Dear Troops,

"Following his loss, outgoing Mayor Michael O'Reilly couldn't resist
taking one more pot shot at Herndon's beleagured citizens, telling the
Washington Post that there was a lot more "resentment and hatred" out
there than he anticipated...."

Troops it can be done -- We Won !  The first election in the USA to take
place after the illegal alien mob protests... and the first to have the
illegal alien issue at the center of the campaign took place yesterday in
the town of Herndon, VA. Our entire slate of candidates won their
elections - including our candidate for Mayor. Read on and also see our
forthecause.us website for background info on the Herndon Day Labor site
and all the drama that led up to this thrilling victory!

For the Cause, Linda

PS -- See our article, and one from the Washington Post and Herndon
Observer below. We will post more articles on our forthecause.us and
wehategringos.com sites throughout the day -- God Speed to all who fought
for this Cause!

----------

Illegal Alien Supporters Lose their First Election Test!
Herndon Citizens Throw Out Mayor and Town Council

by Nathan J. Muller
For the Cause - forthecause.us

Appreciating the national significance of his victory in Herndon,
Virginia, Steve DeBenedittis, said, "It is my hope that the U.S. Senate
and the House of Representatives will listen to the voice of the people to
resolve the critical problem of illegal immigration."

In Herndon, Virginia last night citizens voted against a tax-funded day
labor site, residential overcrowding, escalating crime, and the
deteriorating quality of life foisted upon them by an arrogant small-town
administration.

Mayor-elect, Steve DeBenedittis with wife, RosemaryThe morning of the
election, Mayor Michael O'Reilly told a news reporter that he didn't care
what the people think. By mid-afternoon, he dropped the attitude. In the
evening, Mayor O'Reilly's bid for another term was trounced by challenger
Steve DeBenedittis by a five-point margin, 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent.
Five other conservative candidates also won.

Councilmember Dennis Husch won re-election and becomes vice Mayor. Husch
was one of two councilmembers who voted against the taxpayer-funded day
labor center last year. Former Councilmember Connie Hutchinson was elected
to a seat on the Town Council. Bill Tirrell and Dave Kirby, who are on the
Town Planning Commission, won seats to the Town Council. Charlie Waddell
also won a seat. Getting the fewest votes was Harlon Reece, the only
incumbent to win re-election. He voted for the taxpayer-funded day labor
center last year.

Dave Kirby Of the town's 10,000 registered voters, only 2,620 actually
voted. Hispanics make up 25 percent of the town's population, but they
were virtually absent from the voting booths, even with one of their own
on the ballot. Jorge Rochac, a Salvadoran, made a point of visiting
residents with Hispanic surnames, urging them to vote. His effort proved
unsuccessful. Poll watchers estimated that 25 to 30 Hispanics may have
voted.

Appreciating the national significance of his victory, Steve DeBenedittis,
said, "It is my hope that the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives
will listen to the voice of the people to resolve the critical problem of
illegal immigration."

Phil Jones, HelpSaveHerndon Last year, Herndon became the national
flashpoint for the illegal immigration crisis. After several days of
public hearings, the Mayor and Town Council voted to establish a day labor
center over the strong objections of a majority of town citizens. Their
concerns were dismissed as "emotion" at best and "racism" at worst.

This ignited a firestorm of activity that eventually culminated in last
night's defeat of the Mayor and all but one of the Town Council members
who voted for the day labor center.

Butch Baugham, HelpSaveHerndon Concerned citizens formed groups to fight
back the illegal alien invasion of Herndon. Butch Baugham was the catalyst
for the establishment of HelpSaveHerndon, which grew in membership under
the leadership of Phil Jones and Aubrey Stokes, who put up the
organization's web page. Members blitzed local media with "letters to the
editor" to challenge the myths being put forward by illegal alien
supporters. They also organized "meet-and-greet" events for candidates,
performed literature drops, and engaged in fundraising.

George Taplin, founder, Herndon Minutemen Later, George Taplin founded the
Herndon Minutemen, who did an exceptional job of keeping the illegal
immigration issue front and center locally, nationally and even
internationally. Despite absorbing withering criticism, he stayed the
course, which enabled HelpSaveHerndon to stay focused on its job.

