Independent candidate Paul Long joins City Council race

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Yesterday evening, Venable resident Paul Long (I) joined the Charlottesville City Council race on the eve of the filing deadline for independent candidates.  Long who will turn sixty in September, has lived in the area for eleven years.  He moved to Charlottesville in February 1998 from the Philadelphia area to assist with medical care for a family member.  Since relocating to Charlottesville, Long has been an employee of the UVa Medical Center where he works in the Transportation Department assisting with patient transportation in and around the hospital.

In an interview with Charlottesville Tomorrow, Long said he was inspired in part by the City Council candidacy of Andrew Williams (I), a twenty-two year old PVCC student and State Farm employee.  “If this young guy can do it, I should do it too,” said Long. 

Long said there were three issues that would be central to his campaign for Charlottesville City Council: decriminalizing drugs; creating the proposed Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and expanding it to surrounding counties; and providing greater revenues to local non-profits working to support homeless residents.

Decriminalizing drugs will be Long’s top priority if elected.  Long said he has eight years experience as an addiction counselor.  “Drug use should be treated as a public health issue, as opposed to a matter for the criminal justice system,” said Long.

Long also says he will bring significant experience in transportation policy to City Council as a result of his fourteen years of work as a citizen involved with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.  In Pennsylvania’s Tinicum Township, Long was appointed by the town as a “citizen watchdog” for the authority’s meetings because of his advocacy for public transportation.

“I am a great believer in the public transportation system,” said Long.  “I think the Regional Transit Authority is a good idea, but surrounding counties should be invited to join as well.”  Long also plans to lobby for increased bus service on Sundays and on holidays.  Long has never learned to drive a vehicle and relies on public transit in Charlottesville.

Facing Long on the ballot in November will be incumbent Councilor, Dave Norris (D), Kristin Szakos (D), and Bob Fenwick (I).  The candidate that helped inspire his campaign, Andrew Williams (I), will also be running as he attempts to win a seat on Council in a write-in campaign. 

Williams learned yesterday evening that he failed to submit enough petition signatures to get on the ballot.  He announced today he will run a write-in campaign seeking one of the two Council seats in the November general election.

Williams fails to get on ballot for City Council; Running a write-in campaign as the ‘fifth candidate’

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

On June 9, 2009, Charlottesville City Council candidate Andrew Williams (I) learned that he was unable to deliver enough petition signatures to get certified to be on the ballot.  He will now run as a write-in candidate in the November 3, 2009 general election for one of two seats on City Council.

At a press conference held the day after the filing deadline, Williams said, “I was disappointed, but I am not broken, I still plan on running for City Council.”

“I am just a write-in candidate now…I am still happy, still optimistic, I just have to double my efforts,” said Williams.  “A lot of people work hard, so I will work hard for Charlottesville.”

Williams, who launched his campaign officially on May 13, 2009, needed 125 signatures from registered voters in Charlottesville.  Officials in the City Voter Registration office told Charlottesville Tomorrow that Williams only submitted 93 valid signatures.  Many of Williams’ petition signatures had to be discarded because the contact information was illegible or because the voters were registered in another locality.  Williams said his campaign anticipated some signatures would not qualify, which was why, he says, he submitted over 140 initially.

According to Rick Sincere, Secretary of the Charlottesville Electoral Board, Williams submitted the bulk of his petitions several weeks ago, but General Registrar Sheri Iachetta was unable to reach Williams to notify him that he was still not yet certified.  “She tried to reach him, but the contact information on file was incorrect,” said Sincere.  “Other candidates made the effort to figure out their status.”  Typically the Registrar makes a courtesy call to the candidates to inform them if and when they have reached 125 signatures, although that is not required by state code.

Sincere said that Williams was a participant in two training sessions for prospective candidates and that he was informed he had the option to request in writing that he be officially notified of his certification status as he approached the June 9, 2009 deadline.  Williams did not submit such a written request. 

