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COVER- Hot races: All politics is personal
by LISA PROVENCE, THE HOOK, published October 18, 2007

"All politics is local," observed a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Tip O'Neill, who knew a thing or two about how government can affect lives. Sure, presidential elections spur the pathetically small percentage of Americans registered to vote to turn out in full force-- 61 percent in 2004.

But the races most likely to touch our lives are happening right here, and the last time these seats were up in 2003, only 32 percent of Albemarle's registered voters bothered to show up at the polls.

Worried about growth? About your tax rate? About the water supply in the midst of the eerily hot, dry fall?

What about which crimes are prosecuted? Or how prisoners are transported to and from jail?

Okay, we're kidding about the last one, which is rarely a hot issue, although this year many eyes are on two long-time lawmen squaring off to see who gets to wear the sheriff's badge.

One snoozer in the constitutional office category-- into which sheriff and commonwealth's attorney fall-- is the clerk of court: three people are vying for that essential, $113,000-job in Albemarle. Not that the clerk is exempt from controversy. Just ask Charlottesville's clerk, Paul Garrett. But he's not up for reelection this year.

Three Albemarle supervisors are, and they're facing mostly well-funded opposition. In Albemarle, three School Board seats are up for grabs, but only one is contested, while in Charlottesville, seven people are jockeying for four open seats in the city's second elected School Board race.

City Council elections have joined the November fray, with three open seats. Three Democratic candidates face two independents trying to loosen the headlock Dems traditionally have held on Council.

Even the Soil and Water Conservation District seats are contested, and for the first time, Charlottesville will have its own director, although that's not a hot race.

But these are. And they're getting hotter as November 6 nears.

Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos says the feedback he's getting going door-to-door is that he's doing a good job.


On trial: Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney

Incumbent Jim Camblos has been commonwealth's attorney for 16 years, and is considered so controversial in some circles that a local blogger has compiled a list of "Jim Camblos' Greatest Hits" because of his decisions to prosecute-- in cases like last year's "smoke bomb case"-- or not prosecute, as in the 2003 case of former deputy Stephen R. Shiflett, who falsely claimed he was shot by a black man.

"I think the competency of the present commonwealth's attorney is very much an issue this year," says Albemarle Democratic chair Fred Hudson.

"One of the biggest issues facing the commonwealth's attorney in the next few years is the image of the office, that the prosecution is not fair and that the quality of representation has declined," says Denise Lunsford, a criminal law attorney.

Camblos, 61, argues that the biggest issue as experience-- his. And he points to the endorsements of sheriffs current and past, and more than 100 officers in the Albemarle Law Enforcement Association. "That's even more important," he says. "That's virtually the entire police department."

"I think it's very difficult for a police officer who has to work with the commonwealth's attorney to not endorse him," counters Lunsford, 43. And she suggests that Albemarle cops are silently seething when blanket witness subpoenas are issued because "Mr. Camblos is not prepared to know what witnesses are needed," she says.

Lunsford notes that she's practiced law for 17 years. "I am an experienced litigator," she says, "and I'm a very good criminal litigator." She thinks that when Camblos mentions his experience, "He means I haven't prosecuted. He hadn't either when he was first elected."

Even those who aren't Camblos fans concede he's assembled an able staff of prosecutors. "The only person I've heard say I run a bad office is her," says Camblos, who has vowed to run a positive campaign.

"What he does in a public forum is very different versus going door-to-door or in private," says Lunsford. "That's been very disappointing." She alleges that Camblos has been saying to people-- in particular, a citizen who thought Lunsford was gay-- "My opponent is unmarried and lives with her partner." Lunsford has been with Richard Brewer for 10 years, and they have three children.

"I'm not doing that," says Camblos. "I've been asked if she's a lesbian, and I've said no."

Lunsford says that Camblos should decide if he wants to be commonwealth's attorney or a judge, a position he's unsuccessfully sought twice, most recently earlier this year.

She's critical of his decisions, such as not prosecuting a UVA student who, when a stinging insect flew into her car, crashed and killed a woman and her two granddaughters. Lunsford also points out that his failure to subpoena a witness resulted in dismissal of a pedestrian death case.

"Anyone in that office is going to make mistakes," says Christian Schoenewald, vice chairman of the county Republicans. "You're dealing with very emotional situations, and Jim's made calls that people have disagreed with, but made more that people agree with."

"When I make mistakes-- unlike Mr. Camblos, who says, 'Sorry I didn't subpoena that witness'-- my client goes to jail or dies," says Lunsford. "When you're running against the incumbent, you have to say what he's done wrong."