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Three new faces for Stafford supervisors

November 7, 2007 12:36 am

BY KAFIA HOSH

A few dozen votes ended the eight-year reign of a Stafford County supervisor.

Jack Cavalier, an Independent, lost his Griffis-Widewater seat to Democrat Bob Woodson. Woodson netted 1,047 votes, or 51 percent, to Cavalier's 1,019 votes, or 49 percent, according to unofficial results from the State Board of Elections.

Cavalier could not be reached for comment last night. However, he can legally ask for a recount. State law allows candidates defeated by less than 1 percent to request a recount of votes, paid for by the state.

Woodson will be the first black supervisor in Stafford's history. He said citizens "voted for change" when they decided to elect him over an incumbent.

"The citizens of Griffis-Widewater saw fit to put their confidence in me, and I'm humbled by that," Woodson said. "The real work begins now, not during the campaign."

Also in a narrow win, Democrat Harry Crisp captured the George Washington District seat. He beat Republican Tom Coen, who ran four years ago against current George Washington Supervisor Pete Fields.

Crisp won 1,605 votes, or 52 percent and Coen received 1,473 votes, or 48 percent, according to the unofficial results.

Crisp said he wants to bring a bipartisan approach to the board.

"I believe in getting all of the input from all of the stakeholders involved," he said.

Democrat Jerry Kirven lost his second stab at a Rock Hill District seat--this time to Republican Cord Sterling.

Sterling received 1,691 votes, or 54 percent to Kirven's 1,448 votes or 46 percent, according the unofficial results.

Kirven lost to current Rock Hill Supervisor Bob Gibbons four years ago. Gibbons could not seek re-election after he lost the Republican nomination for treasurer last spring.

Sterling said he and Kirven ran a cordial race.

"I feel very good about the race both Jerry and I ran," he said. "It was not a negative. It was about what we would do as individuals."

A member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, Sterling wants to help solve the county's traffic mess.

"There's a lot of work that's going to have to take place now," he said.

Traffic and development were among the top concerns of voters.

Stafford native Mitchell Luckett has watched the region grow over several decades.

"It's too much, too quick," Luckett said after casting his vote for Cavalier at Widewater Elementary School.

"He seems like a pretty good guy and he's done all right so far," Luckett said of Cavalier.

Over at Rodney Thompson Middle School in the Rock Hill District, Janet Young cast her ballot for Sterling.

"He came to my house," she said smiling.

Young wants supervisors to control Stafford's growth.

"I just think sometimes it's not being managed well," she said.

Voter John Rutledge complained about traffic before he went to vote.

State Route 610 "is God-awful right now," said the 19 year-old Democrat.