Great news breaking in Fairfax County this morning. Electoral Boards are split 2-1 in Virginia, one Republican, one Democrat and one member of the Governor's party. When Bob McDonnell was elected, the Fairfax GOP placed noted voter-fraud conspiracy theorist Hans Von Spakovsky on the electoral board in the largest county in Virginia.
The result was massive lines at polling places with minority (Democratic) voters, while most GOP leaning precincts were able to go in and quickly vote with little wait time.
It was time to reappoint this month. The parties get to nominate three candidates, but judges usually take the first choice of the party. In Fairfax- judges have never bypassed the top choice of a party in the last 50 years (which is as far back as I could find people that remembered). Also the judges making the decision were all selected for the bench by Republicans in the General Assembly.
So what did these GOP judges decide to do? In an unprecedented move in Fairfax County- judges for the first time in modern history have rejected the top choice of a political party for one of these positions. Instead, GOP lawyer Brian Schoeneman was appointed to the Board.
The GOP is already having a meltdown over this decision from the judges they appointed. Get out the popcorn, this is going to be fun to watch.
These judges deserve a lot of credit for standing up for voters and not the political party that put them on the bench.
UPDATE: In case it wasn't clear above- Hans Von Spakovsky was the GOP's top choice who was rejected.
Just to make sure my reading comprehension is intact, Schoeneman is replacing Von Spakovsky on the E-Board?
Posted by: Samuelgilleran | February 22, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Correct.
Posted by: notlarrysabato | February 22, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Wow! Just wow! Great news!
Brian is one of the few non-crazy Republicans with any visibility in NoVA. He's a HUGE upgrade over the conspiracy hack.
Posted by: DCCyclone | February 22, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Sorry, you clearly have no idea how judges are elected in VA.
While it is true the General Assembly picks them, they do so at the direction and request of the home-district senator and delegate (Democrats, for those of you paying attention).
The Circuit Court judges were all or almost all elected by the General Assembly when the Dems controlled it or held at least 1 chamber. The judges were all vetted by the elected Democrat delegate and senator of the time.
But don't let the facts get in the way of your narrative.
Posted by: GiveUntoMeStuff | February 22, 2013 at 02:47 PM
The narrative stands. National Republican voting fraud fabulist booted off board of elections for just cause. Keep your poll-unskewing, climate change denying, creationist cretins in the Heritage Foundation Building with the other freaks like Dement where they belong.
Posted by: D | February 22, 2013 at 03:17 PM
2:47 comment- The House of Delegates has been GOP controlled since 1999. Every single judge in Fairfax has been appointed since then. And the "home area" people deciding are the members in the county delegation from the majority party. That's why Dave Albo (R-Fairfax) has basically been picking the Fairfax judges for a decade now.
Posted by: notlarrysabato | February 22, 2013 at 04:24 PM
This is FANTASTIC news! I'm looking forward to Brian taking over here- he'll be a fair and welcome reprieve from the voter suppression and denial of registration applications we've been dealing with under Hans.
Posted by: PittGirly | February 22, 2013 at 05:11 PM
Agreed, Brian has always come across as a respectful advocate of his views, who respects fair and honest political competition. He will be a welcome upgrade to the Fairfax County board from Hans Von Vote Suppressor.
Posted by: Dandem75 | February 23, 2013 at 02:03 AM