Heyward Whetsell, field director for Sen. Edd Houck’s campaign for re-election, reported to the LOW Democratic Club at its May 19 meeting and asked for members’ help in keeping Sen. Houck at work in the State Senate.
Club members responded enthusiastically, signing the senator’s candidacy petition and signing up to work phone banks, put up campaign signs and offering to organize a campaign event on his behalf.
Mr. Whetsell said the campaign plans personal contacts with 49,457 voters in the 17th District, targeting not just the Democratic base, but reaching out to consistent persuadable voters and “gubernatorial Democrats,” Democratic voters who don’t habitually vote in off-year elections.
“Reaching out to these groups is the name of the game,” Mr. Whetsell said.
He said Sen. Houck had benefitted from the recent redistricting. He lost some of Culpeper County, but retains the city of Culpaper. The percentage of Republican voters in the newly aligned district has dropped from 67 percent to 60 percent, he said.
Mr. Whetsell said the senator will make appearances at the club’s annual Flag Day Membership Picnic on June 15 at Sweetbriar Park and in the Fourth of July parade in LOW. In addition, the club is planning to hold an event in LOW to permit voters to meet the senator. Plans for the event will be announced later.
The Houck campaign recently opened a district office at 10813 Courthouse Road, Suite 104, in Fredericksburg, off Va. 208. More information is available at Sen. Houck’s Web site.