WASHINGTON — A small number of Virginia voters will make some big decisions on Saturday.
Republicans in a number of areas across the commonwealth, including parts of Northern Virginia, will nominate their candidates for this fall’s general election in so-called “firehouse primaries.”
The contests typically draw an even smaller turnout than local primary races, with all polling stations open for longer hours.
Contested Republican races not decided in canvasses or conventions on Saturday will be decided by primary on June 9.
Since Virginia voters do not register by party, participation in the nominating contests is limited to people who are registered to vote in the area represented by the seat, who intend to support all Republican nominees for office in the fall, and who have not participated in a nominating contest for another party in Virginia in the last five years.
In Fairfax County, some of the biggest local races this fall are for the Board of Supervisors. The only contested nomination for the board Saturday is in the three-way race for the Republican nomination in the Sully District. John Guevara, John Litzenberger and Brian Schoeneman hope to replace retiring Republican supervisor Michael Frey.
The canvass for that race will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Westfield High School in Chantilly. (The initial call for the canvass indicated it would end at 3 p.m., but it has since been extended by an hour).
Guevara touts his community role as an HOA president and youth sports coach. Litzenberger is on the county’s Planning Commission and similarly lists his coaching experience as an asset. Schoeneman has served on Fairfax County’s Electoral Board, in addition to his work in the George W. Bush administration and for the U.S. Merchant Marine.
The winner will face Democrat Kathy Smith in November.
Prince William County
After a dispute in Prince William County that led to a court ruling over whether Republicans would hold a primary in June or a canvass this weekend for some races, the party will hold a nominating canvass on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Board chair Corey Stewart is facing a challenge from Christopher Crawford in the at-large race to lead the county. Richard Smith is the lone Democrat in the race.
In the Woodbridge District, Steve Chapman and Lee Price are running for the chance to take on incumbent Democrat Frank Principi.
In the Occoquan District, Ruth Anderson and Donald Scoggins are each hoping to get the Republican nomination to replace Republican Supervisor Michael May. The Democrat running in the general election will be Earnest William Porta.
In the Coles District, incumbent Martin Nohe faces a challenge Saturday from Paul O’Meara.
Sheriff Glendell Hill joined Stewart and Nohe to fight the Electoral Board ruling that led to the firehouse primary rather than a state-run primary in June because a local Republican leader missed a deadline for filing paperwork.
Hill is facing a challenge from Michael Messier.
Republicans will also choose between incumbent Clerk of the Circuity Court Michele McQuigg and challenger Austin Haynes for clerk. No independents or Democrats have filed in the race.
The clerk and sheriff also represent the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, so voters there can weigh in on those races.
Polling places
Prince William County
- (a) Woodbridge Middle School, 2201 York Drive, Woodbridge — registered voters in Woodbridge Magisterial District.
- James J. McCoart Administration Building, 1 County Complex Court, Prince William — registered voters in Occoquan Magisterial Districts.
- Bristow Run Elementary, 8990 Worthington Drive, Bristow — registered voters in Brentsville Magisterial District.
- Bull Run Middle School, 6308 Catharpin Rd., Gainesville — registered voters in Gainesville Magisterial District.
- Coles District Volunteer Fire Department, 13712 Dumfries Rd., Manassas — registered voters in Coles Magisterial District.
- Henderson Elementary School, 1799 Waterway Drive, Montclair — registered voters in Potomac District.
- Beville Middle School, 4901 Dale Blvd, Woodbridge — registered voters in Neabsco Magisterial District.
City of Manassas
- Registered voters in all precincts vote at Grace E. Metz Middle School, 9950 Wellington Rd., Manassas.
Manassas Park
- Registered voters in all precincts vote at Grace E. Metz Middle School, 9950 Wellington Rd., Manassas
More contests
Candidates for school boards in both Fairfax and Prince William counties run as independents, so they are not nominated through firehouse primaries or state-run primaries.
All contested Democratic nomination contests will be decided in the state-run primary June 9, as will the rest of the contested Republican contests.
For Republicans, the General Assembly races on the ballot in June include the 28th District House race in Stafford and Fredericksburg between Speaker Bill Howell and former Stafford County Supervisor Susan Stimpson, and the 2nd District race in Prince William and Stafford counties between challengers Mark Dudenhefer and Timothy Ciampaglio.
General Assembly races for Democrats include the five-way 45th District House race to replace Rob Krupicka in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County, and the three-way 29th District Senate race in Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County.
Local races on the Democratic primary ballot include the heated race for mayor in Alexandria between incumbent Bill Euille, former mayor Kerry Donley and City Councilor Allison Silberberg, and races for Fairfax County supervisor in the Mason and Mount Vernon Districts.
Arlington County voters will choose from six candidates for the two Democratic nominees for the open County Board seats that Walter Tejada and Mary Hynes are leaving open, and Prince William County voters will choose a Democratic nominee for supervisor in the Potomac District.
The general election is Nov. 3.
