Procedurally, what happens to Krupicka's city council seat if he wins the special election? Can he briefly be both a delegate and a councilman, or will he need to resign the latter in order to accept the former? And if that happens, is the council likely to fill the short-time vacancy - and if so, with who?

Is there a process for making recommendations to the circuit court?

Gutsy endorsement - game changer indeed.

I can't believe you did that Adam!

Well, looks like Karen Gautney, who I think would be a stronger liberal/progressive Democrat in Richmond, than Rob, has her goose pretty much cooked now, with Adam giving his endorsement to Rob. Sorry, Karen, this just isn't a good year to be associated with either David or Shayna Englin, both who are two people most Democrats in our area are trying to desparately trying to distance themselves from. To have David 'Tiger Woods' Englin publically endorse Karen's campaign had to be a kiss of death.

What a stunt. Me thinks Adam enjoys his position as the ONLY openly gay person in the General Assembly. He can't have Karen stealing his spotlight. Shame.

Unfortunate. Diminishes Adam in my view. Slimy politics among friends should not sit well with us, regardless of who plays that game.
Gautney is clearly the better candidate.

This is a good call on Adam's part. Rob is by FAR the more qualified candidate to not only support progressive values in Richmond but to actually get things done in Richmond that will matter to Alexandria (like education and transportation issues just to name a few, something in which Karen has little to no experience).

Adam knows this and this is why this endorsement happened. Karen has a great personal story, but isn't ready to go down to Richmond and deliver for Alexandria the way Rob is.

I've said repeatedly - I like Karen, and I think she'd make a great candidate in the future, but not at this particular time. Rob is every bit as progressive as she is, but on top of that, he is savvy and effective, and that's what we need in Richmond right now. Rob just has more experience than Karen. Adam knows that. LGBT issues aren't the only issues Dems need to take on in Richmond right now. Plus, we all recognize that pushing Karen into the race was Shayna Englin's last angry jab at people before the Englin's leave Alexandria. I don't understand why Shayna did it - she's costing people money and hanging Karen out to dry.

I don't need or want Team Englin II, Team Englin was bad enough. I won't vote for anyone who wants to go to Richmond to wage a jihad against Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli, when not promoting the agenda of one or two special interests.

The establishment has coalesced to crush Karen. Democrats talk about diversity but enjoy painting her as a one issue GAY candidate. Adam's endorsement reflects badly on him and on Rob. It reeks of desperation though I don't know what everyone is afraid of. Let's just close ranks and destroy her as a lesson to anyone else who dares to challenge the status quo.

We have five votes in our house. They will go to the candidate we fell most qualified. The one who will get things done that will matter to Alexandria. That candidate is Rob Krupicka.

As always, count on Gail Gordon for the best gossip in town. Real classy. How long after the election before you give us the juicy gossip on Rob? Your friendship should come with a danger warning, and a pair of spy glasses.

This will hurt Adam with the gay community. Unfortunately, he does not care. He relied on gay dollars for years, and gay votes to put him in office, and now he is bullet proof. A Democrat will not primary him, and gays won't vote for a Republican, so he has a lifetime seat in the Virginia Senate. It is too bad he has decided to use his power this way. So much for him being a gay champion. Only when it helps him.

Rob Krupicka is both well-known and well-qualified. He will have significant throw-weight with the other Democrats in the General Assembly, and may even be able to obtain at least some degree of cooperation from a few of the Republicans. By contrast, Karen is not at all well-known, even within the District, and would be an unfortunately weak candidate to put up - so much so as to potentially invite a well-funded Republican to enter the race.

The Englins' endorsement was not intended as a real endorsement - it was intended as nothing less than a final slap at the people of Alexandria (and South Arlington) who had propped them up for years and had put up with their nonsense -- it was intended to do damage, and it most certainly is not even helpful to Karen Gautney.

Englin never appealed to me w/his brash, confrontational, spoiling for a fight attitude. Didn't like how he 'used' his exceedingly brief civic association experience to 'prove' his leadership. I prefer Ebbin's qualities; identify allies within and outside of the party, build relationships, understand the political & legislative processes/traditions. I was very disappointed to be thrown into Englin's district and am quite happy to have an opportunity to replace him. Nothing I've read assures me Karen is my type of legislator-her focus is on "fighting bullies" not on forging alliances.

http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/2012/08/special-election-tonight-and-saturday.html

Ben Tribbett confirms tha David Englin is living in California now.

Patch is also reporting that Tim Mcghee is the R candidate (Lost to Ebbin in State Senate race). Yikes, makes the Chick-Fil-A guy seem like a social liberal. Not in Alexandria, Tim.

