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Wright Retains 61st Seat, Remainder of ballot goes as expected

   Written by on November 5, 2015 at 2:23 pm

Tuesday saw a steady, but slow voter crowd turnout at the polls in Lunenburg as all but one of the positions had already been determined with candidates running unoposed. The one positon of interest for Lunenburg residents along with voters in Amelia, Cumberland, Mecklenburg, and Nottoway was the 61st District Delegate’s seat.

Several winning candidates that will remain in their positions following Election Day gathered to celebrate on Tuesday night. Pictured L-R: Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement, Sheriff Arthur Townsend, School Board member Kathy Coffee, Treasurer Amona Currin, Board of Supervisors member Alvester Edmonds.

Several winning candidates that will remain in their positions following Election Day gathered to celebrate on Tuesday night. Pictured L-R: Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement, Sheriff Arthur Townsend, School Board member Kathy Coffee, Treasurer Amona Currin, Board of Supervisors member Alvester Edmonds.

This has been the position held by Thomas “Tommy” Wright Jr. since 2001. This election was the first time that Wright had seen anyone run against him as the Republican was challenged by Democrat Greg Marston.

Wright worked throughout the months leading up to the election to meet with voters and kept an even demeanor throughuot the process as the veteran Delegats noted that he would rely on his past work and his community involvment such as his yearly scholarship to carry him in the election. Wright has been Vice Chairman on Militia, Police and Public Safety committees and been involved in many Lunenburg organizations as well through the years.

Marston campaigned on the idea of using industrialized hemp growth and manufacturing as a way to bring jobs and money into the area.  He noted that money or the lack of is our top problem both as individuals and in our local governments. Too many jobs pay a minimum wage so low the burden of providing for our neighbors, friends and families falls upon we the taxpayers.

Wright would come away with the victory by a margin of 12,277 to 4,985.  In Lunenburg he won by a 1,053 to 439 margin. The numbers from the other counties were very similar as Wright took around 71% of the votes overall and winning in Amelia, Cumberland, Mecklenburg and even in Marston’s home county of Nottoway.

On the night of the election Delegate Wright stated, “First, I want to thank all the voters who made their way to the polls today. I also want to thank the many supporters who have helped me during the campaign.”

He continued, “Over the past two years I have traveled thousands of miles on the road and knocked on countless doors to talk with people  in the 61st  District. It was a great experience and I was also lucky to have many people who helped me during that time. I am humbled and thankful to be able to continue to  represent the citizens in this district.”

Greg Marston and his campaign manager Crystal Hallinen issued the following statement on Tuesday night. “We are thankful to have been given the opportunity to have worked on this campaign and would like to thank everyone who supported us.  We ran a high profile feeling campaign and did our very best to help everyone inside of our district. We would have loved to have been given the opportunity to to be your Delegate and legal assistant but the choice has already been made.  Again thank you to all of our supporters though this hard struggle we have endured and we sincerely appreciate every bit of the support”

The remainder of the ballot in Lunenburg was uneventful outside of a few write in votes, but ultimately the winners were as expected. Senate—Frank Ruff, 61st District House—Tommy Wright, 75th District House—Roslyn Tyler , Board of Supervisors—Edward Pennington, Randy Slayton, Alvester Edmonds, David Wingold, School Board—Elizabeth Williams, Ada Whitehead, Kathy Coffee, Doug Aubel, Consititutional Officers—Sheriff Arthur Townsend, Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement, Clerk of the Court Gordon Erby, Commissioner of the Revenue Liz Hamlett, Treasurer Amona Currin, Soil and Water Director Mark Palmer.

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