Williams acknowledged that he faced an uphill battle to win one of the two seats on Charlottesville City Council as a write-in candidate.  “Even though the paperwork doesn’t show it, I am in fact the fifth candidate.”

Facing Williams on the ballot in November will be incumbent Councilor, Dave Norris (D), Kristin Szakos (D), Bob Fenwick (I), and Paul Long (I).  Long, a resident of Venable, joined the race yesterday evening about the same time Williams was learning he was not going to be certified.

Video: Bob Fenwick's City Council campaign announcement

A video is now available for the May 15, 2009 Charlottesville City Council campaign announcement by Bob Fenwick (I).

Watch the video below:

Bob Fenwick launches independent campaign for Charlottesville City Council
from Charlottesville Tomorrow on Vimeo.

Video: Andrew Williams' City Council campaign announcement

A video is now available for the May 13, 2009 Charlottesville City Council campaign announcement by Andrew Williams (I).

Watch the video below:

Independent Andrew Williams enters Charlottesville City Council race
from Charlottesville Tomorrow on Vimeo.

McIntire Park activist Bob Fenwick launches independent campaign for City Council

McIntire Park activist Bob Fenwick launches independent campaign for City Council
By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Friday, May 15, 2009

Independent City Council Candidate Bob Fenwick

Bob Fenwick, a member of the McIntire Park Preservation Committee, has launched an independent campaign for the Charlottesville City Council that he promised would be a referendum on the Meadowcreek Parkway. He made his campaign announcement on the steps of his downtown-area home on May 15, 2009. 

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast: Download 20090515-Fenwick

 “For 40 years, the Meadowcreek Parkway has been an open wound on our community,” Fenwick said. “A political campaign is perfect because you can say things publicly to a lot of people  that you normally wouldn’t be able to say. We’re going to keep this issue up for five and a half months and we’re going to keep pounding it.”

Fenwick is also opposed to the building of the YMCA on the western end of the park, the temporary displacement of the Dogwood Festival, as well as the potential removal of a public wading pool that could be displaced by the Parkway’s interchange with the Route 250 bypass. Fenwick also said he was a supporter of adding dredging into the community water supply plan. 

Another important issue Fenwick said he would promote is economic development. In the coming weeks, he said he will announce specific steps he would like to see the City take in order to create jobs.
In the meantime, Fenwick is trying to collect the 125 signatures he needs to get on the ballot for the November 3, 2009 election. Like fellow independent Andrew Williams, Fenwick acknowledged that it will be a hard campaign to defeat the two Democrats running in the race, but that he was confident he could win.

“A new day is about to dawn in Charlottesville,” Fenwick said. “A day of citizen representation, not citizen rule.”

Fenwick’s policy positions are spread out among a host of websites that he operates. Here’s a list of some of them:

• http://www.SaveMcIntire.com
• http://www.stoptheparkway.com
• http://www.DemandJobs.net
• http://www.RivannaDam.com
• http://www.votebob.net/

Independent candidates interested in running for City Council have until June 9, 2009 to file paperwork with the City registrar.

See Charlottesville Tomorrow's Election Watch page for complete coverage of the City's 2009 elections.

Independent Andrew Williams enters City Council race

By Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Andrew Williams, a 22-year-old student and full-time employee of State Farm Insurance, has filed the paperwork to become an independent candidate for the Charlottesville City Council. He made his announcement outside of City Hall on May 13, 2009.

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

Listen using player above or download the podcast: Download 20090513-Williams-Announcement

Williams pledged to visit all 8 of the City’s precincts to build a grass-roots campaign dedicated to the interest of “students and their families” as well as the working class. He is a student at Piedmont Virginia Community College, and says he’s lived in Albemarle, Louisa and Fluvanna Counties. Williams said his youth would allow for a “new perspective” on City Council but said he understood that his independent campaign would be an “uphill battle.”

Acknowledging that his campaign is in its infancy, Williams said he would be listening to voters in order to develop positions on the issues facing the City. He said public safety will be a major theme of his campaign. A further statement from his campaign regarding his positions will be issued within the next two weeks.

