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Editorial
Political consensus
It took the resignation of U.S. Rep. D. French Slaughter Jr. to put a little spice into the current election season for Rappahannock voters. With three U.Va. lawyers and a political outsider just getting down to business, life out here in the hustings may prove more interesting as November approaches. The Republicans have held the seat for many years, and have two formidable candidates in the field, but the Democrats are united behind Kay Slaughter and Independent John Torrice promises he’ll run an aggressive campaign.
It’s a good thing the 7th District Congressional seat opened up, because this county’s elections are as bland as baby food. Not that the candidates aren’t qualified — but in every case but one the incumbent is running unopposed. Rappahannock’s version of “politically correct” is to do your job quietly and well, then run an Independent, low-key campaign. If it doesn’t produce great oratory, or even any, at least there’s no question about who’s watching the store.
Even the one contested race, for sheriff, lacks animosity, more resembling a inter-family squabble than a world war. Challenger Roger Cordani said this week, “I don’t want to slam anybody. I just want to go out and tell the people what I can do for them.” Sheriff John Henry Woodward is equally loath to engage in anything that could be construed as negative campaigning. Wherever the national parties developed attack ads and opponent bashing, it certainly wasn’t in Rappahannock.
Voters in most neighboring counties, especially Fauquier, may complain that they need a scorecard to keep track of local politics this year — six people are still in the race for Fauquier sheriff.
So it’s being left to George Allen, D. French Slaughter III, Kay Slaughter and John Torrice to remind us that there are some serious ideological differences among voters in the world outside Rappahannock in terms of how this country ought to be run. But inside Rappahannock, the consensus is clearly that the county is being run well enough.
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