VA-04 will be holding an unassembled caucus on Tuesday, December 20 and is looking for volunteers to help run the Firehouse Primary.
REPORT: 11/28 Executive Committee Meeting
There are important discussions going on about where how we vote in the city that will impact a large fraction of the city’s voters in 2023 and thereafter.
Precinct Redistricting
City of Charlottesville Registrar Taylor Yowell and Electoral Board member Ann Hemenway shared the City’s draft proposal for reformatting Charlottesville’s precincts with the goals of evening out the number of voters in each precinct and increasing functionality, i.e. walkability, parking, etc. Around 40% of city voters would be in a new precinct. Alumni Hall (high-traffic accessibility problems) and Tonsler (inadequate space and parking) precincts would be replaced by Charlottesville High School and Jackson-Via.
Update on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
Delegate Sally Hudson explained that, due to electronic voting equipment limitations, City Council won’t have the ability to use RCV in the 6/2023 primary, but could authorize its use starting as soon as the 11/2023 general election. Sally asked the Executive Committee to consider having the Full Committee pass a resolution telling City Council whether we support or oppose an ordinance authorizing RCV for City Council elections.
It’s likely that the Cville Dems will need to have additional meetings and/or communications re: RCV and regarding the process of nominating candidates soon.
Sally shared a document with some of her perspectives on RCV:
Reflections on the November General Election
Josh Throneburg reported that he and his team are doing an after-election report to analyze what worked well and what didn’t; Josh is committed to staying involved to try to build in all of those areas for the future.
The campaign’s budget was much smaller than it had been for the previous two Democratic campaigns in the district, and so the campaign couldn’t reach as many voters as it needed to. Josh also indicated that the party needs to build up its infrastructure if we want to have success in the Fifth; some counties barely have a functioning Democratic committee, and the party’s network in rural areas is weak. His team is creating some briefing materials and other infrastructure so our next 5th District candidate won’t have to start from ground zero as his campaign did.
[As co-chairs Dashad and John previously posted on social media a million “thank yous” to Josh Throneburg, his staff, his family, volunteers & donors. We didn’t win, but we put out a positive message of Democratic values, compassion, and common sense. Josh has our party’s gratitude and great respect, and we salute him for leading our good fight!]
Post-Election Day Polling Place Update
Electoral Board member Jim Nix reported that 53% of active voters voted in the past election, only down 3% from last year’s gubernatorial race. The new electronic poll books worked very well. Same-day registration/voting on election day was a major change this year: 950 provisional ballots were cast (901 were certified and counted), nearly all were done on election day itself and, as expected, most were from students. This was even more provisional ballots than expected and led to a lot of stress on Carver and Venable poll workers, issues that will be addressed.
Aaron Rouse in Special Election for VA 07
Aaron Rouse, former Virginia Beach City Councilman (and Virginia Tech and NFL football player) is running for Virginia State Senate District 07.
You can find out more about this excellent candidate, and support him, at https://rouseforsenate.com
RIP Rep. Donald McEachin
Richmond’s very highly-regarded and well-liked House of Representatives member Donald McEachin passed away on Monday 11/28.The Richmond Times Dispatch ran this remembrance.
Our sympathies to his family and friends.
Storage Lockers: They Take a Village
A group of dedicated Dems took some time after the election to clear out our storage unit! Masses of accumulated lawn signs (the wire frames that hold up lawn signs cost campaigns about three dollars each, so we have them available for the next campaign), campaign materials, office equipment, and…. stuff… were sorted, organized, and recycled or donated (e.g. a box of old campaign materials to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society). Now we’re ready for 2023!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this magic happen: Bekah Saxon, Dashad Cooper, John McLaren, Mary Ann and Mark Harris, Mary Jane Gore, Nancy Damon, and Suzanne Michels.
Note: local politics is fun and rewarding, but not (always) as glamorous as people think. 😜
Tough Night for VA05
We’d like to extend a million “thank yous” to Josh Throneburg, his campaign staff, his family, and the army of volunteers and donors who supported him. We didn’t win last night, but we succeeded in putting out a positive message of Democratic values, compassion, and common sense. Josh deserves our gratitude and respect for going out on a limb and fighting for all the people of VA5; we can all hold our heads high.
We also congratulate Bob Good on his victory, and call on him to represent all voters in the district, including those who didn’t vote for him.
We’re hoping for good news on the national front. In the meantime, let’s rest up and prepare ourselves for the next election!
— Dashad Cooper and John McLaren, Cville Dems co-chairs
