Stewart wins re-election bid

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart has unofficially retained his seat on Tuesday.

With all precincts reporting Stewart had 32,978 votes to 15,464 for Democrat candidate Babur Lateef. Independent John Gray had garnered 8,210 votes.

Lateef called Stewart shortly before 10 p.m. to concede the election, stated Stewart.

Stewart is starting his second full term as chairman after previously serving as the Occoquan Supervisor in the early 2000s. He was originally elected chairman in a special election to replace outgoing chair Sean T. Connaughton, now Virginia Secretary of Transportation.

Stewart said his convincing showing proves that "residents, whether Republicans, Democrats or Independents are happy with the direction of the county."

Stewart used the example of winning the first six precincts to report in the traditionally Democratic-leaning Neabsco District as an example of his broad support.

"Prior to today, I had never won a single precinct in Neabsco," Stewart said.

Throughout his campaign, Stewart touted the county's ability to keep taxes down since 2007 as well as the board's recent approval of the 2006 bond projects. The projects include several new road widening, two new libraries and the expansion of the parks and trails system in the county.

During the campaign, Stewart's foes made no bones about the incumbent's self-admitted desire for higher office, especially in light of a recent fundraiser where he said he raised more than $260,000. Stewart flirted with running for lieutenant governor two years ago and most recently considered a run for U.S. Senate.

Stewart was also criticized for taking money from developers, a point he concedes. However, he was proud of the fact that most of the money he raised from the development community came from commercial, not residential interests.

"We have been able to recruit office space and new high end retail to offset residential development," Stewart said Tuesday evening. "That is what the county needed and that's clearly what the voters want."

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.