First City politics: I was chatting with a friend of mine who knew that I was in elected office and am Vice Mayor but that was about it. He is a regular reader of the Sherrif and other "PWC" blogs so he does have some depth. So, we're chatting about being in elected office, this and that when asks where my office is. I said, my office? It's over on West Street. He said, "no, your City office? The County Supervisors all have offices". I had to laugh. "No, no. We don't have any office or staff. The sum total of City resources available to me is an iPad – because it was cheaper than a laptop." About the only service that I get from the City that others don't is that they are kind enough to drop off all of my correspondance and agenda packets every Friday. No, it doesn't come in a fancy leather valet. It comes in a re-used envelope:
Note that the envelope was not mailed to me. The address sticker is put on top of the original address. Yes, that's my fancy pants delivery envelope. Kudos to the ladies in the Clerk's office for not wasting money on new envelopes!
It appears, no it doesn't appear, it's a fact that we're going to have a contest to fill Mr. Wolfe's congressional seat. Frank will be difficult to replace. He was a pretty conservative dude philosophically (0% ranking from NARAL) but capable of making pragmatic decisions when it came down to it. After 18 terms in office it is safe to say his constituents appreciated his approach to governance. I'm not NLS or Greg over at BVBL so I really don't have much nitty-gritty knowledge of the district as a whole but it would seem by the shape of his district that it leans republican although that swath through FFX and Loudon might be a problem. Frank was the perfect guy for this district – most of the conservatives found something in Frank to like and, by his victory margins, so did moderates on both sides of the aisle. Philosophically conservative but not crushed by an internal dogma that restricts meaningful debate on problems facing the country. Dick Black, who is somewhat bound by an internal dogma, is the only person I see talking about running so far. This will be interesting! Members of the General Assembly are, if memory serves, restricted from fund raising whilst the legislature is in session (although, in fairness, this is Virginia and that may or may not be an ehtical violation). If that's the case, it would seem to almost require members of the GA who want to run to give up their seats. I don't think any of them are well known enough to cede a 3 month lead to a challenger.
At the state level, it is the first time in umpteen years that we've not had a republican in statewide office. Our last slate has officially been wiped out. The only reason Obenshain didn't go down the drain with the other two was his long service to the state. Mr. Obenshain did the honorable thing – after vigorously contesting the outcome – and conceded the contest. I do appreciate his doing that. The republicans will either learn from this, adapt and put up some people interested in governance or wither into a ROVA party. Frankly, I don't feel like there's a ton of room for a guy like me in the Republican party of VA anymore. The party seems to have forgotten that its core mission is to provide effective and relevant leaders for whatever political subdivision they exist in. If you ain't doing that, you ain't relevant. Ask any of our GOP statewide electeds.
December 20, 2013 at 7:27 am
You are now expressing the sentiment that all independent voters who were once Republicans and all independent voter who were one Democrats express. If you declare yourself to be a member of a political party, you promise to support that party's candidate no matter what you believe. You forfeit your right to think for yourself.
Come on over to the independent side, the water is fine and the freedom of thought is refreshing.
Each time a party member leaves their party and declares themself to be an independent voter, it sends a message to that party that the party is losing its way.
December 20, 2013 at 9:19 am
Re: supporting a candidate no matter what you believe: That's the ideal but irl, rarely the case. The purists on each side will insist on that and routinely accuse the moderate members of their parties of abandoning them but the truth is that even members of a political party follow their heart. Last election in Manassas is a perfect example. There were those in both camps that had signs for independent candidates. I can think of half a dozen names off the top of my head who were at the Republican convention and had non-party candidate signs in their yards.
December 20, 2013 at 10:59 am
on our OUTSTANDING City Clerk's Office: yup, they find ways to maximize cost savings in simple ways. Simple things like recycling an envelope can lead to large savings – take paper clips as an example. Sentara Health System back in 2008 found that if you stapled documents together versus using paper clips, they save system-wide $2million. Who would have thought such a simple solution could lead to cost savings?
as for Independent vs. Party affiliation: I went to the last local Republican Convention because I was asked by three I respected. Key word that…respected. Of course, after one convention I also said "never again" and remain an Independent who votes for those who he respects. I have been told I am "Republican" because of my views on fiscal conservatism, but I always say yes if you go by the definition of such by Edmund Burke. Other than that, I have trouble with both major parties. Besides, Steve Randolph – former Democrat, former Republican, now Independent – succeeds as such because he is respected. Key word, that.
December 20, 2013 at 11:02 am
speaking of local politics, how did the joint meeting with our Senator and Delegate go?
December 26, 2013 at 9:20 am
Delegate Comstock is running, and Tareq Salahi (yes, that Tereq Salahi).
January 1, 2014 at 11:19 am
According to The Manassas Democrat (1-8-1914), highlights of the
first Town Council meeting of 1914 were approving a contract with
the R.D. Cole Co. of Newman, Ga. to build an 80,000 gallon water tower
-cost $4,575- and the passing of a resolution making it a misdemeanor
to place, in any manner, any sort of poster or advertising on any telephone
or light post in the corporate limits.
(Now,a hundred years later, the city is looking at
taking down the now obsolete water tower.
And, a century past, we still face the problem
of illegal signs placed on utility poles. )
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Ray, Thank you for your kind observations.
Note that while I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats
for various offices through the years, I've always ran as an Independent.