In Va. Election, Wal-Mart Is the Common Foe

He said that last week's election was an exercise of pure democracy. "I guess the town had pretty much a consensus that they were not being well represented," Stokes said. "It was more one-sided that I thought it would be. I thought the Wal-Mart supporters would show up a little heavier."

Just down Main Street, past the gazebo in the town square, is Foster's Jewelry Store. The store's Fred Foster, a holdover on the Town Council who was in the minority in his opposition to the rezoning, said the election sent a clear message to Wal-Mart.

"The issue at hand was the Wal-Mart issue," he said. "That was the biggie. The general public made a statement that we do not want it at that location. We've always wanted it, but not at that location."

Eileen Grady, business manager of the town library, does not consider herself a politician, but the debate over where to put the Wal-Mart prompted her to run for office. She was elected to Town Council.

She said one reason she lives in Front Royal is because of the beauty. And she recognizes that the town is growing, but how and where it grows is going to be the key to its future, she said.

"I believe the people voiced their opinion about the direction of growth in this community," she said. "They want it managed and they want it controlled. There is no denying that the Washington corridor is pushing out here, and we all have to take a deep breath and say, 'Okay, what is the right way to handle this?' "

Eastham received about 55 percent of the vote. Some people in town didn't think that Wal-Mart should have to move.

Roy Courtney, 64, lives across the street from the site that Wal-Mart prefers. He said he wasn't concerned about traffic because he'd walk to the store once it opened.

Courtney was in his front yard working up a pretty good sweat. A silver wheelbarrow was more than half full of hedge clippings. Courtney, shirtless and wearing denim shorts on a cloudless spring day, took a break from his yardwork to talk about the election.

"Oh, yeah," he said, wiping his forehead, "I lost this time. I wanted it, but I don't think I'm going to get it now. You know, the people spoke."