To my very dear friends and allies: By the time polls closed Tuesday, I had felt so much positive energy from voters that I was honestly surprised when the numbers just didn’t add up. But while I will always feel a sadness for what might have been, I feel nothing but pride for what our campaign actually accomplished. In just a few months, in which campaign volunteers fought through inexperience and limited resources, we found a voice that had been missing in Fairfax politics for too long. We spoke to voters who’d felt disillusioned, inspiring them to trust politics again. And through it all, we caught the public’s attention, with a powerful message of responsible planning and open government. We were the government many voters wanted. I believe both campaigns should feel pride in how many voters came to the polls Tuesday. The participation by more than 4,300 voters in a Democratic primary blew away all previous records in Providence District. Even on the losing side, many have told me they felt profoundly empowered by how many voters we had touched. I don’t know what will come next, but I know the public's hunger for full citizen involvement in our county's future was a mighty force on Tuesday, and it will be a mightier force in the future. I look forward to continuing our journey together. Thanks again, and best regards, Charlie