By Bobbi Bowman, The McLean Ear

MCLEAN, VA – The Republican elite gathered in a McLean mansion Tuesday night to raise thousands of dollars for Del. Barbara Comstock who represents a Virginia House district stretching from McLean to Loudoun County.

The McLean Ear had intended to tell you about the party, headlined by Gov. Robert McDonell, from inside the $2.8 million home. The Ear received several invitations by email from Del. Comstock. When we arrived, we were immediately and brusquely ordered to leave. Our evictor: Bill Nelson,who said he was Comstock’s fund-raiser. He curtly escorted us down the circular driveway at the direction of Elise Marsh, Comstock’s legislative assistant.

Here’s the report from the driveway:

What: The fundraiser was billed as: A Reception for Business Leaders. Price of the tickets: Benefactor: $5,000. Hosts: $2,500. Co-Hosts  $1,000. Patron:  $500.  Sponsor:  $250. Individual Tickets: $150 per person.

The governor came to McLean for a fundraiser for a candidate who has not announced her reelection plans for an election that is more than a year away.

Comstock, who is very well-connected politically and a former director of public affairs for former Attorney General John Ashcroft, was elected to the 34th District* delegate seat in 2009. Republican Vince Callahan held this seat for  39 years.  Democrat Margaret Vanderhye won the seat in 2007, when Callahan retired. Comstock put it back in the Republican column last year beating Vanderhye by slightly more than 300 votes in a costly campaign. The 34th is now considered a swing district.

Where: 1310 Ballantrae Farm Drive. Home of George and Angela Shafran. He is a financial consultant. The lively party flowed out of the 9,000 square foot home into an adjoining patio. The house itself: built in 1984 and assessed for $2.8 million according to Fairfax County tax records. Two-story brick with four bedrooms, four baths, four fireplaces. Swimming pool.

Their neighbors include former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Former presidential candidate Fred Thompson. J. Marshall Coleman, former Virginia attorney general and unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor. Ranvir Trehan, who made a fortune in IT (who was giving a party at his home next door.) Angelina Georgelas, widow of McLean custom builder John George Georgelas. She was on the fund-raiser guest list.

Who: Benefactors. $5,000 each: George P. Shafran,  former Virginia delegate, 9th district. On board of Cardinal Financial Management and financial consultant.

Gary Nakamoto, Vice Chairman/CEO of Base Technologies, Inc., a professional services firm that specializes in technology, outsourcing, partnerships and consulting.

David N. Bossie,  president of Citizens United and Citizens United Productions which made the feature film Hillary: The Movie which was at the center of a landmark Supreme Court case.

Hosts: $2,500 each: Ted Olson, former Solicitor General who recently won the court case supporting gay marriage in California.

Fred Malek, co-chaired John McCain’s 2008 finance committee. Served in the administrations of Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. Recently appointed by Gov. McDonnell to head a government reform committee.

Kevin Fay, who has served on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board as the Dranesville District representative since January, 2003. President of Alcalde & Fay, a government and public affairs firm, considered one of the largest independent lobbying and communications firms in the Washington area.

Alex Castellanos. Republican media consultant who specializes in TV advertising.

Co-hosts: $1,000 each. Altria, Capital One, Dominion, NVTC TechPAC, Northern Virginia Realtors PAC, SAIC.

Ed Gillespie, Republican political strategist and counselor to Pres. George W. Bush.

Peter Fitzgerald, former Illinois senator and CEO of Chain Bridge Bank.

Bobbie Kilberg, President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), a position she has held since September 1998. NVTC is the largest technology council in the nation.

Herman and Betty Oberymayer, former journalist. Board member Jewish Policy Center.

Patrons: Virginia Bankers, Reed Smith, LLP, Virginia Coal Association, Intuit,Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, HCA for Good Government     Washington Gas PAC, Verizon, Hunton & Williams (extremely well-connected Virginia law firm.)

Sponsors: Stuart Mendelsohn, lawyer and former Dranesville Supervisor to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

*The 34th District stretches from the Arlington County line through McLean and Great Falls  northward to Loudoun County and from the Potomac River to generally Route 7. Each of the 100 Virginia delegates represents about 70,000 people.