patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Patrick Murray

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Congressman Moran Wins 12th Term in U.S. House

Incumbent representing state's 8th Congressional District defeats Republican Patrick Murray, Independent Jason Howell and Independent Green Party's Janet Murphy in Tuesday's race.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran secured another term in office, soundly defeating Patrick Murray, Jason Howell and Janet Murphy in the 8th Congressional District.  "Tonight was a vindication of the President's efforts to get our country back on track after the worst recession in our nation's history," Moran said in a statement released late Tuesday night. "Tim Kaine will be our next Senator, a good, decent man who will serve the commonwealth with great distinction. Our nation faces major challenges that demand solutions. We owe it to the American people to come together and work toward reaching the kind of compromise necessary to get the country again moving forward." This is the second consecutive time Moran has defeated Murray. Moran will…

Friday, October 26, 2012

Letter to the Editor: We Need Candidates Who See Alexandria as More than a Dot on a Map

Alexandrian Mark Coombs says local Republican candidates as well as one independent have his vote this election.

To the Editor: I am a 26-year-old Alexandrian. Like many who call Alexandria home, I did not always have the privilege; it took but one trip into Old Town a few years ago, however, for my wife and me both to fall hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with the city cited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as “one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country.” Alexandria is a community, simply stated, with singularly inimitable character. Of the 12 candidates running for City Council, three rise above the rest in their appreciation for — and commitment to conserving — this character: Frank Fannon, Alicia Hughes and Bob Wood. Together with former Vice Mayor Andrew Macdonald, who is running to replace the incumbent Mayor …

OT insider

9:20 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012

Gee are you employed by the Republican party? Or did you just overdose on the Kool-Aid? I realize that you're a new resident and I hate to be the bearer of bad news Mark, but Alexandria is a progressive, forward-thinking, liberal city that votes overwhelmingly Democratic. The extreme views of your Republican party don't resonate here. Jim Moran will be overwhelmingly reelected because - despite …   more ›

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Congressional Candidates Talk Affirmative Action, Sequestration at Forum

Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network hosted event Wednesday night in Arlington.

The Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network held a candidate forum for the 8th Congressional District on Wednesday to encourage its members to "occupy the vote." The forum featured incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Moran, who left after giving opening remarks and answering the first two questions, with Arlington's Terron Sims II speaking on his behalf for the rest of the night; independent candidate Jason Howell; and Independent Green Janet Murphy. Republican Patrick Murray was invited but declined to attend and did not send a surrogate, organizers said. CNN commentator Jamal Simmons, who moderated the forum, asked the candidates whether affirmative action was appropriate in higher education admissions. Moran said the first …

Independent Voter

4:06 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

Thanks for including Independent Green Party's Janet Murphy, the More Trains, Less Traffic advocate in the story. Janet Murphy advocates for building the Potomac Yard Metrorail Stop. The Cameron Station Virginia Rail Express Stop. Green Party candidate Murphy is a business woman, and mother. Janet Murphy is for Rail to Dulles, and Light Rail on the beltway. Rail saves lives. Rail creates jobs. …   more ›

Monday, October 1, 2012

Alexandria Election Guide

The candidates, incumbents and issues that will be affecting Alexandria.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Old Town Alexandria Patch, Del Ray Patch and West End Alexandria Patch are devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. Voting Information For complete information on voting on election day, including information on the new Virginia voter ID laws, see the election section on the city's website. Not sure of your polling place? Fill out your voter information on the Virginia Election and Registration Information System website. Alexandria Mayor, City Council and School Board Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term in the …

Gail G

6:39 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

Nat, some people hold strong to a particular party platform, even though certain issues don't really trickle down to the local level (like abortion rights, gay marriage, defense spending, etc.). For example, I won't vote for a Republican even at the local level because any member of the Republican party is sworn to uphold their platform, which is anti-choice and anti- equal rights for my LGBT …   more ›

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Howell Reaches Out to Voters with 'Congress-Man' Tune

Independent candidate performed song recently during IOTA open mic night.

