My latest op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. This is the first of a three-part series on why the move to November for local elections - always a topic of discussion after the low turnout of May elections - is a bad idea. After referencing how we got to May elections in the first place, … Continue reading ICYMI: The pitfalls of November elections, part 1
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. Norfolk and Chesapeake have two different systems of electing local officials. Norfolk uses the ward system while Chesapeake uses an at-large system. With both having elections Tuesday, I thought it might be useful to compare the two systems, taking into account that one had a … Continue reading ICYMI: Get with the data
... the candidates who put themselves out there and the voters who showed up yesterday. And if you aren't happy with the results, then you know what to do: run for office yourself 🙂 Winning candidates are in bold below. UPDATED 5/8/14 for change in Chesapeake PS - sorry for the pictures. WordPress.com has decided … Continue reading And the winners are ….
From The Virginian-Pilot: School funding, real estate tax rates, neighborhood improvements - they're all on the ballot today. That's the meaning of elections for mayor and City Council in Norfolk and for City Council and School Board in Chesapeake. Those elected to serve in city governments make the decisions that most affect the daily lives … Continue reading Vote today, May 6
The Virginian-Pilot included voter guides for Norfolk and Chesapeake in the Sunday inserts for the Compass and the Clipper, respectively, over the last two Sundays. Those guides, in which the candidates answer certain questions, have now been put online. If I locate a similar guide for the contests on the Peninsula, I will post that … Continue reading Voter guides: Norfolk, Chesapeake
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. In it, I propose a civics education academy. Watching candidates struggle to answer questions at the forums I've attended hasn't been fun. (Videos of two of the forums can be found here and here.) Patrick Wilson mentions some of this in his article today. The … Continue reading ICYMI: How to help voters and candidates learn
Yesterday was another filing deadline for financial reports in local races. The reports of candidates who file electronically are available for all to see on the State Board of Elections website. A summary of the reports for Norfolk candidates is below: A few notes: My heading - "number of donors" - is actually misleading and … Continue reading Norfolk 4/28/14 financial reports
Here's what I know about: Norfolk Tonight (4/29) - 6:30pm - Lafayette Winona Middle School Hampton Tonight (4/29) - 6:30 pm – Olde Wythe Forum, Armstrong Elem School. Chesapeake Tomorrow (4/30) - 6:30 pm - Aldersgate UMC Fellowship Hall, 4329 Bruce Rd. If you know of others, put them in the comments and I’ll update … Continue reading Local candidates forums this week
Another petition drive is underway to put the question of an elected school board on the ballot. The Norfolk Citizens for an Elected School Board's Facebook page is here. The group has gathered about 3,000 signatures but some 13,000 are needed to make the November ballot. The group plans to gather signatures at the polls … Continue reading Petition drive: Norfolk elected school board
No, not mine! I try to stay out of the endorsement business 😉 The Virginian-Pilot released its endorsements Sunday and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce's Norfolk Division released theirs Tuesday. With only a single candidate in Wards 1 and 2, neither endorsed in those contests. Both chose the same candidate for mayor and Ward … Continue reading Norfolk endorsements
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 