Kilo has a couple posts (and pictures) on his trip to the Jim Webb for Senate rally in Gate City today. Go check them out as Kilo is pretty much the source for reports on that event. The Webb people apparently did a bad job at informing the press of the event. However, Kilo does a just as good (or better I think) job of reporting.
GOP Hokie has a good write-up on the redistricting process for the 9th Congressional District. The next census is in 2010 and Virginia will be redistricting in 2011.
If Rick Boucher is still the Congressman then, I hope the GOP (if still the majority) makes it hard for him. Back in 2001, the General Assembly kept the districts as-is and made minor technical adjustments. I was excited about the idea floated then that would have extended the 9th up the border of West Virginia to Clarke County where Oliver North lives or lived.
I maintain that Bill Carrico will give Rick Boucher a hard re-election fight this time around.
GOP Hokie has a good write-up on the redistricting process for the 9th Congressional District. The next census is in 2010 and Virginia will be redistricting in 2011.
If Rick Boucher is still the Congressman then, I hope the GOP (if still the majority) makes it hard for him. Back in 2001, the General Assembly kept the districts as-is and made minor technical adjustments. I was excited about the idea floated then that would have extended the 9th up the border of West Virginia to Clarke County where Oliver North lives or lived.
I maintain that Bill Carrico will give Rick Boucher a hard re-election fight this time around.
The web site is VERY user unfriendly. You have to click so many times to get to a story. Once you get to the story, the page sometimes doesn’t load completely. When you can read the story, you have to turn down/off your speakers because of the in-page video/sound ads they place. It is very distracting. Worse yet, my browser often crashes on some of the pages. It is probably because there are more banner ads on each page than stories.
Media General and the Bristol Herald Courier/WJHL need to redesign that web site soon. It would be perfect timing along with the newspaper redesign.
Here is a story from the BHC I’ve been meaning to comment on.
The Bristol Herald-Courier sued the City of Bristol, VA for the release of a 911 tape. Andrea Petrosky killed her 6 year old son by drowning last April. The tape is of the call Petrosky placed to police after she killed her son and reportedly confessed to the crime. Petrosky has since been charged with capital murder. The case has not made it to trial yet.
Under Virginia law, 911 tapes are public records subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The BHC filed a request for the tape which was denied by the city. The paper sued and a judge rendered a decision last week. The judge sided with the newspaper and said the tape was public record and to hand it over.
Several things are troubling about this. According to the report, the city manager, police chief, and Commonwealth’s Attorney consulted and determined the tape was “evidence” and it should not be released after receiving the FOIA request. Also the reports state that never once prior to the decision being made was the city attorney consulted. The Commonwealth’s Attorney has a direct conflict of interest and is not the proper person to render a decision on this even though he may be an attorney.
The city also contends that Petrosky will not get a fair trial should the tape be released. The judge addressed this in his decision saying in his 25 years as a judge he has always been able to find an impartial jury for a trial.
The city further argues that people will be “afraid” to call 911 should the tape be released in fear their call could be released to the public. Here is a quote from the Mayor of Bristol Doug Weberling which doesn’t make since:
“People might not use 911 every time if they’re afraid the call might be recorded and become publicâ€
I thought everybody knew that the police, 911 centers, and many other government agencies record all telephone calls.
The city has now decided to appeal the case to the Virginia Supreme Court. If the taxpayers of Bristol have nothing better to do with their money, why not? Appealing a case that far sure will cost a lot of money and time.
Bottomline: The circuit judge got the law right. The city should hand over the tape and not spend taxpayers money fighting this for the reasons they claim.
Today I attended the Smyth County Republican Committee Mass Meeting at the Chilhowie High School. It was a small gathering as it is hard to keep people interested in politics, especially in an off year. We elected officers, chose delegates to the 9th District GOP Convention, and heard from several guest speakers.
