 Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Arthur W. Sinclair appointed Hoofnagle to serve out the rest of Babson's term on December 10, 1969, and Hoofnagle took office in January 1970.Although Hoofnagle was a Democrat, his position as an employee of the Federal Government forbade him from holding partisan political office, so he renounced his party affiliation and became an independent.It was as an independent that Hoofnagle sought election to the office of Chairman in a special election held in November 1970.