They Alexandria City Republican Committee didn't even help Tim McGhee when he ran last time. Tim had no money and no support. Granted, he is an odd guy, but it was really shameful of the ACRC not to support one of their own. I was at the city birthday festival that year and the Rs tried to tell Tim that he couldn't hand out his literature! He came to me, of all people, to ask questions about the process and what was allowed. Now the ACRC is going to make him their sacrificial lamb for the 45th Delegate seat. I'll be glad when this special election is over. The "ugly mess" is not just plain weird.

I meant "now" just plain weird. Sorry for the typo.

Wow! Tim McGhee makes even Ken Cuccinelli look like a hard core liberal! What an odd ball he is! I saw him out and about when he ran against Adam Ebbin and he's very much an introvert who always seemed like he's a guy you had to be very wary of because he might 'go postal' on you. If the Alexandria Republican City Committee, all 14 members of them, go so low as to pick a guy like Tim McGhee to run for the 45th, then they might as well close up shop as a political entity in the City of Alexandria, because no one will ever take them serious, ever again. Frank Fannon might want to reconsider throwing his hat in the ring at the last minute, to save the ARCC from embarrassing itself by endorsing a stiff like Tim McGhee. Frank Fannon also might want to consider distancing himself from hacks like Tim McGhee who has absolutely no chance of winning in the 45th, even if the Democrats put up a dead guy to run against him. Wow, the politics around here get nuttier every day!

Word's out that this is Tim McGhee's new campaign theme song, Elton John's 'I've Seen The Saucers'! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPm1u0-TTF0

There is never a boring day in Alexandria politics, Jim. If only she-who-must-not-be-named would run, it would get even weirder.

Who's that, Gail, Alicia Hughes? Wow, now that would top everything off, if Alicia 'Always Late' Hughes all of a sudden threw her hat in the ring to run against Rob for the 45th! She could share Tim McGhee's campaign song, too! LOL It doesn't get any nuttier than this in and around Alexandria, especially when it comes to politics! LOL

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I'm voting for Rob. Rest of the Alexandria Young Democrats are looney tunes and becoming more wacky

As I mentioned before, with Adam Ebbin's endorsement, and the Alexandria Republican City Committee endosing Tim McGhee, Rob Krupicka can now go and measure the drapes, order what color he wants the walls painted, and order new furniture for his office in Richmond. He's already won it all, today, way before he gets reelected. But the ARCC thing with Tim McGhee, wow, it's just too funny! Rob will win in a HUGE landslide against Tim McGhee. I guess Tim McGhee likes to get embarrassed. It's sad, very sad, for someone to do that to themselves, to put themselves in a position of great embarrassment, like Tim McGhee's about to do, yet once again.

I find both Gail Gordon and Jim Miller to be very funny, and very entertaining. I can't see why people are getting so on edge about stuff that they shouldn't take seriously, meaning, Tim McGhee. I agree, who thinks this guy can win? Nobody that I know of, but nobody that I know of have ever heard of Tim McGhee, either. Tim McGhee lost bad to Adam Ebbin a year ago, so if Alexandria Republicans want to put a stiff like him up for running again, I also agree with the position that it shows that they are lost, adrift, and without any competent leadership as a party. I did see Tim McGhee at a function last year, and he was very distant, very quiet, very much to himself. Tim McGhee didn't seem like he was a person who was really interested in running for office. It's a shame that Tim McGhee will take up people's valauable time and money in an effort that will be dramatically embarrassing to Alexandria Republicans. I also agree with the thought as to why don't Alexandria Republicans don't ever put up a candidate that people can actually vote for, instead of comedians like Tim McGhee. It just makes no sense to me. Lastly, Rob Krupicka will be the next elected delegate for the 45th District, as he will beat Tim McGhee in a massive landslide. Rob Krupicka has a wealth of political experience and is a very serious candidate who will go to Richmond to help make positive changes for people who live in our area. Tim McGhee couldn't find Richmond if you had him drive south on I-95.

"Tim McGhee couldn't find Richmond if you had him drive south on I-95." Sherry, that's so funny I cried! I absolutely couldn't top that one! Thanks for your positive comments, too. Hey, I think that if you can't laugh through life than you're taking it way, way, way too seriously. Please jump in the fray anytime you see a chance!

In all seriousness, I think it's important to have at least two candidates in any race. We can't have a democracy without choice. I admire Tim for sticking his neck out there. That being said, this isn't going to be a race and everyone knows that. Tim is a nice enough guy - I've met him on more than one occasion - but he's odd, he's uber religious, and he stands no chance of winning. If the Alexandria Republican Committee wants to be taken seriously, they need to come up with legitimate candidates. I could take Vicki Vasques seriously. She was intelligent and thoughtful and well spoken in her campaign against David Englin. Tim is a joke and his candidacy will waste time and money. And Sherry's comment was priceless...