As the campaign season kicked into high gear, John Neil provided valuable
organizing assistance for the entire slate of conservative candidates.

John Neil, campaign organizer Forthecause aided both HelpSaveHerndon and
the Herndon Minutemen, and drew in the support of Rep. Tom Tancredo on two
occasions.

With the local media solidly behind the incumbents, The Herndon Compass
made its debut to counteract their biased views, which included persistent
charges of racism. Forthecause took the lead in writing a series of
investigative articles that clearly portrayed the plight of overburdened
Herndon residents as they coped with increasing taxes, unrelenting
commercial development, and quality of life issues. Allen Keesee played
the pivotal role bringing this 12-page newspaper to life with the help of
Ben Weber, publisher of the Purcellville Gazette.

The Herndon Compass Throughout the campaign, mayoral candidate Steve
DeBenedittis and fellow conservatives running for Town Council seats were
never treated seriously by the incumbents or media, who continually harped
on their lack of political experience, financial acumen and sense of
priorities. The view expressed by the TimesCommunity newspaper was
typical: "Challenger Steve DeBenedittis has absolutely no qualifications
for the position of mayor. Nor has he expressed any innovative or
thoughtful ideas about the town's future." Voters who met Steve
DeBenedittis on the campaign trail thought differently.

But the incumbents didn't know what is most essential to know in any
campaign - the mood of the voters.

A critical element in the success of the challengers was an automated
telephone poll conducted five weeks before the election. The results of
that poll yielded valuable insights into what was really on the minds of
Herndon voters. The poll was also used to zero in on 400 potential voters
who could swing the election to the challengers. These were the first
people to get copies of The Herndon Compass, which provided further
incentive to vote. Dennis Husch

The poll was widely criticized by local media, ridiculed by faith-based
groups supporting illegal aliens, and condemned by the incumbents who
thought they knew what was best for their citizens, but never asked. The
poll was financed by a Herndon resident, who still prefers to remain
anonymous - not by big money "outsiders" with ambitious national agendas,
as some of the incumbents charged.

Even residents in neighboring Loudoun County watched the Herndon election
closely. Eugene Delgaudio, representing the adjacent community of Sterling
on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, took note of the mood in
Herndon: "There is happy celebration by our neighbors in Herndon. It is
like the 4th of July in the streets. Bells are ringing." Delgaudio is an
opponent of day labor centers and social services for illegal aliens.
Eugene Delgaudio and Linda Muller

Reflecting on the national ramifications of this election, Delgaudio said,
"It was an uphill battle and this Herndon Town Council race is a big
defeat for all liberals not just in Northern Virginia but throughout the
country as well."

Linda Muller of Forthecause was on hand when the election results came
through at the home of Town Councilmember Ann Null, who was not running
for re-election. "I was stunned beyond words at the success of our
candidates. A lot of people worked very hard to make this happen."

For her, that this success comes one day after a national boycott and
previous demonstrations that attracted millions of illegal alien
supporters in major cities around the country makes the victory in Herndon
even sweeter. "I believe this is just the start of a nationwide backlash
by American citizens against illegal aliens who demand rights and
privileges they are not entitled to. What happened in Herndon proves that
the power of the vote trumps shrill demonstrations and inflammatory
boycotts."

Herndon Minutemen founder George Taplin said, "The election results will
discourage more illegal aliens from coming here and will cause those
already in Herndon to start leaving."

It is hoped by the organizers and volunteers who engineered this victory
in Herndon that their success will inspire citizens elsewhere to take back
control of their communities from arrogant and unresponsive politicians
who are intent on disrespecting those who put them in office -- Americans.

Following his loss, outgoing Mayor Michael O'Reilly couldn't resist taking
one more pot shot at Herndon's beleagured citizens, telling the Washington
Post that there was a lot more "resentment and hatred" out there than he
anticipated.

The new Mayor and Town Council take office July 1st. Until then, the well
deserved celebration continues...

