Hopes Are High as County GOP Gears Up for Convention

Loudoun County Republicans will choose their slate of candidates for county offices Saturday, casting ballots in seven contested races at a gathering that party leaders say could be the largest county convention in state history.

More than 2,600 delegates have signed up for the convention, which will take place all day at the Community Church in Ashburn. Delegates will choose the GOP nominees for constitutional offices and for every seat on the Board of Supervisors, deciding the fate of three incumbent supervisors who have intraparty challengers.

Supporters of the convention format say that it will energize the party faithful and that Loudoun Republicans, who are trying to hold on to a board majority, historically have had a stronger showing in November after a nominating convention.

"It's an energetic, exciting event," said Paul Protic, chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, comparing it to a pep rally. "It really gets people excited."

But the format has been criticized by some party members, who say it discourages participation because it requires signing up weeks in advance to be a delegate and setting aside several hours to attend the convention. Some said they would have preferred a party canvass, in which voters cast ballots without having to file as delegates first.

Of the nearly 2,000 delegates who signed up for the Loudoun Republican convention in 2003, about 1,300 showed up. Some Republicans fear that the turnout also could be low Saturday because of competing events such as youth soccer tournaments. In addition, party members have quibbled repeatedly over the rules, and some candidates have accused GOP committee leaders of discouraging turnout by asking delegates to RSVP in the last few days before the convention.

Republican Supervisors Lori L. Waters (Broad Run), Stephen J. Snow (Dulles) and Eugene A. Delgaudio (Sterling) face opposition in their bid for renomination, as do Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson and Circuit Court Clerk Gary M. Clemens.

The race between Waters and political newcomer John W. Ryan Jr., human resources director of a technology firm, is one of the most closely watched.

Waters was elected in 2003, a year when Republicans swept into office promising to loosen building restrictions that they deemed unfriendly to business. Since then, however, Waters has broken with her colleagues several times and voted against large developments.

On his Web site, Ryan accuses Waters of swinging "wildly back and forth between so-called 'pro-' and 'slow-growth' policies, confusing businesses who want to invest here."

Waters, however, said her actions are a testament to her independent thinking.

"I don't take orders in terms of voting, and I don't believe in excessive development," Waters said. "More growth means more cars and higher taxes to pay for the services for residents, from building new schools to hiring new sheriff's deputies."