Perriello moves to take 5th District seat; recount likely

By Scott Leamon
WSLS
Published: November 14, 2008

Democrat Tom Perriello is proceeding with preparing to take over as 5th district Congressman from Republican incumbent Virgil Goode, even though a recount is likely pending in the race.

Perriello met with Southside members of his transition team Friday afternoon in Danville. He named former 5th district Congressman L.F. Payne as the chairman of the transition committee.

Then Perriello added these local leaders:

• Danville City Councilman Rev. Larry Campbell Jr.
• Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors member Hank Davis
• Charlotte County businesswoman Catherine Maloney
• Former Martinsville Mayor Kimble Reynolds, Jr.
• Delegate Shannon Valentine, representing Virginia’s 23rd District
• Former Danville Mayor E. Linwood Wright

Perriello holds a 745 vote lead in the race, according to the State Board of Elections’ website. Once the election is certified, the losing candidate has ten days to request a recount if the race is closer than one percent of all of the votes cast.

The State Board of Elections is expected to certify the election on November 24th.

One unresolved question, will late arriving military absentee ballots be counted? The John McCain campaign sued Virginia over the issue. There will be a court hearing in Richmond on Monday.

WSLS asked Perriello about the unresolved ballots. Perriello believes even if they are allowed, there will not be enough to make up the gap between himself and Congressman Goode.

With that in mind, Perriello said, “With the scope of the challenges facing the fifth district, we don’t have any time to lose in getting to work. I look forward to sitting down with local leaders from all over the district to get their suggestions as I prepare to fight for jobs and economic relief in Washington,“ in a news release.

Perriello added to us in person that he is looking forward to going to Washington D.C. next week for early orientation. Perriello says he plans to target two committees for assignment: Transportation and infrastructure, as well as the education committee. Perriello believes getting those two committees will help the 5th District the most.

Perriello says he will keep four offices in the district, but would not say where those offices would be at.