Candidates vie for party nods

Voters in Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park will head out to the polls Tuesday to participate in nine primary contests.

The polls open Tuesday at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Voters can only participate in either the Democratic or Republican Primary. Virginia does not require that voters register by party, and there is no pledge.

In all areas, voters in the Democratic primaries will decide who will be the party nominee for sheriff, two-term incumbent E. Lee Stoffregen III or his first-ever Democratic challenger John H. Collier, a county police officer.

Democrats have two other contests in eastern Prince William.

Up for the nomination to run for Occoquan supervisor are Keith A. Scarborough and John S. Gray. For Woodbridge supervisor, incumbent Hilda M. Barg faces John R. Thompson, who opposed her on approving the Cherry Hill development.

For Republican voters, there are three supervisor contests and two state seats up for grabs.

Running for the chairmanship of the county board are one-term incumbent Sean T. Connaughton and Larry D. Williams Sr. Williams supports Stoffregen, with whom Connaughton has been feuding for two years.

The Republican field for the Occoquan seat is a four-man race: Frank “E” Bolton, Michael C. “Mike” May, Corey A. Stewart and S.R. “Steve” Wassenberg all want the nomination to follow departing Republican incumbent Ruth T. Griggs.

In the Coles supervisor race, incumbent Mary K. Hill faces Martin E. “Marty” Nohe, who is as well funded as she is.

The two state office primaries feature moderate Republican incumbents with major committee chairmanships against conservative challengers. In the 52nd House District primary, Jeff M. Frederick is challenging John A. “Jack” Rollison III.

In the 28th Senate District primary ? which only affects the Town of Quantico ? Mike I. Rothfeld is challenging John H. Chichester.

When they go to the polls, voters must have one form of identification, which can be a voter identification card, to cast a ballot. Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.

A list of voting places by supervisor district is available at http://www.pwcgov.org/voterweb.

The Prince William Registrar’s office can be reached at (703) 792-6470.

The Manassas Registrar’s office can be reached at (703) 257-8259.

The Manassas Park Registrar’s office can be reached at (703) 335-8806.