Jason Howell, an Arlington resident running as an independent candidate in 8th Congressional District, this month took to the stage to deliver his message in a unique way. Howell, who is challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and Republican Patrick Murray, performed last week during open mic night at IOTA. Howell performed "Congress-Man," a composition inspired by — and to the tune of — Elton John's "Rocket Man." Howell said in an email to Patch that this was one of the ways he was trying to reach people who have otherwise been disengaged from politics. "My roots in the community begin with live, local music in the early 1990s. Music is independent of party and musicians can be the philosophers of our time. The message I am …

Monday, July 30, 2012

Murray Hopes to Unseat Moran in 8th District

Patrick Murray, an Alexandria Republican, ran unsuccessfully against Moran in 2010.

The air was electric Friday as campaign volunteers waited for the arrival of U.S. Sen. John Thune at the Republican “Victory Center” office in Springfield. Thune stumped for Mitt Romney, U.S. Senate candidate George Allen and, a name less well known, Patrick Murray, who is hoping to unseat Congressman Jim Moran in the 8th District. But Murray’s name is better known this year than in 2010, when he unsuccessfully challenged 22-year incumbent Moran. Murray campaign volunteer Laura Arth, who was at the Thune event Friday, spoke enthusiastically about Murray. “Within the last couple of weeks, the energy in Virginia has just really picked up as the Romney campaign has really put the pedal to the metal with regard to getting volunteers, securing …

Jim Miller

12:19 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Matthew - Quite surprisingly, I agree with some of the points that you've made. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Jim Moran is no saint, but who in our great country really is? Everyone makes mistakes, it's a human trait that we all have, and despite all the demonizing that people can throw at Jim Moran, he has come through for the 8th, year-after-year. As far as Crystal City being …   more ›

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Moran Seeks 12th Term, Faces Newcomer in Primary

Northern Virginia congressman says his seniority benefits constituents.

Since 1990, when Rep. Jim Moran was first elected to Congress, ‘80s music has lost its popularity, come back in style and is on its way out again. A lot can happen in 22 years, the time Moran has spent serving in Congress. It’s the seniority gained over that time, said Moran, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 8th District, that allows him to influence legislation beneficial to the people of Northern Virginia and is the reason why he deserves a 12th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. While Moran’s critics say a fresh face is needed in Congress, he maintains that his seniority works for the benefit of his constituency. “For lack of a better method, people’s ability to influence the priorities and the direction of the Congress is …

Mark Williams

2:15 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012

Shuttleworth was originally sponsored by a Texas Republican PAC, which subsequently dropped him. A USNA-grad Navy pilot has up to a fourteen-year service obligation (this is actually explicit in statutes and Navy regulations), but Shuttleworth was released after the “basic 8.” Shuttleworth has literally no local political, policy or government record at all, and hasn’t even been actively employed…   more ›

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Independent Candidate for Congress Campaigns on a Shoestring

Arlington resident Jason Howell has less than $10,000 in the campaign bank and needs 1,000 signatures by June 12 to get on the ballot.

Arlington resident Jason Howell isn't letting incumbent Congressman Jim Moran's sizable war chest of nearly half-a-million dollars get in the way of running for Congress. Howell's got less than $10,000 in the bank for his campaign, so he's hitting every local barbecue, 5k and neighborhood meeting he can to help get the word out. Standing outside the Giant grocery store in Arlington's Cherrydale neighborhood over the weekend, Howell said hello to potential voters in what will likely be an uphill battle to try to unseat Moran, a Democrat who some say is gliding toward his 12th term since getting elected in 1990 to represent Virginia's 8th Congressional District. "My wife and I are doing the lion's share of signature-gathering," Howell said…

Gerald E Berg

7:00 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Of course, Mr Howell is vague. He appears to be a shill for Rep. Moran's campaign. I am amused that Jim thinks this foolishness is necessary to get him re-elected. Obama must be much weaker than reported in northern VA.   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos