Lynchburg, VA - Liberty University (web) students are getting a lot of credit for swinging the 23rd District Delegate's race to Dr. Scott Garrett, but It could be those who did not vote that cost Delegate Shannon Valentine another term. The registrar says that ward typically votes heavily Democratic. Were told they did this time too, except not as many people voted. The average voter turnout across the city was 44%, but in Ward 2 it was only 29%, and many of those who didn't vote likely would've gone Valentine's way.

Rev. James Coleman says you can't blame Valentine's loss on Ward II.

Rev James Coleman, V.P. of Lynchburg Voters League - "In perspective all of the wards were down."

The Vice President of the Lynchburg Voters League, which aims to engage people in the political process, particularly minorities, says voters in the largely-minority Ward Two weren't motivated by the top of the Democratic ticket.

Coleman - "Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Doug Wilder... I think created excitement. Creigh Deeds did not have that kind of connection with our voters."

Which he says drove fewer people in this part of the city to the polls. But 82% of those who did, gave Delegate Valentine their vote. Less than half the voters from Ward II who supported Barack Obama (web | news | bio) last November, came out to the polls for Valentine. Voters like Kenny Herbert.

Kenny Herbert, Ward II Voter - "I was more excited last year because it's history being made, and he's African-American, and I like him."

Coleman - "The Obama Phenomenon is both a positive and a negative. Everyone was excited about that. But in an off-year election, it's very difficult to get people interested."

Moving forward, Coleman says the voters league needs to interest voters by showing how candidates will directly impact their lives.

Coleman - "People are driven by issues. 'What is important to me, and how this election connected to that?' That type of connection didn't take place this time."

We spoke to several other Ward 2 voters who would not talk on camera, but voted last year and not this year. One says he didn't get excited about this election, and another says she couldn't pull herself away from work.

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