I did pretty well with my predictions on who The Virginian-Pilot would endorse this cycle, including the one statewide contest that I managed to get in before they endorsed. I missed one - the Portsmouth sheriff's race. And it appears that there will not be an endorsement in one race - the 100th House. It … Continue reading Pilot endorsements roundup: 13/14
Perennial candidate Sherry Battle-Edmonds, formerly known as Sherry White Battle, is up to old tricks again. First, she tried to use photos of herself with Rep. Bobby Scott and State Senator Henry Marsh on her website. The pictures were taken at Scott's Labor Day picnic. Both Scott and Marsh deny endorsing Battle-Edmonds, who is running … Continue reading Battle is at it again
The first debate between the candidates for lieutenant governor will be held tonight on the campus of George Mason University. Democrat Ralph Northam and Republican E.W. Jackson will square off at 7pm. The debate will not be televised but will be streamed live on http://www.wusa9.com/ I may have to sneak out of the class I'm … Continue reading LG debate tonight, Gov tomorrow
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Thursday. It seems some local candidates haven't gotten the message that those who elect them should be able to tell who is paying for their campaigns. For a while, it seemed that transparency was all the rage. Budgets are online, hearings are live-streamed and so … Continue reading ICYMI: Candidates who sit out “transparency day”
Here's what we have on the local candidates who have filed electronically. Unfortunately, I simply don't have the time to go the elections offices in each of the five South Hampton Roads cities to get - and pay for - copies of the reports for those who are filing on paper. Click on city name … Continue reading Local candidates: 9/16/13 financial reports
The Virginia Supreme Court handed down a ruling this morning in a long-running Norfolk eminent domain case. In a major loss for Old Dominion University, the state Supreme Court ruled this morning that the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority did not have the right to use eminent domain to take a 10-unit apartment building near … Continue reading Pretty big deal: SCt. Va. rules in favor of property owners
I've been following the saga of the removal of park benches in some areas of Ghent. The reason given by the city is that they need to combat crime; it appears, though, the real problem is homelessness in the city. More than 30 years ago, I was involved with an organization that worked on behalf … Continue reading Norfolk removes park benches
Norfolk is planning to join Richmond, Portsmouth, Newport News and other localities across the country to "ban the box" on job applications, whereby the question "Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?" is removed from job applications. The daunting question that gave Clayton pause more than two years ago will soon disappear … Continue reading Opinion, please: ban the box
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. It was in response to this article, which appeared on the front page last Sunday. You'd think we still lived in the days that the cartoon here shows. There was so much in the article that simply disgusted me, like this: As police gathered evidence, … Continue reading ICYMI: Echo of an awful time
Just a few things that caught my eye: OPM extends benefits to all married couples. The key part of this guidance is that "marriage" is based on the place of celebration, not the place of residency. Will other agencies follow? Rape victim further victimized by Norfolk Police. I thought this stuff had stopped years ago. … Continue reading Quick hits: 07/08/13
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 