Callander: Republicans campaign at Democratic Primary

The most noteworthy happenings at the polls on Tuesday had nothing to do with the Democrats’ nominating primary for governor. Instead it had to do with the Republican candidates for board of supervisors shrewdly campaigning for future Democratic votes on the sidewalks outside the polls.

While Democratic volunteers thought they would be focusing on supporting their preferred candidate for governor, instead they were distracted by the presence of the Republicans, who passed out their campaign literature for the November election and even gathered contact information from the Democratic voters exiting the polls.

Among the Republicans was Stafford’s Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky, who hung out at Falmouth Elementary School. He admitted that he never thought he’d see the day when he would be campaigning for Republicans outside a Democratic primary.

Mayausky was there for Susan Stimpson, GOP candidate for Falmouth supervisor, who had a stack of full-color pamphlets available for Democratic voters. Nothing on the handout indicated that Stimpson is a Republican. That’s a far cry from the days when Republicans had the R-word plastered on all their signs and literature.

Stimpson, who spent time greeting voters and seeking contact information, apparently feels she’s going to need Democratic votes to win in November. As the recently retired chair of the Stafford County Republican Party, she’s taking a calculated nonpartisan approach.

Though Democrat George Schwartz isn’t seeking re-election for Falmouth supervisor, the Dems have a formidable candidate that they are putting up in his place, Douglas Filler, a retired businessman who has a talent for clearly articulating the issues.

Filler thought he’d have a rather laid back day until he realized he needed to aggressively compete for November’s Democratic votes at the June 9 primary.

The Republican activity on Democratic Primary day that was really rolling eyes, though, was the presence of the Paul Milde operation in the Aquia District.

A shrewd politician who spots opportunity when it presents itself, Milde makes a habit of using election days to campaign, if not directly for himself then for some cause with which he is associated. This June it was the controversial SPCA proposal for his district, the one that he is pushing with his friend Bill Hoyt.

On Election Day last November, Milde had a team out at all the precincts collecting signatures in support of a countywide elected Chairman of the Board. He collected names and e-mail addresses of hundreds of voters, through the use of a nonpartisan organization.

Before that the pro-business politico had his hand in mobilizing citizens to fight BPOL, a Business and Professional Occupancy License.

This week Republican Milde was at the Democratic Primary with his “nonpartisan” campaign materials seeking Democratic votes and collecting contact information because they care about animals.

If Milde plans to inform these people about animal shelter issues, that’s one thing, but more likely he’s adding their names to his campaign contact list. That’s unscrupulous and just one reason why he shouldn’t be re-elected.

Alane Callander is a south Stafford resident active in many local causes. Reach her at info@staffordcountysun.com.