Monday evening, over 300 Democrats (and a few Republicans 🙂 ) came together in Chesapeake for Del. Lionell Spruill, Sr’s 4th Annual Fall Fundraising Dinner. The dinner always features several roasters as well as a main speaker and this year was no exception.
DPVA Chair Dickie Cranwell was supposed to be the master of ceremonies but at the last minute, was unable to make it. Spruill’s chief of staff, Susan Rowland, filled in ably until Richmond Mayor-elect Dwight Jones could get there. Congressman Bobby Scott was unable to get out of Washington. Subbing for Scott was DPVA Executive Director Levar Stoney, who brought greetings from Democrats around the state.
After dinner, the roasting began. Mayor-elect Jones got the ball rolling and had the room in stitches about Spruill’s behavior in the General Assembly. Next up was yours truly (which is why I have no pictures from the event). As I said at the time, most of the stories I have about the Delegate can’t be told in public 😉 so I passed along a couple of stories making the rounds about Spruill campaigning for Connie Brennan in Buckingham County and his trip to Israel.
Next up was Norfolk Del. Kenny Alexander, who told several hilarious stories about Spruill. Alexander, who is a funeral director, relayed a story about Spruill’s providing Masonic services at a funeral. He backed up one of Jones’ stories about Spruill and his bible-reading (rather than bill-reading) at the General Assembly.
Del. Frank Hall finished off the roasting by regaling us with more tales of Spruill and his behavior in the General Assembly and around Richmond. After the boisterous roasting by the prior three, Hall’s dry wit and low-key demeanor was truly a delight.
Spruill then got even with his roasters, telling a brief tale about each. I have to say, his story about Hall was the funniest of all.
Gubernatorial candidate Del. Brian Moran had the job of introducing the speaker. Moran did a great job, using this occasion to present what could be a very smooth transition from the evening’s speaker, Gov. Tim Kaine, to himself.
The governor continued the light tone of the evening. He began by poking fun at his lame duck status. He then told an incredible story about how he came to endorse Obama. He said that Spruill came to him and said that he, a white guy, should endorse Obama while Spruill, a black guy, would endorse Clinton. Such endorsements, the governor said Spruill told him, would go a long way towards unity in the fall. True or not, it was a heck of a story.
After speaking, the governor was presented with a photo of Obama taken by a local photographer in Invesco Field on the night he accepted the nomination. I understand this was one of only five copies of the photo.
Like always, event attendees included a number of elected officials. (Among those in attendance was AG candidate John Fishwick, who I had the opportunity to interview Tuesday. Look for that writeup soon.) I think everyone had I great time. Kudos to Susan Rowland for pulling off – once again – a great event.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 