-----

The Washington Post
Voters Oust Backers of Immigrants in Herndon

By Bill Turque and Nikita Stewart
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 3, 2006; A01

Herndon voters yesterday unseated the mayor and two Town Council members
who supported a bitterly debated day-labor center for immigrant workers in
a contest that emerged as a mini-referendum on the turbulent national
issue of illegal immigration.

Residents replaced the incumbents with challengers who immediately called
for significant changes at the center. Some want to bar public funds from
being spent on the facility or restrict it to workers living in the
country legally. Others want it moved to an industrial site away from the
residential neighborhood where it is located.

The labor center forced the western Fairfax County town into the national
spotlight last summer as the immigration debate grew deeply contentious.
Even though fewer than 3,000 people voted yesterday, advocates on both
sides of the issue looked at the Herndon election as a test of public
sentiment. Outside groups such as the Minuteman Project, which opposes
illegal immigration, intervened in the debate, and Judicial Watch, a
conservative legal group, is suing the town over the establishment of the
center.

The council voted 5 to 2 last August to establish the center, but
yesterday's vote created an apparent 6 to 1 majority in opposition. Steve
J. DeBenedittis, 38, a health club operator and political newcomer,
defeated Mayor Michael L. O'Reilly with 52 percent of the vote. Council
members Carol A. Bruce and Steven D. Mitchell, who voted for the center,
also were turned out of office. Jorge Rochac, a Salvadoran businessman who
supported the center and was seeking to become the town's first Hispanic
council member, also was defeated.

Elected to the council were challengers William B. Tirrell, Charlie D.
Waddell, Connie Haines Hutchinson and David A. Kirby, all opponents of the
facility, which was created to help immigrants connect with employers each
day.

Two incumbents were reelected. Dennis D. Husch, who was one of the two
council members to vote against the center, received more votes than any
of the eight other council candidates. J. Harlon Reece was the lone
supporter who was reelected. He received the fewest number of votes among
the six winners.

Twenty-six percent of the town's 10,203 registered voters came to the
polls, up from 20 percent when O'Reilly was elected two years ago,
according to Fairfax County figures.

DeBenedittis, the son of a popular former high school art teacher in
Herndon, said his victory was the product of intensive door-to-door
campaigning and voters' deep discontent over how the labor center issue
was handled by the mayor and council in the town of 23,000 residents.

"They didn't like the way the debate went down, and there was the feeling
that they were not heard," he said.

DeBenedittis frequently skirted specifics on the labor center issue during
the campaign, but he said in at least one candidate questionnaire that the
facility on Sterling Road should be limited to legal immigrants.

A disappointed O'Reilly said last night that he was proud of the way he
and the council handled the controversy. He said the center remains a
quantum improvement over the chaotic ad hoc site in a 7-Eleven parking lot
that had become a community eyesore.

"I'm really proud of what I stood for, and proud of what I did," O'Reilly
said. "I think there was a lot of misinformation that was out there. There
may be a lot more resentment and hatred out there than I anticipated."

Judith M. Markbein, 59, a second grade teacher, said she voted the
incumbents out because "when we put money into a day-labor site, we are
putting money into people who are illegal. I'm not trying to be
prejudiced, but when people are given rights that they haven't earned, it
makes me angry."

The challengers attributed their victories not to hatred, but to the
council's falling out of touch with voters.

"It's a new direction for Herndon," said Waddell, a systems engineer.
"We've got a new slate. We've got a new council. We've got a new mayor. We
are going to try to be responsive to the people. That was lost on the
council."

Waddell said he favors moving the center to a commercial area and will try
to tap private funds for its operation. It now operates in part on a grant
from Fairfax County.

"You've got day laborers cutting between yards to get to the center," he
said. "I've talked to residents who said they have been awakened at 6 in
the morning by laborers sitting on their lawn furniture in the back yard
because they are waiting for the center to open. That's not good for the
neighborhood."

Hutchinson, who was on the council previously, said the panel ignored the
feelings of the community. "I do think the voters have spoken," she said.
"I don't know where we go from here."