“I have to go and speak with as many people as possible in the City to figure out what are the major concerns that people focus on this year, and this day,” Williams said. “I believe that it is very important to look at how the City allocates funds and to scrutinize management of the budget.”

When asked to explain his position on the adopted community water supply plan, Williams said he would have to decline to answer until he has spoken with citizens to hear their views.

No independent has won election to City Council in the past 40 years, according to City Council Clerk Jeannie Cox. Williams said he felt confident that he could overcome the odds and have a successful campaign.

Any other independent candidate interested in running for City Council has until June 9, 2009 to file paperwork with the City registrar.

See Charlottesville Tomorrow's Election Watch page for complete coverage of the City's 2009 elections.

Charlottesville Democrats nominate Norris and Szakos for City Council

City Council Candidate Dave Norris meets voters at the polls outside Burley Middle School

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Saturday, May 9, 2009

On May 9, 2009, Charlottesville Democrats held their first ever “unassembled caucus” and nominated incumbent Councilor Dave Norris and challenger Kristin Szakos for Charlottesville City Council.  The caucus was held from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM at Burley Middle School on Rose Hill Drive. 

At 8:35 PM, Jennifer McKeever, Co-Chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Party, announced that Norris and Szakos were the winners.  About 1,644 voters (unofficial count) participated. 

“I am happy to announce that our Democratic nominees are Dave Norris and Kristin Szakos, said McKeever.  “Dave won with an overwhelming majority and Kristin won a majority as well.  An instant runoff was not required.”

Incumbent Councilor Julian Taliaferro did not receive enough votes to continue his re-election campaign.  Exact vote counts have not yet been made available to the media. Norris and Szakos will go on to face any Independent challengers who get on the ballot by June 9th.  The general election is November 3, 2009.

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Charlottesville Tomorrow has produced a special 18 minute audio podcast about the caucus.  The podcast includes interviews with each City Council candidate, interviews with voters Bruce Odell, Leslie Middleton, Megan Durkee, and Terri Payne, and an explanation of the new voting process by head teller David Repass.  Listen using player below or download the podcast: Download 20090509-CityDems

Podcast produced by Charlottesville Tomorrow * Player by Odeo

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Charlottesville voters were asked to sign a loyalty pledge that they were a Democrat, committed to the principles of the Democratic Party, and that they would not support an opponent of a Democratic nominee in the general election.  Not only did voters face a new type of caucus, but they also faced a different kind of ballot where the candidate choices had to be ranked.  This system was implemented to help in the event an “instant runoff” was required to determine who had a majority vote.  Even though only two candidates were selected, voters could select between one and three candidates, but an order of preference had to be specified on the ballot.

Charlottesville City Council candidate Kristin Szakos

Turnout for the caucus was greater than anticipated by many party leaders.  The morning of the caucus, head teller David Repass told Charlottesville Tomorrow that a turnout of anywhere from 7-800 voters would be a success.  “The most we have ever had at a mass meeting is 600,” said Repass.  Early morning was the busiest period and some voters, depending on their location in the alphabet, faced long lines.

By Noon, total participation was already close to 600 surpassing the June 2007 "assembled caucus," or mass meeting, when Charlottesville Democrats had 426 voters cast ballots nominating current City Council members David Brown, Holly Edwards, and Satyendra Huja.  In a mid-afternoon interview, Dave Norris said he was targeting a turnout of one thousand to fifteen hundred voters.  Even that estimate proved low as the unofficial count went all the way up to 1,644.

Becky Reid, Campaign Manager for the Norris campaign, described a significant get out the vote effort leading up to the caucus.  Reid said “robo-calls” were made to her candidate’s favorable voters earlier this week and the morning of the election.  Norris said he mailed out a couple thousand pieces of campaign literature during the campaign to a highly targeted list.  “I have a top-notch campaign manager who knows this stuff inside and out,” said Norris.  Throughout the day, Reid was checking favorable lists against the list of actual voters who had participated to ensure a strong turnout.

