There has been some speculation about the relative willingness of the local political parties, Democratic and Republican, to get behind their candidates.

Referring to the letter by David RePass, Maurice Cox, and Kevin Lynch to C'Ville Weekly, local Democrat Lloyd Snook says (electronic mail, April 6, 2000):

"Good letter. I am glad that the party has come together on this race, and that both groups of the party have seen, applying the words of Camus, that 'there are more things to be admired [in each other] than to be despised.'

I note that John Pfaltz * seems to be running his own campaign..."

*Around Charlottesville, citizens have reported numerous yard signs supporting Republicans Elizabeth Fortune and Jon Bright (presumably because of their stance on Meadowcreek Parkway), but not Republican John Pfaltz.

Davide Dukcevich also reports in the April 10th edition of the Daily Progress that "John Pfaltz ran a radio advertisement extolling his candidacy, while some bumper stickers seen around the city encourage people to vote for the other two Republicans, Jon Bright and Elizabeth Fortune."

John Pfaltz's picture is also featured in the April 14th edition of the Daily Progress illustrating his unusual campaigning at the intersection of McIntire Road and Preston Avenue. He is waving a yard sign (for Bright, Fortune, and Pfaltz) while wearing a sandwich board which says "Will Work For Change."

Independent candidate Kevin Cox writes (electronic mail, April 7, 2000):

" Let's hear it for party unity at all costs. What happened to the deep divisions over reversion and the Meadowcreek Parkway? Meredith Richards is a supporter of the road and a foe of reversion. Maurice Cox and Kevin Lynch have disagreed with her on both issues. Don't these critical issues matter? They matter to me and most of the public. I think they care more about making sure that the city Democrats retain control over City Council than they do about the issues."

Sounds like a consensus of opinion about Democratic unity to me.