Today's Sponsor: Richard Martin

VaNews Nov. 5, 2019
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Today's Sponsor:


** Richard Martin
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Editor of Virginia Town Crier ([link removed])

Read Online ([link removed]) 10 Most Clicked ([link removed])


** FROM VPAP
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** VISUALIZATION: PROFILE OF 2019 ABSENTEE VOTERS ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

VPAP takes a closer look at the 122,000 voters who cast absentee ballots through Sunday. Nearly 6 of out of 10 are 61 years or older. More than one-quarter were voting absentee for the first time. The #1 reason cited: work or travel conflicts.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** PIVOTAL ELECTIONS WILL DECIDE CONTROL OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SET STAGE FOR PRESIDENTIAL RACE ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER AND LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Voters go to the polls Tuesday for Virginia’s most consequential legislative elections in a generation, with control of state government at stake and the results marking an early skirmish in next year’s presidential contest. An unprecedented flood of money has boosted many General Assembly races to the spending level of congressional contests.


** VIRGINIA VOTERS CAST BALLOTS IN MARQUEE LEGISLATIVE CONTEST ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Virginians are deciding Tuesday which party should control the statehouse in a widely watched contest that will test how voters feel about President Donald Trump and his possible impeachment.


** VIRGINIA’S LEGISLATURE IS UP FOR GRABS. IT’S A REFERENDUM ON TRUMP. ([link removed])
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By TRIP GABRIEL, New York Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Renae Erskine hates how disrespectful late-night comedians, the media and congressional Democrats are toward President Trump. As a Trump supporter, she feels elites are disrespecting her, too. “We tolerated their choice, why can’t they tolerate ours?” she demanded. Ms. Erskine, a medical assistant in this Richmond suburb, feels doubly motivated to vote in Virginia’s off-year elections on Tuesday. “I want to keep Republicans in office and I want to keep Trump in office,” she said.


** CRITICAL VIRGINIA ELECTIONS SPREAD VOLUNTEERS ACROSS SWING DISTRICTS ([link removed])
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By HANNAH SCHUSTER, WAMU

Annette Lang is a 30-year resident of Arlington, Virginia, a solidly blue suburb of Washington, D.C. But on this recent October Sunday, she’s knocking on doors an hour away, in the suburbs of Loudoun County for Democrat Wendy Gooditis, who’s in a tight rematch election against the same Republican she ousted from this seat two years ago.


** GUN CONTROL ACTIVISTS BANK ON RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS TO FUEL A DEMOCRATIC WIN IN VIRGINIA ([link removed])
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By STEPHEN DINAN, Washington Times

Gun control activists believe the spate of high-profile mass shootings this summer shifted the political ground on the issue, and they will get their first chance to prove it Tuesday in Virginia, where voters are told it’s the top issue in the battle for control of the state’s General Assembly. Advocates have poured millions of dollars into the state. The majority of funding in support of gun control came from billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg, who was trying to forge a Democratic victory that he and fellow activists believe will clear the way for more gun restrictions.


** NORTHAM, OTHER LEADING VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS GATHER TO RALLY IN HAMPTON AHEAD OF ELECTIONS ([link removed])
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By JOSH REYES, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Democrats from various levels of government expressed confidence for another blue wave on Election Day at a voter rally in Hampton Sunday, but they are not planning to coast in the final days before Virginians cast votes on every single seat in the General Assembly. Channeling a sports analogy in the Boo Williams Sportsplex, Gov. Ralph Northam said this election was the party’s opportunity to get back on offense and stop playing so much defense.


** SANDERS CAMPAIGNS FOR DEMOCRATS IN MANASSAS VISIT ([link removed])
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By EMILY SIDES, Inside NOVA

A packed crowd at Jirani Coffeehouse in Manassas heard from Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the leading candidates in the Democratic presidential primary, as he encouraged support for Democrats on the ballot in Virginia's state and local elections Tuesday. Sanders said if elected as president, he would advocate for Medicare for all and to raise the minimum wage to $15.


** ANDREW YANG WARNS VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS THAT REMOVING TRUMP WON’T SOLVE FAR-REACHING PROBLEMS ([link removed])
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By DAVID SHERFINSKI, Washington Times

Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang on Monday brought his high-tech sensibility to a college campus in Northern Virginia, warning a crowd of supporters about the dangers posed by automation and urging them to get to the polls in legislative elections in the commonwealth Tuesday.


** WINNING THE NIGHTMARE-COMMUTE VOTE ([link removed])
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By EMILY BADGER, New York Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

If Democrats take control of the Virginia state legislature on Tuesday, they will hold unified power in this Southern state for the first time in a generation. They will have a chance to enact stricter gun laws, to expand L.G.B.T.Q. rights, to raise the state’s minimum wage. And they will preside over the next redistricting that will shape political power in Virginia for a decade. Yet out here on the western edge of the Washington suburbs that have steadily turned the state blue, this election has been primarily and bitterly about traffic.