Norris was very pleased with the new caucus format.  “It seems to have worked well and a lot of people are coming in that may not have come to sit in a room for three hours, people that just want to come by, and cast a vote, and leave,” said Norris. “It makes it much easier for people to participate.”

Norris did share some concerns about campaigning in an unassembled caucus.

“My worry about this process,” said Norris, “is that this year we’ve had an unwritten agreement that we weren’t going to ‘go nuclear.’  In other words, we weren’t going to go out and try to raise Dennis-Rooker-level money*, to go out and do TV ads and all that stuff.  There was this mutual non-escalation policy, but that may not be true in the future.  So my advice to future candidates is try and see if you can have that same sort of agreement, because what would really be unfortunate, this process lends itself to somebody with a lot of money coming in, or the ability to raise a lot of money, coming in and buying the election.”

*As of March 31, 2009 , Dennis Rooker has $66,036 in cash on hand for his re-election campaign to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

Jonathan Blank, Co-Chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Party observes ballots being counted from the Walker Precinct

In a mid-day interview with Charlottesville Tomorrow, Kristin Szakos was asked what lessons she had learned about the campaign.  “One thing that I learned in the Obama campaign is that stamina counts for a lot, and [you] just keep going,” said Szakos.  “I think the other thing is that politics sometimes can feel like it’s about you personally and I think that it’s probably a good thing to not take that too personally.”

Julian Taliaferro echoed the other candidates’ sentiments that the “unassembled caucus” was a positive for Charlottesville Democrats.  “I think it has opened it up to more people,” said Taliaferro.  “I think people are more inclined to come out, walk in and vote, and be able to leave rather than give up a half a day.”

At 7:00 PM, the ballot boxes were collected and taken into a classroom at Burley.  Around 8:00 PM, five pizzas were delivered to the ballot counters.  Then at 8:35 PM, Jennifer McKeever pulled reporters from Charlottesville Tomorrow and WINA AM 1070 into a conference room to announce the results.  Jonathan Blank, the other Co-Chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Party, called Taliaferro with the news that his campaign was over.

Norris and Szakos receive Democratic nomination for City Council

At 8:35 PM, Jennifer McKeever, Co-Chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Party, announced that Dave Norris and Kristin Szakos were the winners in today's "unassembled caucus" in the race for Charlottesville City Council.  About 1,644 voters (unofficial count) participated.

“I am happy to announce that our Democratic nominees are Dave Norris and Kristin Szakos, said McKeever.  “Dave won with an overwhelming majority and Kristin won a majority as well.  An instant runoff was not required.”

Incumbent Councilor Julian Taliaferro did not receive enough votes to continue his re-election campaign.

Charlottesville Tomorrow will publish a complete story and podcast later this evening. 

Turnout exceeding expectations at city Democratic caucus

By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Charlottesville Democrats have passed the midway point on the Saturday afternoon of their first “unassembled caucus” at Burley Middle School on Rose Hill Drive.  Voter turnout has surpassed the expectations of many observers and candidates. The caucus will nominate candidates for the November general election in the races for Charlottesville City Council and City Sheriff.  There were lines early in the day and a steady stream of voters through mid-afternoon. 

Lloyd Snook, Chair of the caucus, said that at 12:00 in the afternoon there had been 445 voters, in addition to the 144 absentee ballots. The 589 total voters thus far already surpasses the June 2007 totals when Charlottesville Democrats had 426 voters cast ballots in an "assembled caucus" at Charlottesville High School.

The polls are open until 7:00 PM this evening and Charlottesville Tomorrow will share additional news and interviews later this evening.

Video: City Council Candidate Forum #2

A video is now available for the May 6, 2009 City Council Candidate Forum.

Watch the video below:

Charlottesville Democrats hold forum for three City Council candidates
from Charlottesville Tomorrow on Vimeo.