HPC, other candidates regroup after election

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: May 7, 2008

Apparently, illegal immigration isn’t a primary concern for Culpeper town voters.

When it came down to Tuesday’s Culpeper Town Council race none of the Help Protect Culpeper members and/or associates — Jerry Beckett, Julie Peppe, William Platts and Pat Baker — won any of the four available seats up for grabs.

Instead, incumbents Chris Snider, Mike Olinger and Chip Coleman and former councilman Bobby Ryan returned to their posts winning the four at-large seats.

According to its Web site, the grassroots group HPC formed last October in an effort to shine the spotlight on issues caused by illegal immigration such as: residential overcrowding, crime, identity theft and labor distortions.

They are a group of concerned citizens that seek to “preserve their community, promote the rule of law, foster public awareness of the negative effects of illegal immigration, and facilitate effective engagement by the citizens in the legislative process on issue that regard illegal immigration,” according to the Help Protect Culpeper Web site.

President Jerry Beckett, retired command sergeant major, U.S. Army and Vietnam veteran, collected 464 votes — only 14 votes behind newly elected council member Ryan.

“We gave it our best shot,” said the 64-year-old after learning about the results at Pepper’s Grill & Bar — the restaurant adjacent to the Best Western on Bus. 29 South. “I’ve got a lot of help from a lot of people and I’ve got to visit a lot of people and knock on a lot of doors.”

Sitting across the table from Beckett, Platts, who collected 176 votes overall, said he would try again.

“I think the turnout overall was pitiful,” said Platts, 43. “As many registered voters as we’ve got the number of people that turned up at the polls was minimal.”

Of the 7,086 registered voters, only 1,261 voters or 17.8 percent showed up to cast their ballot on Tuesday.

Registrar Michele White said this year’s results are customary for this area.

“It’s typical of what we had the last time around,” White said. “It’s right around the same.”

In 2006, 1,066 voters of 6,356 registered voters or 16.8 percent turned out.

Town Councilman Steve Jenkins, who sparked a local crackdown on illegal immigration nearly two years ago, said he was shocked after learning the results.

“I would have liked to have seen more voters out,” he said.

Jenkins even suggested holding elections on a Saturday to allow commuting voters to vote.

“They would have liked to have voted but were probably unable to get to the polls,” Jenkins said. “I congratulate the winners.”

For two years, Jenkins said, town and county citizens have attended meetings, signed petitions and written letters to editors regarding the problems stemming from illegal immigration.
“And I feel confident that 85 percent of the population would like to see more done locally on illegal immigration,” he said. “Certainly, I’m going to maintain my present stance as a town council member of pursuing local ways to go about protecting our community and deterring illegals from the community.”

Candidate and HPC member Peppe, 51, who sat near Jenkins at Peppers and received 322 votes, said she gave it her best shot.

“I tried to make a difference for the town but the voters have spoken,” she said. “Basically, if that’s what they choose and they’re happy with that then it’s like I don’t want to hear any complaints.”

“You know we tried to make a difference,” she added.

Town Council candidate and former HPC member Pat Baker, 58, who was sitting across the table from Jenkins and Peppe, offered no comment.
Baker collected 353 votes.

Other hopefuls
Town Council contender Laurel Care Gravette, 53, displayed excitement when she found out the incumbents were re-elected.

“I’m just happy for the other candidates that won,” she said during a brief interview at Channel 21. “I enjoyed running but it was grueling.”

Asked will she run again? She said to ask her in four years.

“But right now, I am so extremely tired,” she added.

Care collected a total of 434 votes.

Town Council hopeful Cecil Schoniwitz — reached at home via telephone interview — wasn’t sure who won until this reporter shared the news.

“It’s not surprising to me,” said Schoniwitz who received 115 votes. “It was a very low turnout.”

“The non-voters got what they wanted — the same old, same old.”

“There’s nothing that they can gripe about,” Schoniwitz added. “I probably didn’t knock on enough doors.”

Schoniwitz, 61, said he may even run again.

“(These results) didn’t sour me on politics,” he added. “Somebody has to make a change.”

Town Council hopeful Frank Reaves Jr. came in sixth place after Beckett with 436 votes.

“I did pretty good for the first time,” Reaves said. “I’ll be back. I think I’ll do alright next time.”

Reaves, 55, figures with the newcomers moving to Culpeper, he should have knocked on more doors.

“Because they don’t know me like the older residents do,” said the Culpeper native. “I could have pulled it off.”

Reaves has no hard feeling about this year’s race.

“I support the candidates 100 percent,” he added.
Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .