What seems like a very long election season will culminate on Tuesday with the quadrennial selection of a Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 members of the House of Delegates.

The importance of this year’s Virginia races has been underscored by the appearances of national political figures, including President Obama and former President Clinton for the Democratic candidates, and Senator John McCain for the Republicans. All six top-of-the-ticket candidates have been crisscrossing the Commonwealth in search of votes, hoping to persuade undecided voters to cast their precious selections in one direction or another. All seem to agree on the importance of this year’s election, which will establish the direction of the Commonwealth for the next four years. On the delegates’ side, the hope, or perhaps specter, of redistricting after the 2010 Census has created new momentum because redrawing the political map of Virginia is done only once each decade.

State Senator R. Creigh Deeds will be a governor in the mold of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who have maintained Virginia as a nationally recognized state for doing business and raising a family. Creigh Deeds has campaigned on quality education, technological innovation, and supporting small businesses – all mainstream Virginia values – and will be a terrific governor. Perhaps the most perplexing agenda item for the future governor is transportation. Creigh Deeds knows that there are no quick or easy fixes, and that new dedicated sources of revenue must be identified. His commonsense approach will benefit Virginia’s future and he deserves our support.

Jody Wagner, Senator Deeds’ running mate for lieutenant governor, has a remarkable background as state treasurer and Secretary of Finance. Trained as an attorney, Jody played a major role in ensuring that the financial and economic programs of the Warner/Kaine administrations were successful. Good jobs, technology education for our children, and smart growth are among Jody’s campaign themes. She understands the challenges faced by families in the current economic climate, and will bring a commonsense approach as a small business owner to Richmond.

Former Northern Virginia delegate Steve Shannon is running for Attorney General, and would bring to the position a keen tough-on-crime focus, including keeping drunk drivers and drug dealers off the streets. President Obama said recently that a “civility in politics” makes, and keeps, Virginia strong and forward-thinking. A vote for Steve Shannon does, too.

More than half of Mason District lies within the 38^th delegate district, so the candidacy of Democrat Kaye Kory is important for many local voters. Kaye’s decade of experience as an elected school board member provides a vital voice for education funding in Richmond, an advocacy sorely needed at the state level. A longtime Mason District resident, Kaye knows our needs – in education, transportation, human services, and the environment. Kaye brings renewed vigor to the 38^th. Her election will help buttress the already outstanding work of Charniele Herring (D-46), Adam Ebbin (D-49), and Jim Scott (D-53), all Falls Church area incumbent legislators on the ballot.

Registered voters may make their selections at their regular polling places, which will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. See you at the polls!