By Annie Gowen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 27, 2005; B04
On a recent sunny Saturday, former Air Force Capt. David L. Englin and a group of young supporters set up a tiny portable grill in the courtyard of Alexandria's public housing complex and served up burgers and hot dogs for 50 residents. The Berg, as the housing complex is known, is hardly a traditional campaign stop for candidates in a local primary in which a relatively small number of party stalwarts are likely to vote. But this is an unusual race: Six Democrats are vying for voters' attention as they campaign to replace Del. Marian Van Landingham (D-Alexandria) in the 45th District. Van Landingham, an artist and popular politician, has served in the House since 1982 and is one of its most senior members. The crowded field reflects the dominance of Democrats in the district and the likelihood that whoever wins the party's primary will be the favorite in the Nov. 8 general election. Political veterans and neophytes rushed into the race after Van Landingham announced in December that she had a recurrence of cancer and would not run. "The expectation was that it would be years before there was an opening," said Susan B. Kellom, chairman of the Alexandria Democratic Committee. The veterans are Libby Garvey, 54, chair of the Arlington School Board; Richard R.G. Hobson, 73, who served as delegate from the district from 1976 to 1980; and Elsie M. Mosqueda, 61, legislative aide to Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria). Newcomers Englin; Laura J. Mandala, 43, a businesswoman; and former Alexandria prosecutor James K. Lay, 39, round out the roster of Democrats for the June 14 primary. The Republicans expect to nominate their candidate after Memorial Day, according to Chris Marston, chairman of the Republican district legislative committee. Englin has embraced a grass-roots campaign that he said is inspired by former presidential candidate Howard Dean's effort. Nearly every weeknight, volunteers crowd into his two-bedroom home in Del Ray, working six phone lines. The barbecue was in part a voter registration drive. "We have to stand up for what we believe in and build our base," said Englin, 30. "Maybe some people would think my time and resources would be better focused on the small group of people who traditionally vote in the Democratic primary. But we're trying to build relationships with the people who feel left behind." Van Landingham has said that she will not endorse anyone but that she believes Garvey is a strong candidate, given her experience on the Arlington School Board. As an Arlington resident, Van Landingham reasoned, Garvey will do well in the Arlington precincts, and the Alexandria vote will be split among the five candidates who live in Alexandria. The 45th District consists of the eastern side of Alexandria as well as three precincts near Shirlington in Arlington and six precincts in southeastern Fairfax County, where Garvey also has strong support. Van Landingham also voiced the criticism of some party insiders who see Englin as a pushy upstart. Englin and his wife, Shayna, a public relations manager, moved to Alexandria two years ago. He led a local group of veterans working for the presidential campaign of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass). "Englin is working very, very hard, but he's done nothing except for the presidential campaign last fall," Van Landingham said. "In Alexandria and Arlington, you need to have done something for the community beforehand." Garvey, Hobson and Mosqueda have touted their political experience. Mosqueda, a bilingual Texas native who has lived in Alexandria since 1982, has said her Latino roots are a plus for a region with a fast-growing immigrant population and few Latino elected officials. Others have tried offbeat approaches. Mandala, who chairs Alexandria's commission on women, sent out a news release touting herself as the candidate for "dog owners' rights." Lay left a debate Sunday night to continue 24 hours of campaigning, which had him talking, bleary-eyed, to customers at a 24-hour Kinko's and CVS. He capped off the spree by handing out 40 dozen donuts to morning commuters at the Braddock Road and King Street Metro stations. At forums, the candidates have faced questions about congestion and other transportation problems, affordable housing and education. Most support a proposal by Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) for a homestead exemption of as much as 20 percent on a home's value. Kaine is running for governor. On the campaign trail, people often ask candidates whether they can be effective in the General Assembly, where Northern Virginia Democrats have felt stymied by the entrenched Republican majority. Cynthia Boyer, a retired artist and Alexandria resident who attended a forum Sunday at an Alexandria recreation center, said she had not made up her mind. Boyer said she would need to "figure out which of the candidates are going to work more effectively for our district in Richmond, because there is this sense in Richmond that Northern Virginians are all left-wing kooks."