Cville Dems – Page 32 – The Charlottesville Democratic Committee

Big Picture: Winning Locally Is NOT Enough

Posted on August 10, 2023

Republicans control the House of Delegates and the Governor’s mansion, and Dems barely hold the Senate; if Republicans take the Senate, then Virginia will become Florida, which means forced childbirth laws, schools teaching whitewashed history, “don’t-say-gay” laws, and other measures to erase LGBTQ youth.

We can’t let this happen; all Dems need to help in some way. Here are four non-local races where our help can make a difference:

The state party’s political staff say that two must-win races are Senate District 17 (Delegate Clint Jenkins looking to move up) and Senate District 24 (incumbent Senator Monty Mason running in a redrawn district). These races aren’t in the neighborhood, but if you can send a few bucks, it can help us retain the Senate!

In not-too-distant HD-57, Western Henrico/Eastern Goochland, Charlottesville native Susanna Gibson is running in a no-incumbent, competitive district; we need to win this seat to have a chance at a House of Delegates Democratic majority. January 6 insurrectionist John McGuire represented about 55% of current HD57 voters in the old HD56, so we have MAGA voters to beat!

Lily Franklin is running for the HD-41 seat, around Blacksburg. Charlottesville Dems know her well from her excellent work on the Josh Throneburg campaign, and she’s exactly the sort of person we need in the House! She’s in a right-leaning district, but we believe Lily has a fighting chance if we pull together. The “Turn Out the Vote Thursdays” group will be helping her campaign, possibly including a road trip to knock on doors there.

Whatever you choose to do, please do something to help the good guys hold the Senate and regain the House! Thank you!

2016 headshot photo of Tom Garrett wearing a checkered dress shirt and holding a microphone And re: bad guys (elections matter!): our former 5th District Representative, Republican Tom Garrett, now running unopposed for VA House of Delegates District 56, was back in the news yesterday re: his bitter divorce proceedings with allegations of spousal abuse, attempted suicide, and thoughts of having his chief of staff killed.

Successful “Summer Fun in the Sun” Picnic with the Albemarle Dems (7/30/23)

Posted on August 10, 2023

photo of people sitting at picnic tables listening to speeches 75 people turned out on July 30 and did have a lot of fun… and got to hear good, short speeches from most of our local candidates!

The Albemarle Dems were super well-organized and had everything running smoothly and brought plenty of good food; thank you Karen Combs and crew!

John McLaren coordinated getting gas grills (thanks to Rodney Beard and Jules Tatum for providing the equipment and transportation) and Martha Donnelly (game buyer extraordinaire), Emily Little, and Dan Doernberg organized the games, with cornhole provided by Josh Throneburg and Jason and Tom Vandever.

Erin Monaghan took the games and miscellaneous other things to our storage locker for the next picnic (everyone said we should do this again, and hold more joint events with Albemarle!).

photo of Creigh Deeds speaking and holding a microphone wearing informal shirt and slacks

Creigh Deeds

Photo of Amy Laufer wearing a white blouse and blue skirt and sunglasses at the picnic

Amy Laufer

Albemarle County Board of Education candidate Allison Spillman wearing her campaign t-shirt at her booth under a tent — Allison Spillman

Photo of Lloyd Snook, Sheila Haughey, and Madison Cummings at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic 20230730 — Lloyd Snook, Sheila Haughey, and Madison Cummings

Dems standing in the food line at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic 20230730 — The food line

Photo of grill cooks Lewis Combs and Rodney Beard making meat and plant-based hamburgers at the 20230730 picnic — Grill cooks Lewis Combs and Rodney Beard

Photo of Tom Vandever and Brian Pinkston at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic 20230730 — Tom Vandever and Brian Pinkston

Photo of Karen Combs wearing a blue "Get Vocal Vote Local" T-shirt at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic 20230730 — Karen Combs

Photo of Carrson Everett wearing sunglasses and a blue "Get Vocal Vote Local" T-shirt at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic 20230730 — Carrson Everett

Photo of Dems at the at the Albemarle+Cville Dems Picnic sitting around before the speeches began

Recent Cartoons by Clay Jones

Posted on August 10, 2023

1-panel cartoon showing a young black man walking down the street carrying a black folding chair. A terrified white woman around the corner behind him makes a cell phone call saying "Police? Hurry! There's a black man with a folding chair!"

Sunday 7/30: Albemarle & Cville Dems Summer Picnic!

Posted on July 20, 2023

Cville Dems round blue and white logo with Albemarle Dems stylized donkey logo

Cartoon showing a family sitting at a picnic table

Come have fun and meet all our November candidates!

Date & Time: Sunday, July 30, 2pm-?? (original 6/26 was rained out)

Where: Darden Towe Park Picnic Shelter — Enter the Park, turn right at the T intersection, take the road to the end to reach the picnic shelter and Dog Park).

We provide: Hotdogs/Burgers/Vegan food options + games for adults and kids (we’re bringing cornhole, balls for soccer/kickball, bocce/petanque, and bubbles for little ones; feel free to bring more of the above or your own favorite picnic games/activities!).

You bring: Non-alcoholic beverages, a side dish or dessert, 1 chair per person, family and friends (kid-friendly!), and your Democratic Spirit!

Food, games, meet candidates, and lots of Dems… what’s not to like? Bring family and friends (especially those who aren’t as politically engaged!) and help spread the word!

RSVPs (optional but helpful) to: karencombs6522@gmail.com

8/2 Executive Committee Meeting (Wednesday, not Monday!)

Posted on July 20, 2023

Six cartoonish (faceless) people sitting around a meeting table

Due to scheduling conflicts, we won’t have our regularly scheduled July 24 Full Committee meeting; instead, there’ll be an Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 6:30pm at Rives Park. The agenda includes:

plans for this year’s “Turn Out the Vote” (Thursdays at Ix Art Park, see below)
Summer Bash and Summer Picnic wrap-ups
discussion of Primary results

If you have any topics to add to the agenda, please let John know: cvilledemschair@gmail.com

“Turn-Out-the-Vote Thursdays” Resumes 8/10!

Posted on July 20, 2023

Poster using a wide variety of different letter and background colors used with the words "Turn out the Vote Thursdays phone bank grab a bite at a food truck write postcards to voters" Turn-Out-the-Vote Thursdays will resume on Thursday, August 10, 4-7pm, on the grass at Ix Art Park. It’s a friendly group, with plenty of time to chat and catch up while we work, and we’ve added the extra hour (4pm start) to accommodate as many people’s schedules as possible.

Mary Ann Harris, Nancy Damon, Suzanne Michels, Noemi Paz, and John Shepherd have been planning goals and volunteer opportunities for November’s election (less than four months away!).

As in the previous election cycles, the group will be:

Writing postcards and making follow-up phone calls to the newly Charlottesville registered voters signed up by our Voter Registration Team. That combination has been very successful, resulting in voting at an 80% rate in 2020 and 2022, and at a 75% rate in 2021.
Distributing “walk sheet” name and address lists of Dem-leaning people for our campaign canvassers to visit.
Sending some specific issue-message postcards (a new idea we’re considering).
Writing postcards and phoning Albemarle residents we’ve registered.
Writing postcards and phoning for campaigns near Charlottesville; we really want to win control of the House of Delegates and hold the Senate!
Perhaps organizing a canvassing trip or two!

Consider one or more of these options and hopefully join in on whichever one(s) sound good to you!

Please contact Mary Ann Harris with any questions: harrisma49@gmail.com

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