introduced Cleaveland and the other candidates after all the returns were in, and was feeling good about his party. “We are a united party going into this election,” he said.

Ed Elswick wins GOP slot in Windsor Hills.
Ed Elswick wins GOP slot in Windsor Hills.

Cleaveland now takes on Democrat Gwen Mason in the general election November 3. They met at her house as he campaigned door to door in South Roanoke and had a “cordial conversation,” according to Cleaveland. “I think we both understand that we’re going to have a very long and interesting fall. I look forward to it. There are some significant differences. The lines are pretty broad,” he said.

Living in a small part of the 17th district, Cleaveland said for starters, people in Roanoke City and Roanoke County will have an opportunity to get to know him: “I’ve been in the valley 30 years but a lot of people haven’t had a chance to deal with me. I’m conservative from top to bottom, socially and fiscally. My opponent has some differences with regard to those issues,” he said.

Concerning the five-way primary race with fellow Republicans, Cleaveland said, “we’re all starting from a pretty conservative base. What we ended up talking about is experience and where we came from.”

Josh Johnson came in fourth place, behind Cleaveland, Head and Wray. At 30 years old, Johnson said he might run for public office again, under the right circumstances. “I’m just proud of all the people that have been so supportive. We left it all out on the field. That’s all you can ask. I think Bill’s going to do a fine job. He ran a good campaign.”

Fralin, leaving the General Assembly due to pressing professional issues, had several pieces of advice for Cleaveland as he campaigns against Mason: “do what he did in the primary. Work hard … and use your personality to your advantage.”

Fralin said constituents want, “the ability to feel like they have an impact on your thinking. You have to communicate with them. Bill is an excellent communicator.”

Elswick gives McNamara boot in Southwest County:

Buoyed by strong support in his own Bent Mountain neighborhood and nearby Back Creek, retired engineer Ed Elswick did in a Republican primary what Democrat Steve Noble couldn’t four years ago: he bested Windsor Hills supervisor Joe McNamara, who will be leaving the board after 12 years. Elswick topped the three term incumbent in Tuesday’s primary by 24 votes and with no other opposition at this point, appears to be ready to take his place on the Board of Supervisors next January.

Elswick, whose daughter and a neighbor ran his campaign, seemed mildly shocked to have won. “A friend of mine told me Mr. McNamara always comes through at the last minute. I was kind of anticipating that he might.”  But Elswick felt good about what voters had told him, including opposition to the recreation center in North County that McNamara approved borrowing the money for. “I want people to be able to vote on any bond issue.”

Elswick promised to be a better steward of the taxpayers’ money when he gets to the board. “We want to manage people’s dollars and spend those dollars the way they want – no frivolous projects that may or may not generate income.” He would rather see money go towards more natural parks and projects.

McNamara arrived late to a GOP election night affair at Hotel Roanoke, and was philosophical about his loss. “In a primary anything can happen. They didn’t vote my way. I’m just appreciative of having the opportunity to serve the people of Windsor Hills for 12 years.”

Charged by some with being aloof and disconnected from his constituents, the incumbent three-term supervisor (also the owner of Katie’s Ice Cream) said he was,  “perfectly satisfied with the campaign that I ran. I have no regrets. A whole lot of fun …and service.” McNamara noted that voters turned out in Bent Mountain for Elswick – but not for him closer to home in Castle Rock.

Kay Moore and Karen Scott ran Elswick’s campaign; Scott is the daughter of one-time U.S. Senate candidate Darrell Branstetter. “We listened to the people,” said Scott, “that was the main thing.” Added Moore: “those [constituents] were not happy.”

Ware Easily Carries 11th District – Garrett Takes Sheriff’s Race: As widely expected, 11th District Delegate Onzlee Ware easily turned back a challenge from fellow Democrat Martin Jeffrey in Tuesday’s primary. Jeffrey chose to focus on what he said were irregularities in the signatures Ware had filed in order to run in the primary. He also accused Ware of questionable spending in regards to campaign money collected in the past. Ware more than doubled Jeffrey’s vote total on Tuesday. Ware now faces off against Republican Troy Bird in November.

For the second straight time a deputy sheriff in Roanoke City will face off against their boss in the general election, after Frank Garrett III easily beat Joe Bush for the Democrat nomination. Garrett will now face Republican incumbent Octavia Johnson – who bested then sheriff George McMillan, her superior, in 2005. Independent Brian Keenum is also in the Sheriff’s race. Johnson’s management style has been a major campaign issue.

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