Region’s delegates stay in office

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, easily fended off a challenge from Democrat Cynthia Neff on Tuesday in one of the Charlottesville region’s most closely watched House of Delegates races.

Bell, a four-term incumbent and former Orange County prosecutor, won another term representing the 58th District with 67 percent of the vote, with all but Albemarle County’s absentee ballots counted Tuesday night, according to unofficial returns.

“It’s very, very humbling,” Bell said. “I’ve been here for eight years now, so the voters have had a chance to get to know me. I’m truly humbled to be endorsed by them for another two years.”

Bell, a popular incumbent, and Republican candidates across Virginia were buoyed by a tremendous showing of support for GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell and the rest of the statewide Republican ticket. As of press time, it appeared that Republicans were on pace to pick up a net of several seats in the House of Delegates. Locally, the GOP picked up two seats on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

“This is a very, very big night for the Republican Party,” Bell said.

Neff, a former IBM executive who moved to Albemarle County in 2006, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Bell’s district includes parts of Albemarle, Fluvanna and Orange counties, as well as the entirety of Greene County. According to unofficial returns, roughly 50 percent of the district’s voters cast a ballot in the race.

Bell was one of the Charlottesville region’s six House incumbents seeking another term. All six won.

Del. R. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, trounced Democratic challenger Greg Marrow in the 25th District, which includes three precincts in the Crozet area of Albemarle.

Landes, who has served in the House since 1996 and had not faced a Democratic opponent in the previous six elections, took 73 percent of the vote, with all but Albemarle’s absentees tallied, according to unofficial returns.

Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, also easily won re-election to his seat representing the 57th District, which includes all of Charlottesville and six Albemarle precincts west and northwest of the city.

Toscano, a two-term incumbent and former Charlotte-sville mayor, beat out independent challenger Robert Brandon Smith III and received 78.5 percent of Tuesday’s vote, according to the unofficial returns, with Albemarle’s absentee ballots still outstanding.

In the 30th District — which includes Madison and Culpeper counties and part of Orange County — Del. Edward T. Scott, R-Culpeper, handily defeated independent challenger Matthew A. Carson with 75.5 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns.

Scott credited his victory — along with those of the GOP nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general — to the Republican Party’s ideas to fix Virginia’s economy and create jobs.

“Voters in the 30th District and probably across the commonwealth have the economy and jobs on their minds,” he said. “They were interested in candidates who were talking about those things. … They’re ready for Republicans to lead.”

Del. Bill Janis, R-Glen Allen, easily survived a challenge from Democrat James O. Towey in the 56th District, which includes Louisa County.

Janis, a four-term incumbent, received 70 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns.

Del. Watkins M. Abbitt Jr., I-Appomattox, was uncontested for re-election in the 59th District, which includes Buckingham and Nelson counties, as well as parts of southwestern Albemarle and eastern Fluvanna.