I can’t help but toot my own political horn a little bit. I was honored and surprised to be elected Vice Chairman of the Smyth County GOP. I have many goals to reinvigorate the party. Ultimately I would like to see the GOP capture all 5 constitutional officer seats and all the Board of Supervisors one day. The GOP is dominant in Smyth County in federal and Virginia elections. However, we have a lot to work on in local elections where the Democrats apparently do a better job.
Delegate Bill Carrico, his family, and his campaign manager for Congress were present. One thing is for sure, Delegate Carrico would make an awesome Congressman. He speaks very well and is not afraid of a challenge. He spoke that the odds in elections have always been against him, but he has been able to overcome them. In 2001 he started campaigning 3 months before the election for House of Delegates and was able to defeat a 3 term very well financed Democrat and prominent lawyer. Carrico won by 17% in that race. In 2003 odds were again stacked against him as he took a challenge for his seat from a well financed stock broker who spent a gigantic amount of money. Carrico won that race by 10%.
Additionally we heard from Patrick Muldoon, who ran for Congress against Rick Boucher back in 1996 I believe. He came by to ask us for our support in his quest to be Chairman of the 9th District GOP Committee. We also heard from a Mr. Debusk from Blacksburg (I forgot his first name, but think it was Jay) who is seeking a spot on the State Central GOP Committee from the 9th District.
According to George Allen’s Official Senate Re-Election Web Site (recently updated to a new design and more informative), Senator Allen will be in Abingdon next Wednesday, April 12 as part of his announcement tour across the Commonwealth. The event will be held at the Virginia Highlands Airport at 5PM. If at all possible, I might try and make it over there.
Senator Allen is a great asset to Virginia as a U.S. Senator. I’m sure he will be able to put down any opposition the Democrats throw at him. Nonetheless, I plan on supporting and campaigning for him as much as I can. Allen’s Presidential aspirations in 2008 won’t hurt him either in the upcoming race. Contrary to most U.S. Senators, who have bad luck at running for President, Allen is from Virginia (next door to D.C.) and can tend to his Senatorial duties while still running.
This post over at the BHC’s Bristol Views blog raises a good point. Why doesn’t any member of the Virginia General Assembly from SWVA have a blog? Seems like most of the legislators who do are from NOVA and Eastern VA.
I’d like to see one (or more) of the members of the SWVA delegation start-up a blog. At least we could have a “direct link” to them during all the action.
I meant to post on this a couple days ago, but have been very busy.
Not Larry Sabato, a blog that I have recently started reading, has a good post dealing with politics here in SWVA. Basically is shows that the GOP has a strong foothold in SWVA that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
If I’m reading and understanding the numbers right, Smyth County has a large Republican base. From my knowledge, I can say it is very rare for Smyth County to vote Democrat in a Virginia or Federal election. The only exceptions are Mark Warner for U.S. Senate in 1996 and him again for Governor in 2001. With all this Republican base, I still can’t figure out why Smyth votes Democrat in local elections. My scenarios are that maybe the local Democrats here do a better job at getting candidates with name recognition or people simply just don’t care about political affiliation locally.
Now, the next question I have is that if the GOP is so powerful here in SWVA in voting, why is Rick Boucher still the Congressman? If all these GOP voters turned out and were unified, we no doubt would have a different Congressman. Maybe that will happen in November 
Governor Tim Kaine brought the “tax express” to Bristol on Monday evening. He wants us here in SWVA to support his massive tax and fee increases by saying it is for our good in the long run.
In this article from the BHC, Kaine doesn’t seem to be committed to funding the Coalfields Expressway. This is a major project that has been discussed and planned for many years that would link SWVA with coalfields in West Virginia.
The governor said he remains committed to the “idea†that Southwest Virginia needs the Coalfields Expressway for economic development but acknowledged that financing remains a problem.
The proposed $2.3 billion, 51-mile four-lane would link Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties with Kentucky and Interstate 77 in West Virginia.
“It depends upon if we can get a transportation budget,†the governor said. “If we are in our current budgetary position, there is very little money for anything new.â€
Does the use of the word “idea” (with quotes) accurately describe the Coalfields Expressway?