The center has another year to go on a conditional use permit, and the new
council can use that time to seek alternatives, she said. Hutchinson said
she also favors moving the center to another area.

Former mayor Richard C. Thoesen, a backer of the center, said he
attributed the results to voter frustration over the town's burgeoning
immigrant population, which has led to serious residential crowding. He
added that Monday's nationwide demonstrations organized by immigrants'
rights groups constituted "bad timing" that may have added to the
backlash.

He cautioned the new mayor and council to do what they can to reunite the
town. "The fallout for Herndon could be devastating if they don't handle
this well," he said.

Last year, the Minuteman group, a chapter of an Arizona-based national
organization that fights illegal immigration, began appearing at the 7-
Eleven. They photographed employers and workers and turned over the
evidence to state agencies as well as the Internal Revenue Service.

The Minutemen also have shown up at the new day-labor site, leading to
confrontations between supporters and opponents. George Taplin, leader of
the local Minuteman group, said the goal is to rid Herndon of illegal
immigrants.

Last summer, Herndon Town Hall was forced to unplug its phone lines after
listeners of a talk show on WMAL (630 AM) flooded the switchboard with
what officials said were hate calls against the day-labor site.

Town officials say it has operated smoothly since its contentious launch
in December. With milder spring weather, work has become more plentiful.
Bill Threlkeld of Project Hope and Harmony, which operates the center for
Reston Interfaith Inc., a nonprofit group that has received a grant from
Fairfax County, said recently that about half of the 100 or so workers who
come out in the morning find employment.

Reece said the national debate took over a local dispute. "The immigration
issue has become such an issue nationally that it affected the local
election," he said.

Reece said he could favor moving the center, but he said it will be
difficult: "I just don't want to see it closed. I don't want us to go back
to the unregulated, chaotic situation like we had before."

Staff writer Candace Rondeaux contributed to this report.

------

DeBenedittis Wins
Labor Site Supporters Out

By Leah M. Burfield Send Mail to Writer
Herndon Observer Staff Writer

Tears filled his eyes as Steve DeBenedittis learned he had been elected
mayor when the final counts were announced at 8:35 p.m. after a long day
of voting in the Town of Herndon.

More than 2,500 of Herndon's 10,203 registered voters, about 26 percent,
came to cast their ballots at the Herndon Community Center May 2. See the
results here.

Dennis Husch and Harlon Reece were the only two members of Town Council
who were re-elected. Also winning Town Council positions were Connie
Hutchinson, Bill Tirell, Dave Kirby and Charlie Waddell.

The election, which was widely cast as a referendum on the Town Council's
support for the official day labor site authorized last year, resulted in
a complete reversal of the board, with only one person who voted in favor
of the labor site, Harlon Reece, re-elected.

Dennis Husch, an incumbent Town Council member, voted against the day
labor site conditional use permit last year with Town Councilwoman Ann V.
Null, who did not run for re-election.

Less than two months after his campaign began, DeBenedittis won the
mayoral election with 1,363 votes to incumbent Michael L. O'Reilly's
1,233. "I feel great," he said. "I couldn't be more proud of the neighbors
and friends and everybody that helped us out and came together to work on
this.

"All the things that I promised people as we were going along with the
election will happen. I heard a lot of people saying they wanted a change
and I am sure that is what they came out for and they got it."

DeBenedittis said he wouldn't discuss what his first priority would be as
mayor, but he said the first step will be to get together with the winners
to find the best solutions possible.

"I couldn't be more proud of our team," he said. "We had a group of
friends and neighbors that care about the town and we got together and
accomplished what we were set out to do."

The highest vote-getter among the Town Council candidates was incumbent
Dennis Husch, who received 1,592 votes. If the new Town Council follows
tradition, the candidate who received the most votes in the election will
be named vice-mayor.

Connie Hutchinson received 1,532 votes, Bill Tirrell had 1,494, Dave Kirby
had 1,380, Charlie Waddell had 1,352 votes and J. Harlon Reece had 1,350.

