News
Help Wanted: Co-Chair
Highlights of the Executive Committee 2/27 Meeting
- Our party must collect the paperwork from all primary candidates between March 20 and April 6, and immediately afterwards verify the petition signatures to get each candidate on the ballot. It’s fun, and much quicker, as a group project; please email cvilledemschair@gmail.com for information if you might be able to pitch in a few hours.
- We’d like to organize some candidate forums in April, possibly in collaboration with the Albemarle Democrats. Details will be announced when they’re worked out.
- Nancy Damon updated us on the upcoming annual dinner fundraiser, tentatively scheduled for Friday June 2 (see below). Thanks to Nancy and the committee for doing all the planning!
- We want to increase our efforts at community engagement to get more people (and more diversity!) in our membership. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining this effort, please contact cvilledemschair@gmail.com.
- We’ve formalized some policies and procedures for covering the primary candidates, so we can pass on information to our members without showing favoritism to any candidate.
- Kate Vasiloff, a local activist working with Compassion and Choices to expand end-of-life options, briefed us on a proposed bill that would allow for assisted suicide in very narrowly prescribed cases of incurable terminal illnesses. In past years, the General Assembly hasn’t passed similar bills, despite large majority support from both Democratic and Republican voters. The Charlottesville Democrats have not taken any position on this issue. If you’d like to learn more, or to participate in this effort, you can contact Kate: kate@untoldresearch.com
- Erin Monaghan gave 5th District and DPVA reports (see below).
2023 General Assembly Spring Session Ends
The spring Virginia legislative session is over, with plenty of sturm und drang but no budget thanks to Gov. Youngkin’s political posturing around tax cuts. One sample headline: “Va. General Assembly ends session with no budget deal, leaving money unspent“). Nathan Alderman and the Albemarle Dems do a great job covering the nuts and bolts of what’s going on in Richmond, we’re waiting to see his latest recap here.
Jennifer McClellan Rolls in 2/21 Special Election
Congratulations to Jennifer for winning the special election (with 75% of the vote!) to serve the unfinished US House of Representatives term of the late Rep. Donald McEachin, thus becoming the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. Next up: a 3/28 special election to replace her!
Charlottesville’s (DRAFT) Zoning Plan Revision
- Wed. Feb. 22, 6:00-8:30pm — Charlottesville High School cafeteria, 1400 Melbourne
- Thurs. Feb. 23, 6:00-8:30pm — Buford Middle School cafeteria, 1000 Cherry Ave.
- Sat. Feb. 25, 11am to 1:30pm — CitySpace, 100 5th St. NW (Downtown Mall)