November 8, 2007

A 16-year incumbent voted out of office speaks out about his loss. Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos held a news conference in Court Square Thursday morning.

On the steps of the Albemarle County Courthouse, Jim Camblos explained to the media why he lost his election. He simply stated it was a bad year to be a Republican.

Just a few days ago Jim Camblos was asking for your vote, now he's figuring out what he'll do next.

“I feel that I'm still a young man I still got lots of years left where I want to work and serve the public and be a productive member of society and I'm going to go out there and find myself a job,” said Camblos.

He praised Denise Lunsford's political party for working hard to get the people to vote. But in the end he says things he had no control over on the national level, like the approval of President Bush and the Iraq War, hit close to home helping him to lose his election.

When asked if he lost to the democrats or Denise Lunsford, Camblos responed “the Democrats.”

He wouldn't comment on whether he thought the Republican Party failed him, but he did comment on the political tactics of his opponent.

“I put a lot of hard work into it. I was positive in how I did it. I was looking to the future in how I did it, I was looking to the best interest of the county in how I did it and that doesn't always prevail,” Camblos said.

He says he ran his office much like his campaign, positively and he's always kept the best interest of the people in mind. Something he says he will continue to do even as he moves out and Lunsford moves in.

“I care about the county and I care about the people in it and I will do whatever she wants to try to make it as easy as possible.”

Lunsford spoke to CBS19 Wednesday and said she was surprised by the results.