** POLITICAL GROUPS AND CANDIDATES BLANKET VIRGINIA WITH FACEBOOK ADS ([link removed])
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By HANNAH EASON, VCU Capital News Service

You might call it the Facebook Election. Many voters are “cutting the cord” from cable TV, and candidates and political organizations are turning to Facebook to attract Virginia voters in Tuesday’s legislative and local elections. Between July 1 and Oct. 25, Facebook users in Virginia were bombarded with about $6 million in political advertising, according to the social media company.


** FIVE OF SIX LOCAL ELECTIONS FEATURE FEMALE CANDIDATES ([link removed])
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By JESSICA WETZLER, Daily News Record (Subscription Required)

The last time a woman represented Rockingham County in the General Assembly was in 1987, when Republican Phoebe Orebaugh defeated Democrat Paul Cline in a race for what is now the 26th House of Delegates District. But in today’s election, five out of the six House and Senate Districts representing Rockingham County have a female candidate


** NORTHERN VIRGINIA RACES WILL BE KEY IN DECIDING GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTROL ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Inside NOVA

Several key legislative races in Northern Virginia will help determine control of the Virginia General Assembly for the next two years, particularly in the outlying suburbs of Loudoun and Prince William counties. ... In the Senate, the biggest Northern Virginia race to watch Tuesday is the 13th District, which consists of portions of Loudoun and Prince William counties. The seat currently is held by conservative Republican Dick Black, who is retiring.


** FREDERICKSBURG VOTERS CHOOSING LOCAL OFFICIALS, STATE LEGISLATORS IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION ([link removed])
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By JAMES SCOTT BARON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Voters in the Fredericksburg region will go to the polls today to select local officials and their representatives in Richmond. ... Among the hotly contested races that could determine which party controls the House is the 28th District contest, in which Democrat Josh Cole faces Republican Paul Milde to represent parts of Fredericksburg and Stafford County.


** COURT DOCUMENTS: INJUNCTION SOUGHT FOR SOME ABSENTEE BALLOTS CAST IN BUCHANAN COUNTY ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, WJHL

The Buchanan County Republican Committee is asking for an injunction involving certain absentee ballot’s cast for Tuesday’s general election. The request for injunction was filed in the Buchanan County Circuit on November 1 by the Buchanan County Republic Committee and Marcy Hernick, the committee’s vice chairwoman, against the Buchanan County Electoral Board and Vicki Clevinger as the county’s general registrar.


** A TIP FOR ELECTION DAY: LOOK UP YOUR BALLOT ([link removed])
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By MALLORY NOE-PAYNE, WVTF

Virginians head to the polls Tuesday, but many may not recognize the names on their ballot. That’s because hundreds of thousands of voters are in a new district this year.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** VIRGINIA'S MEDICAID COSTS DOWN $212M THIS YEAR WITH EXPANSION, BUT PROJECTED TO RISE $674M IN 2-YEAR BUDGET ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid program helped lower the state’s costs by $212 million in the current fiscal year that began July 1, but the program’s expenses are expected to rise about $675 million in the next two-year budget that Gov. Ralph Northam will propose on Dec. 17.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** PORT EXPANSIONS ANTICIPATED TO BRING MORE JOBS, BUSINESS TO STATE ([link removed])
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By IAN MUNRO, Daily News Record (Subscription Required)

In October, the Port of Virginia finalized the contract for a $350 million dredging project, which, when completed, will make Norfolk Harbor the deepest on the East Coast of the United States, according to the Port of Virginia. The dredging will help increase the amount of cargo ships that can enter the port, while work can also make the harbor more efficient by allowing two ships to move side by side


** DOMINION’S SMART METERS ARE COMING. IF YOU WANT TO OPT OUT, IT COULD COST YOU. ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Dominion Energy wants to soup up the electric meters it uses to bill its customers — but if customers want to opt out, it could cost them extra. The electric monopoly wants to update some 2.1 million meters across the state as part of its multi-billion-dollar grid modernization plan, saying the improved “smart” devices will allow customers to better manage their power use — and electric bills.


** SMITHFIELD TO LEAVE NEWPORT NEWS WAREHOUSE, AFFECTING 39 WORKERS ([link removed])
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By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Smithfield Foods will close its distribution center in Newport News on Dec. 31 as it aims to streamline the path its products take from farms to shoppers, affecting 39 workers there. The company said it decided not to renew its lease at 121 Harwood Drive, and the closure was “part of broader plan to optimize the company’s national distribution network.”


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** COLLEGE WORKERS ADVOCATE FOR LIVING WAGE BY UNIONIZING ([link removed])
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By ETHAN BROWN, Flat Hat

Friday, Nov. 1, student organizers at the College of William and Mary gathered on the Sunken Garden to rally on behalf of the newly established William & Mary Workers’ Union. Undergraduate and graduate students spoke about the importance of establishing a union for College workers to a crowd of around 30 individuals. The crowd grew during the event, as some custodial workers, professors and supportive parties who were not employed by the College joined the rally.


