Arlington GOP hopes to oppose Fisette Nov. 6

by Jason Fordney, Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 21, 2001

Members of the Arlington County Republican Party said yesterday the organization likely will endorse attorney Michael Clancy as a last-minute candidate to oppose incumbent County Board Chairman Jay Fisette, seeking reelection in the Nov. 6 balloting.

Over the weekend at the Arlington County Fair that ended Sunday, Republicans were collecting signatures on petitions to nominate Clancy, but it is too late for the Republicans to hold a primary required to field an official candidate as required by election laws.

Clancy has until 7 p.m. tonight to file with the county Board of Elections as an independent, but he had not registered as of press time yesterday.

Should Clancy run, he would do so as an independent endorsed by the county GOP, sources said.

Clancy could not be reached at his law firm yesterday.

Several party members confirmed that the county GOP was collecting signatures at the fair, but it is not clear how many were compiled.

Clancy needs signatures from 125 registered voters living in the county to qualify to run in the November race.

Republicans acknowledged yesterday that should he run, Clancy will face an uphill fight against the popular Fisette, elected in 1997.

"This is going to have to be [an uphill] campaign," party member James Pebley said yesterday, adding that another candidate would benefit voters by giving them a choice in November. "I am delighted to see a contested race with a choice for the voters. The voters should be given a choice, and I believe this [gives an incentive to] our public officials."

If elected, Clancy would be the first non-Democrat elected to the board since 1999, when current party Chairman Mike Lane defeated Democrat Charles Monroe. Monroe came back to defeat Lane in 2000.