Oakton Resident Finishes Up State Senate Campaign

Gerarda Culipher casts her ballot, makes appearance at precincts

Gerarda Culipher joined the race for a state Senate seat at the beginning of the year, long before she knew where redistricting would place her. In her mind, it didn't matter. Culipher (R) wanted more conservative, women voices in the General Assembly, particularly in the state Senate where the Democrats outnumber Republicans 22-18. In today's election for the 34th Senate District seat, the 35-year-old Oakton resident faces one-term state Sen. Chap Petersen (D), who has a longer history in Virginia politics because of his two terms serving as a Northern Virginia delegate.  But challenging a strong incumbent did not keep Culipher from running, and she'd advise other citizens with strong opinions to also throw their hats in the ring …

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District 34

Video: Petersen, Culipher Talk Business, Silver Line, Death Penalty

Candidates for the 34th District Senate seat answer resident questions at Vienna debate

The Silver Line was one issue on which Incumbent State Sen. Chap Petersen (D) and Republican challenger Gerarda Culipher couldn't agree Thursday night, in one of the first debates of the 34th District Senate race. The debate at Vienna's American Legion gave the more than 60 residents that filled the hall an early glimpse of the candidates' positions on roads, businesses, jobs and taxes. Culipher said she'd would work to triple the number of parking spaces allocated for stations on Silver Line, which would make Metro a more accessible option for commuters from Chantilly and Centreville, she said. "Inadequate Metro parking is the single reason people do not use it," Culipher said. "I hear [that] time and again from the voters." In regards to…

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Mike Kane

9:40 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011

I watched both these candidates last night, and I must say Culipher sounded like the better candidate. Chap peterson refused to cut taxes and spending   more ›

Candidates' Corner

Video: Petersen, Culipher Face Off On Taxes, Environmental Regulations

Candidates for the 34th District Senate seat answer resident questions at Vienna debate

Incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen (D) and Republican challenger Gerarda Culipher faced off Thursday night in one of the first debates of the 34th District Senate race. The debate at Vienna's American Legion gave the more than 60 residents that filled the hall an early glimpse of the candidates' positions on roads, businesses, jobs and taxes. The "new 34th District" now includes more of Centreville and Chantilly, along with its long-standing base of voters in Vienna, Oakton, Fairfax City, as well as parts of Burke and Annandale. Candidates clashed early in the debate on environmental regulations and tax credits. Culipher took issue with Petersen's recent legislation that eliminated a "grandfather clause" for the Pickett Road Tank Farm, which …

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Joe Brenchick

3:32 pm on Monday, September 26, 2011

I simply wish to toss in my two cents in agreement with your analogy. Wanting only to add that perhaps now is a good time for a change.   more ›