Three Charlottesville School Board members said Thursday that the division should look into either leaving its grade configuration as is or having one middle school instead of both an upper elementary school and middle school.

Albemarle supervisors agreed Wednesday to practically double the county’s payments to the SPCA and discussed ways to throw a life preserver to the Hatton Ferry.

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.

The Rio victor, Rodney Thomas, said the election results will cause a major shift for the Board of Supervisors.

The Democrats will keep their grip on Charlottesville’s City Council for at least another two years.

Democratic Mayor Dave Norris and challenger Kristin Szakos won 6,292 and 5,074 votes, respectively.

Election update

Election officials are reporting that 34.6 percent of registered voters in Albemarle County and 24.4 percent of Charlottesville voters had cast a ballot by 4 p.m. in today’s election.

Pictures from the November 3rd general election.

Republicans arriving at the party’s Albemarle County headquarters this morning discovered what appears to be an Election Day dirty trick.

County by county results of the 2009 elections.

Charlottesville-area polling places are reporting low to moderate levels of voter turnout, election officials said Tuesday afternoon.

Voters will head to polling places across Virginia today to choose the state’s next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and a host of local officials.

Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds swung through the Charlottesville area on Monday to make one final appeal for votes in today’s gubernatorial election.

McDonnell is favored by 53 percent, while Democrat R. Creigh Deeds is preferred by 41 percent

“It allows you to separate your needs from your wants,” Snow said.

After pushing party leadership for changes to a proposed health care reform bill, U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, is debating whether he will support the measure when it comes to a vote.

With only days to go before Tuesday’s election, a local political action committee is making its presence known with large contributions to some of the candidates running for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and to the county Republican Party.

“I personally take full responsibility for what happened,” Bonner said at Thursday’s hearing.

Democratic nominee for governor Sen. R. Creigh Deeds swung through Charlottesville on Wednesday to chat with small business owners and energize his core supporters before Tuesday’s election.

The city Republicans released their platform last month

But opponent John C. Lowry was having none of it.

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, is the subject of a negative campaign mailing that compares him to a “cheating husband.”

The message echoed by the five candidates for the City Council during a Wednesday forum was that the city government and area authorities must be held more accountable to residents.

Details of the case haven’t been fully revealed.

Albemarle County’s projected deficits need to be met with a mix of budget cuts and revenue increases, including property tax hikes, if needed, said Madison Cummings, candidate for the Samuel Miller District seat on the county’s Board of Supervisors.

Ferrin described himself as a conservative with a passion for supporting schools and educating children.

A congressional hearing into fraudulent letters sent to U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, and other congressmen was postponed Thursday.

More than 50 people attended a rally hosted by the “Patients First” project of Americans for Prosperity

Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker is also up for election as the Jack Jouett District representative. He’s unopposed.