Rookie Szakos beats Taliaferro at Dems' caucus

One current Charlottesville City Council member will get a shot at earning another four years and another won’t.

With the unofficial results in, the city’s Democratic voters on Saturday chose Mayor Dave Norris and newcomer Kristin Szakos to represent their party in this year’s election for two council seats. Current Councilor Julian Taliaferro lost in Saturday’s open caucus.

Voters also selected a sheriff nominee from a group of three.

Albemarle police Officer James E. Brown III beat out veteran sheriff’s Capt. Mike Baird and Phillip U. Brown, a sergeant with the Charlottesville police.

“I’m surprised. We put a lot of work in the campaign since January,” James Brown said. “Step one is done.”

City voting officials confirmed the winners but could not provide vote totals for individual candidates as of press time Saturday night.

Norris was at a celebratory party at Rapture.

“I’m elated,” he said. “Happy to have the support of the voters.”

Szakos found out about her victory after performing with the Virginia Consort, a local choral group.

“I’m just delighted,” she said. “I really feel the tremendous voter turnout was part of it.”

Norris tipped his hat to the campaign run by Szakos, who was a volunteer coordinator for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

“Kristin mobilized a lot of people,” he said.

Norris also praised Taliaferro.

“It’s been a real pleasure serving with Julian the last four years.”

Taliaferro was gracious in defeat.

“I gave it my best shot,” he said. “I congratulate Dave and Kristin. I’m sure they’ll do their best.”

The caucus winners weren’t the only ones happy with Saturday’s results.

The new format for the Charlottesville Democratic Party’s unassembled caucus seemed to be a success as the turnout of registered voters drastically improved compared with the old mass meeting model.

The polls were open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“Oh, thrilled,” said Jennifer McKeever, the Charlottesville Democratic Committee co-chair.

At about 2 p.m., a volunteer told her the vote tally had reached 808.

“My goal is to hit a thousand,” she said.

The party held its last caucus, as a mass meeting, in 2007 and the total votes reached only about 450.

The unofficial total this year topped 1,600, McKeever said. Volunteer Becky Thomas took a break as the temperature rose mid-afternoon. A steady, if not overwhelming, flow of voters moved in and out of the lobby of Burley Middle School.

“This is a complete lull,” she said, pointing out that the morning was much busier.

Between 9 and 11 a.m., a line of people stretched out to the sidewalk, about 50 feet from the school’s front doors, Thomas said.

McKeever said the candidates had a lot to do with the caucus’s success.

“I really do applaud the candidates for making sure the people know what’s going on,” she said.

While the voters seemed happy with the new format, not all had actually known about the caucus until Saturday.

One man said someone knocked on his door and asked if he was going to vote, so he did.

Another voter, Brenda Croxton, got a nudge from her 15-year-old grandson, who told her about the caucus.

“I’m sorry it was on a Saturday,” she said.

Still, she liked the way the caucus was handled.

“This is new to me,” Croxton said. “This is good.”

The election for council and the sheriff’s position will take place Nov. 3.

So far, no Republicans have publicly announced plans to run for council or the sheriff position.

An independent, 22-year-old Andrew Williams, has announced his intention to run for council.

The Piedmont Virginia Community College student who also works full-time for State Farm said the council could use a different voice.

City Sheriff Cornelia Johnson did not seek reelection.