"This is great," Hutchinson said. "I think that the first thing that we
have to do is get the winners together and have a little strategy session
to see where we go from here."

Having run for Town Council twice before, the third time was a charm for
Kirby. After the announcement of his win, Kirby's son ran around shouting
his father's victory.

"I feel wonderful, just great. Third time is a charm," Kirby said. "I
think some of that silent majority that was upset with the last council
came out and spoke. We now have a new council. Our three top priorities
are overcrowding, overcrowding, and overcrowding. After that, we have the
day labor situation, we have the taxes and spending in the budget, and
then the downtown redevelopment. Those are the four things that we have to
tackle first."

Winning candidates Waddell, Husch and Tirrell celebrated their victory at
Euro Bistro with DeBenedittis and his wife, Rosemary. 

"I didn't win, the Town of Herndon won. That is not trivia," Waddell said.
"The mood of the town has been one that they have wanted to change for a
while. We campaigned on issues that were relevant to the problems."

Husch proudly accepted the decision the community made. "It's a clear
decision and it's a complete decision," Husch said.

Tirrell, a current member of the Planning Commission and former Town
Council member, also felt good about his win. "I am very surprised quite
frankly that the slate, if you will, swept in. I'm grateful but
surprised," he said.

On the other side of town, tears and frustration filled JJ Deli at the
Herndon Centennial Golf Course as the incumbent candidates realized their
terms will end in June.

Incumbent Steve Mitchell received the seventh-highest number of votes at
1,271, while long-time Council member Carol Bruce was denied re-election
with 1,237 votes. Challenger Jorge Rochac received 1,215 votes. There were
four votes for Bob Rudine, who dropped out of the race in April.

Bruce has served eight terms on the board since she was first elected in
1988, she was the first woman to be elected to a second term on the
Council in 1990, she has served two terms as vice-mayor, and she became
the first woman mayor of the town in 2002, when she filled the remainder
of the term of Thomas D. Rust, who resigned to become a state delegate.

 O'Reilly said the town did "absolutely" the right thing in approving the
day labor site and on many other issues. "I wouldn't change a thing," he
said. "I spoke with Congressman Tom Davis, who said to me that it's better
to do the right thing and lose than do the wrong thing and win. I
appreciated those comments.

"I think there was a large number of people that came out and voted
strictly on the day worker site believing somehow that the town has the
ability to impact federal immigration policy. I'm just very disappointed."

O' Reilly said he felt there was a lot of misinformation out on the street
that caused a lot of people to vote in such a way that the town is going
to end up moving backward instead of forward. He said he was fearful for
what will happen to the many issues that he and the current council
intended to address. O'Reilly said he was very concerned for the town.

O'Reilly will finish his term at the end of June and he will continue
practicing law at his business.

Agreeing with O'Reilly, Mitchell said he understood that the voters had
spoken but he said the town had been kidnapped for a national agenda and
the town is paying the price. He did, however, wish the incoming council
all the best in getting back to local issues that are facing Herndon.

Clearly upset with the results, Reece said that he will not disrespect the
voters' choice. "I'll do everything I can to make it an effective
council," he said.

Bruce avoided the media after the election, but Rochac was not shy. "We
lost but we did not lose the town," Rochac said. "I don't think the new
members will be able to manage. Why? Because to manage a town like this,
you have to do it with your head, not with your liver and I don't think
they are capable of doing it with their brain."

Rochac, a long-time community volunteer, said he will continue to help the
town in any way that he can and plans on running for the next town
election.

"The election begins tomorrow," he said.

The final results are:

Mayor:
DeBenedittis - 1,363
O'Reilly - 1,233

Council:
Dennis Husch - 1,592
Connie Hutchinson - 1,532
Bill Tirrell - 1,494
Dave Kirby - 1,380
Charlie Waddell - 1,352
Harlon Reece - 1,350
Jorge Rochac - 1,215
Steve Mitchell - 1,271
Carol Bruce - 1,237
Bob Rudine - 4

------  end  ------


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Linda Muller - For The Cause
http://www.forthecause.us 
http://www.wehategringos.com
http://www.buchanan.org