** FINANCIAL AID CHANGES IN VIRGINIA ([link removed])
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By MADELINE ST. AMOUR, Inside Higher Ed

After nearly 15 years without changes, Virginia went back to the drawing board on its financial aid allocations. Those involved believe the changes will make aid allocations more equitable and help today's students.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** COURTHOUSE FRACAS FOLLOWS PIPELINE PROTESTER'S MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONVICTION ([link removed])
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By MIKE GANGLOFF, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

A Mountain Valley Pipeline protester was convicted Monday of assaulting two construction workers — and minutes after the hearing, another pipeline opponent was lying face-down and handcuffed in a Montgomery County Courthouse hallway after an altercation with a state police officer.


** LOCAL
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** FAIRFAX COUNTY VOTERS TO CHOOSE NEW BOARD CHAIR IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Inside NOVA

Fairfax County voters will be choosing a new chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Virginia’s largest county in Tuesday’s election. Running to succeed Bulova are Democrat Jeff McKay, the Lee District Supervisor since 2007, and Republican Joseph F. Galdo. According to finance reports tracked by the Virginia Public Access Project, McKay has raised over $760,000 for his campaign, while Galdo has raised just $14,000.


** CRITICS CALL FOR CHANGE TO HOW RICHMOND AWARDS SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Some Richmond City Council and School Board members want the city to change its procurement methods after a report highlighting how much Richmond is spending to build three schools. The Richmond Times-Dispatch published a story Sunday detailing how Richmond is spending $71 million to build two elementary schools while neighboring Chesterfield County is building three elementary schools for about $75 million.


** HOW THE CHESTERFIELD REGISTRAR IS CORRECTING LAST YEAR’S ELECTION DAY ISSUES ([link removed])
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By BRENDAN KING, WTVR

A county mired in Election Day issues last year is prepared for a large voter turnout on Tuesday, according to the Chesterfield registrar. In 2018, some Chesterfield voters saw long lines while others were given wrong ballots.


** WHAT’S ON THE AREA’S TUESDAY BALLOT? ([link removed])
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By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 5 free articles a month)

Tuesday in Election Day in Virginia, and area ballots will include a mix of both state and local candidates. ... The race that has gotten the most attention is a constitutional-officer race in Petersburg, where all five candidates are running as write-ins for Clerk of the Circuit Court because no one met the deadlines to have their names printed on the November ballot.


** SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA VOTERS WILL DECIDE LARGE SLATE OF RACES ON ELECTION DAY ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

It’s Election Day across Southwest Virginia, and while some voters will be looking at a simple ballot with just a few choices, others — particularly in Washington County — will decide multiple contested races, a plethora of candidates and an important referendum.

Today's Sponsor:


** Richard Martin
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Editor of Virginia Town Crier ([link removed])


** EDITORIALS
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** BIG CHOICES AT THE POLLS FOR REGION, VIRGINIA ([link removed])
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Daily Press Editorial (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

OK, Hampton Roads. Today’s the day. Let’s prove the conventional wisdom wrong. Let’s turn out in large numbers to exercise our American privilege of voting in free and fair elections. Your vote really can make a difference.


** TIME TO VOTE…AGAIN ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

If it's November, there’s an election in Virginia. The commonwealth is one of only two states (the other one is New Jersey) that hold what are called off-off-year general elections, with only state legislative and local races on the ballot. This is one of those years. The benefit of having off-off-year elections in Virginia is that the focus is solely on candidates for the General Assembly and local offices, who otherwise would be lost in the shuffle in gubernatorial, congressional or presidential election years. This is a good thing,


** COLUMNISTS
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** DVORAK: ONE VOTE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING, VIRGINIA ([link removed])
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By PETULA DVORAK, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Okay, Virginia. No one should know better than y’all that every vote matters. Raunak Daga knows this. He was floored when he heard about the bonkers election that happened two years ago, when he was just 14, when Virginia showed the world that the democratic process can come down to the luck of the draw.


** OP-ED
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** DAY: FROM GOOD TO BAD IF LEFT UNCONTROLLED ([link removed])
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By CHRISTOPHER M. DAY, Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Prescription pharmaceuticals have the ability to change and even save people’s lives by providing the body with the correct balance of chemicals to do anything from fighting illnesses, to balancing hormones, to managing blood pressure and so much more. The research and development and rigorous standards that these drugs go through ensure that they are well-regulated, safe and sterile before they reach the end consumer. Compounded drugs, however, don’t face such strict scrutiny

Christopher M. Day is a trial attorney in Northern Virginia. He was an assistant attorney general in the commonwealth for four years


** PEPPERS: IS IT TIME TO TELEVISE EXECUTIONS IN VIRGINIA? ([link removed])
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By TODD C. PEPPERS, Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

In September , four media outlets — including the Richmond Times-Dispatch — filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging the Virginia Department of Corrections’ execution protocols.

Todd C. Peppers is a professor at Roanoke College and the co-author of two books on the death penalty.
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