I didn’t attend the meeting, but what I gather from this article it seems like Kaine stopped short of even listing any kind of transportation project funded by the proposed tax/fee increases that would benefit SWVA. So, what is SWVA to gain from these tax increases?
NOVA and Eastern Virginia do have some transportation problems. In fact, several years ago the GA gave those localities the option to raise taxes on themselves in a voter referendum–they declined. If they don’t won’t to pay up to fix their own regional transportation problems, why should all of us? Granted those parts of the Commonwealth do have a large economic impact on all regions.
And remember Kaine vigorously denying he would support a gas tax increase during the campaign last year?
He criticized a House plan that would include money from on the state’s general fund. He said, however, that he would consider raising the gasoline tax – part of a Senate proposal.
This should get interesting come March 27th.
Ray McAllister from the RT-D has a somewhat comical take on the serious Appalachia election fraud, etc. cases here.
A friend sends me this link (PDF Format) to the 269 count indictment released today by a grand jury in Wise County against various officials and citizens of the Town of Appalachia. It is very interesting reading.
I applaud the Wise County officials in sending a strong message that election fraud, voter intimidation, and corruption will not be tolerated. It is ridiculous that public servants would stoop to these lows in exploiting the trust of the people.
Here Jerry, From On High, has an interesting post about how SWVA is helping subsidize mass transit in NOVA.
I agree with him that the only mass transit in Smyth County is the U-Haul trucks headed for the county line.
Gov. Tim Kaine will revive his townhall format used after the election in order to try and sell massive tax increases to Virginia citizens for the “transportation problem.” Here is an RT-D report on the townhall meetings Kaine will be holding. At least 5 meetings will be held across the Commonwealth starting next week.
It is good to see that on Tuesday the House of Delegates Finance Committee declared much of Kaine’s tax increase package DOA.
I think it will be interesting to see how Kaine tries to sell those tax increases down here in SWVA considering we will in a way be subsidizing NOVA’s transportation problems. Granted we do have some transportation projects here like the Coalfields Expressway, I-81, etc. that could use some attention.
As I’ve said before, I think this issue will be the defining moment of Kaine’s governorship and the outcome doesn’t look good for him.
Brian Patton has this post in which he questions Del. Bill Carrico’s support of Virginia’s teachers. Brian points out the Del. Carrico voted against two bills in the Education Committee that would have promised and raised teacher salaries to the so-called “national average.”
I agree with having teacher’s salaries at a rate that is deserved by the teacher based on their performance and service. However, this “national average” standard is misleading. The national average is a “moving target” that would require the General Assembly to raise teacher salaries every year. After all, it is an “average” and averages change.
Del. Carrico I think was acting properly when he did not want to lock the Commonwealth into a promise that might not be able to be fulfilled should tight budget times happen. Worse yet it could lead to tax increases just to fund this mandate. Governing is about setting priorities. Everyone cannot have everything all the time. Additionally, if the Commonwealth made a commitment to raising teacher salaries automatically wouldn’t it be unfair to other state employees who work hard serving the Commonwealth each day?
It is quite clear that Del. Carrico does support teachers. After all he worked for a couple years as an alternative program director at Grayson County High School. He also has two children.
Further, as a constituent of Del. Carrico I can say that he has done a marvelous job in the 5th District. He is always accessible and attends many public events contrary to his Democrat predecessor. He also is committed to industry and economic development which is very much needed in the 5th District.
Brian also makes this point about Carrico:
Apparently he does not care about Virginia’s teachers or the students who would get the significant benefits of having the most competent teachers in the nation.
It certainly looks that way, but will any one know? Even though he is running for Congress to represent Southwest Virginia, no media outlets are questioning him on his lack of support for Virginia’s teachers and schools.
I don’t have time right now to do research, but I’m very sure I can find many bills that Rick Boucher has voted against or supported that were not in tune with the values of his constituents here in the 9th District. Have the media outlets called Boucher on this? No. Should they? Yes.