Hello readers, my name is Justin Malkin and I have entered the race as a third party candidate. I am socially tolerant and fiscally conservative. Please view my website: http://justinmalkin.2freedom.com , and consider me on election day. Thank you. --Justin Malkin

Justin, on your website it says you are pro-choice up to a gestation period of 13 weeks, at which point you consider the fetus as a person with its own rights. What if a woman is more than 13 weeks pregnant and carrying the pregnancy to term may result in the woman's death? Are you pro-choice in that case, or do you think the woman should be forced to carry to term and possibly sacrifice her own life for that of the fetus? What is the fetus could die too?

Thank you for the clarification, Justin.

Justin: I also looked at your website and can't believe you repeat that old NRA mantra
"outlaw guns and the only people with guns will be the outlaws". That is taken directly from your site. I could never vote for anyone who is not in favor of reasonable gun restrictions, especially in light of the last few years of gun massacres in our country.

Mr. Malkin: I never said I desired a "gun-free world." That's your choice of words. We needs guns for the military and law enforcement...for legitimate purposes. I also have no problem with folks having rifles and/or shotguns for hunting purposes, assuming reasonable background checks. I am for reasonable gun restrictions. And if you desire a gun-free world (as you state), how does that relate to your website, which states :"Let's keep guns legal in Virginia." Seems to me you are inconsistent in your statements and/or beliefs. Drug laws are a different issue. Personally, I am for legalizing marijuana....but what do you classify as a "recreational drug?" (again, reference your website.) Many drugs which are abused these days have valid medical purposes, when used as prescribed by a doctor. However, what valid use is there for a semi-automatic weapon? It's purpose is to kill people. You cannot equate gun laws with drug laws. Seems to me you are not quite ready for "prime time." Good luck, but I will not be voting for you.

Mr. Malkin wrote "Do strict drug laws prevent the deaths that are drug-related?"

Someone with a gun can shoot me. Someone with heroin is not going to shoot me. They will "shoot" themselves. Strict drug laws don't always prevent deaths, but stricter gun laws will certainly prevent deaths...of innocent people. If guns and drugs were truly comparable, then people who buy assault weapons would be shooting themselves, not other people.

Mr. Malkin - are stop signs and speed limits examples of unnecessary government intrusion into our lives and restrictions on our freedom? I'm afraid that for libertarians to be consistent, they also default to chaos, which is not what a sophisticated and evolved society needs. Government is necessary to promote the most good for the most people, and if some sacrifices must be made for the greater good of all, then such government action is desirable. Your hero, Ron Paul, when asked, replied that he'd get rid of the FAA and have airlines regulate safety instead of the government (I'd never step foot on a plane again). Do you believe this? I also take it that you don't believe in public education, since it's based on government setting rules that limit individual decisions, i.e., my kid can't take a gun to school, etc. and that you must believe that the private sector is better able to handle education, right? What do you think of home-schooling and/or should those kids be able to participate in public school sports teams? I'm looking for consistent answers please.

I'd bet more former Treasury workers seek to work at Goldman Sachs, or FDA workers seek to work at Monsanto than the other way around due to higher pay - not the other way around. In this vein, you are assuming that federal regulators ("cohorts") are on the take from those they are regulating which implies people are corrupt by nature. I don't believe this is true, but if you do, then it can only be up to government to make sure the laws are enforced and that bribes and corruption is exposed - oversight is a government function: otherwise we become no better than an unregulated Third World country - you really advocate for "ordered chaos?" As humans we have evolved to socialize and make positive strides by shared values and goals. We are not disparate, isolated, self-indulgent individuals running exclusively in insular, concentric circles, without regard, concern, compassion or empathy for our brethren. No man is an island, and truely, unless you live in a cave, no one makes it on her own. This is the basis of mainstream, Western enlightened thinking, no?

Regarding education, I think you first need to distinguish between private education and for-profit education. The latter is probably the worst method to teach kids since the profit motive is short-sighted, and always seeks to cut costs at best, and at worst teaches for achievement only standardized tests. Disciplines that are not profitable would not be offered (arts, music, etc.).

On the topic of home schooled being able to participate in sports, it seems like a no-brainer; they should be barred and/or the parents of home schooled kids would object to such interaction. I view scholastic sports as an extension of the school outside of the classroom and associate a public school's sports teams with the school itself. In my opinion, unless a child has special social needs that restrict that child for adhering to accepted social norms, the child is at a severe disadvantage staying home - unless the child's future goal is to work at home, I guess. At some point a kid has to learn to engage a diverse group of people, not just people of an isolated group made up of the same faces day in and day out. I also would make an exception for religious sects.