For the first time in decades, the Republicans won’t field a candidate for City Council, which has three seats up for grabs in November. Why no GOP contenders? A look at City Council election history gives a hint: Republican bids usually have been quixotic affairs.
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In the past 21 years, only two Republican candidates have been elected to Council: Darden Towe and Rob Schilling. Both Republican winners, however, lost their bids for re-election. Another noticeable trend since 1990—declining voter turnout. It has dropped to percentages in the 20s from percentages in the 40s.
Currently, all five seats on City Council belong to Democrats, and the party recently nominated Holly Edwards, Satyendra Huja and incumbent Mayor David Brown. But there is some chance that Charlottesville won’t remain a one-party town: Dems face competition this year from independents Peter Kleeman and Barbara Haskins.
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