Loudoun Sheriff Loses Nomination

Loudoun County Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson, seeking his fourth term, lost the Republican nomination yesterday to one of his former deputies at the local party convention.

Greg Ahlemann of Leesburg will be the Republican nominee for sheriff against Democrat Mike George in the fall election. Late yesterday, Simpson said he would seek reelection as an independent. He has been the county's top law enforcement officer since 1996.

"I consider myself a Republican. That's my views and my values, and I've committed a lot of years to that party," Simpson said. "But I feel like I have more to offer this department and this county. I'm not done yet."

More than 2,600 delegates had registered to attend the Loudoun County Republican Committee convention at Community Church in Ashburn, but only 1,386 showed up. The party did not release vote totals for the sheriff's race and most other contests.

Simpson said he did not believe the small group represented the will of the people in his race.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Lori L. Waters (Broad Run), who had been at risk of losing the GOP nomination in her bid for a second term on the county Board of Supervisors, managed to fend off a strong challenge at the convention.

Waters, who has been a swing vote on the board on growth and development issues, beat political newcomer Jack Ryan for a spot on the Republican ticket. On Nov. 6, county voters will elect supervisors for all nine seats on the board, as well as the sheriff and other local officials. Waters had been targeted by many within her party who felt she had forsaken Republican ideals on taxes and growth. She had considered running as an independent if she lost the nomination.

After her victory yesterday, Waters said she will not take the drastic step of renouncing her party affiliation.

"I think my win today has demonstrated that the party is big enough for people who disagree on some issues," she said. Waters, 31, will face Democrat Phyllis Randall in November.

Simpson, 53, conceded the nomination yesterday to Ahlemann, who had attacked the incumbent in recent months as lax on illegal immigration and criminal gangs. This year, Simpson decided not to enroll his department in a special training session with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would allow deputies to initiate deportation proceedings for illegal immigrants. Simpson later changed his mind.

Ahlemann, 36, whose father, the Rev. James Ahlemann, was a well-known pastor at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn, resigned his position with the sheriff's department in January. Yesterday, he derided a Simpson decision to send deputies to help clean a park in Round Hill.

"If we have enough money to be paying deputies [to clean parks], we have the money to keep violent immigrants off our streets," he told the cheering crowd.

In other contests, supervisors Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) and Stephen J. Snow (R-Dulles) were nominated for reelection. They will face Democrats Jeanne West and Stevens Miller, respectively, in the fall.

In addition, former Round Hill Town Council member Mark Albright beat Ben Weber, owner of the Purcellville Gazette, to become the Republican nominee facing Supervisor James Burton (I-Blue Ridge). Former school board member Geary M. Higgins beat technology consultant Robert Bruton for the GOP nomination to face Supervisor Sarah R. "Sally" Kurtz (D-Catoctin).

Gary Clemens, Loudoun's clerk of the circuit court, also was nominated for reelection.