![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/IMAG1839-500x375.jpg\" "\\"Yelverton")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Has anyone even heard of Stephen Yelverton’s (write-in) candidacy for Virginia’s 8th District before this week? \u00c2\u00a0I’m just back from my polling station (where I voted for Rep. Jim Moran), and was rather surprised to see three people wearing t-shirts promoting the write-in candidacy of a Stephen Thomas Yelverton<\/a>. \u00c2\u00a0Until a few days ago, I’d never seen that name in Arlington, nevermind any campaign coverage. \u00c2\u00a0No debates, no campaigning – nothing. \u00c2\u00a0 Yet there were three people working the poll, with printed t-shirts, and scads of quality yard signs. \u00c2\u00a0All for an out-of-nowhere candidate? \u00c2\u00a0 So I had to look a few things up:<\/p>\n So I called the contact number on his website, which turns out to connect me to his cellphone. \u00c2\u00a0Apparently catching him on his way out of the Metro and heading into court. \u00c2\u00a0He tells me that he’s a genuine candidate and self-funding. \u00c2\u00a0He also said that he’s been advertising for the past couple of weeks, but has been “laying the groundwork for 6 months.” \u00c2\u00a0He gave me the short pitch on his positions (reform Congress, transparency, etc.), but I told him that I was mostly interested in verifying whether he was a genuine candidate, and not someone just designed to peel off votes. \u00c2\u00a0He responded by telling me that yes, he was a real candidate, and that he was running against both the Republican and Democratic candidates. \u00c2\u00a0He also told me that he’s never been particularly involved in Arlington or Alexandria politics. \u00c2\u00a0He then said that he had to head into the courthouse, suggested that I call back in the afternoon if I’d like, and we concluded the call.<\/p>\n He was polite enough, and I don’t have any personal reason to doubt the man. \u00c2\u00a0Yet, in light of the circumstances, I’m still wondering if it’s a bid to peel off enough voters to give Murray (the GOP candidate) a shot. \u00c2\u00a0Now, I could very well be wrong – the 8th District race isn’t interesting to me, and I’ve not kept my ear to the ground for every detail. \u00c2\u00a0Jim Moran’s imperfect, but he’s orders of magnitude better than Murray (who thinks a winning strategy in the 8th is going on the G. Gordon Liddy radio show, or accusing his GOP primary opponent of supporting gay marriage (horrors)). As a result, I’m confident Jim Moran is going to beat Murray handily. \u00c2\u00a0But this whole thing gives me a nagging feeling that maybe someone, somewhere, thinks that – with a write-in candidate who can peel off the votes of those who are tired of Jim Moran, but won’t vote GOP (a group which includes a fair number of Democrats) – Murray just might have a shot. \u00c2\u00a0And maybe they’re betting on it.<\/p>\n\n