Comments on: Think “local” this campaign season

By: Distractions in the 2nd District campaign « VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:50:29 +0000

[...] Of course, does it really matter when I’m casting my vote for .2% of Congress? [...]

By: SouthsideCentral

SouthsideCentral — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 05:20:30 +0000

I had no idea that were three constitutional amendments on the upcoming ballot, and I consider myself politically astute.

By: warren

warren — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:33:56 +0000

I did look at all the elections on the State website. Most are for congresscritters.

By: vjp

vjp — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:59:48 +0000

A couple of things. First, the law allowing November elections is relatively new – 2006. So Virginia Beach and Suffolk jumped on the bandwagon almost immediately. Those are two pretty large localities in Hampton Roads, which is where my op-ed appeared and the audience to which it was directed.

Second, the change in the special election law this past legislative session is why local elections in Norfolk & Portsmouth are on the ballot. Again, my op-ed was directed to Hampton Roads.

Third, constitutional amendment referendums will almost always appear on an even-year ballot. That’s because of the nature of getting them on the ballot: they have to pass two sessions of the GA with a House election in between. Yes, state elections are in odd years; thus, the referendums will be an even year event.

Finally, this article isn’t about state elections. It’s about local elections. And while many local elections are held in the spring, almost all of the local elections in Hampton Roads occur in even years, primarily because they don’t want them in the same year as the state elections. Having not looked at all of the localities, my guess is that most of them are in even years for that same reason.

By: warren

warren — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:36:05 +0000

No. I used the qualifiers “not many” and “most.”

Is it not the case that MOST state and local elections are in the odd years, and that MOST cities and towns hold their elections in the Spring? Is it not the case that, relative to the odd-year and Spring elections, there are NOT MANY local elections this November?

By: vjp

vjp — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:12:22 +0000

Got it. It's all about your local elections.

By: warren

warren — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:13:35 +0000

I did indeed go to the State website. But I’m in Fairfax. Except for special elections, the city elections are in the Spring, and the state and local elections are in off years.

By: vjp

vjp — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:37:23 +0000

You can generally ignore JY’s comments. He rarely has anything of value to add to a conversation.

By: vjp

vjp — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:36:45 +0000

Really? I’m guessing you didn’t read the article nor look at the state’s website. Because on the Southside of Hampton Roads, we’ve got races in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Suffolk.

Plus those 3 constitutional amendments.

By: warren

warren — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:36:54 +0000

There aren’t many local races this November. Most state and local elections seem to be in the odd years.

By: James Quigley

James Quigley — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:59:00 +0000

The majority of property and contract rights violations happen at the local and state government level. Some examples are through the loss of property rights in eminent domain cases and because of regulations on small business that prevent the less fortunate to participate in an open and free market. The federal government is dangerous to the rights of privacy and the debasing of the currency and the fruits of labor. Local, state, and federal governments make decisions against the citizenry on a regular basis. It’s important to spend an equal amount of energy and time to protect your natural rights from each level.

By: James Young

James Young — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:53:41 +0000

Good idea. Because if voters “think national,” Dems are toast.

By: James Quigley

James Quigley — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:02:50 +0000

Vivian, this was a good piece. It is important that we try to bring back political activism at the local level. When I go to City Council meetings there is little participation from the general population. Citizens only tend to participate locally if they have a severe grievance or if it is a business seeking a change to zoning laws.