Newcomer Takes On Fairfax Board Chief

"He's approved these development plans that just pack density and make traffic horrible," Fimian said. "These guys want higher densities. They make more money. This is exactly the kind of stuff that has to stop. It's why government is dysfunctional. You can't have those in elective office able to benefit, or their campaigns able to benefit, by their decisions."

Connolly has gone after Fimian for his well-documented social conservatism, most notably his opposition to abortion rights and his membership in the conservative networking organization Legatus. In a shifting congressional district, the association has the potential to turn off blue-tilting voters. Fimian has played down social issues and his association with Legatus. He also on occasion has avoided identifying himself as a Republican in advertisements and speeches.

"He is posing as a moderate, and he's posing as if he's not even a Republican," Connolly said. "That's a fundamentally dishonest way to present himself to the voters. He is considerably to the right of Tom Davis. Tom's success was the pursuit of moderate policy and the willingness to work in a bipartisan manner. That's exactly what has characterized me."

Both candidates are well funded, although Connolly carries an advantage, which is that the 11th District has been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a possible pick-up opportunity. The committee has pledged to spend at least $1.3 million in the race. Fimian also has had to spend much of his money introducing himself to voters, something Connolly, as board chairman for five years and district supervisor for eight before, has not had to do. Fimian's strong finances also result in part from his decision to lend his campaign $325,000.

In the most recent campaign finance reports, which detail activity from July 1 through Sept. 30, Connolly raised $667,000 and Fimian $346,000. Fimian also spent much more than Connolly: $671,000 compared with $295,988.

Fimian had far more cash on hand in July, when the previous report was filed, mainly because Connolly depleted his coffers during a hard-fought primary battle with fellow Democrat Leslie L. Byrne.

For the final weeks of the campaign, however, both candidates had roughly the same amount in the bank: $719,000 for Fimian and $646,000 for Connolly.