Category: Politics

Special prosecutor report on McDonald/Moss spat

Last October, a spat between Norfolk's Commissioner of the Revenue, Sharon McDonald, and Treasurer, Tom Moss, resulted in a letter being issued by the Commissioner in which she accused the Treasurer and his deputy, Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot, of revealing confidential taxpayer information to a reporter in violation of  Virginia Code § 58.1-3. The letter … Continue reading Special prosecutor report on McDonald/Moss spat →

Appoint Hester

June 30 was the deadline for those interested in being appointed to the Superward 7 council seat to make their wishes known. A total of 16 people stepped forward - including Daun Hester, who is vacating the seat as required by the City Charter. (I'll post the full list once I receive it. List below) … Continue reading Appoint Hester →

Awesome Perriello ad (long version)

And if your email box is a full as mine, you know that today is the cutoff for second quarter financial reporting. If so inclined, you can contribute to any or all of the Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives here.

Reporting’s inside baseball

Back in the day, there were certain things that reporters knew about the subjects they covered but never wrote about. The biggest thing that comes to mind is Pres. John F. Kennedy's health and his affairs. When the story broke of Sen. Gary Hart and Donna Rice (on a yacht aptly named "Monkey Business") it … Continue reading Reporting’s inside baseball →

Divergent views about Cuccinelli

In an op-ed Sunday, The Roanoke Times' editorial page editor Dan Radmacher writes of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Citing a litany Cuccinelli's actions, the writer says he "has been exactly the kind of attorney general that I expected based on his campaign and his career in the General Assembly." I will give Cuccinelli credit … Continue reading Divergent views about Cuccinelli →

When does a 3-3 vote equal a majority?

When that vote is cast by members of the Norfolk School Board. “The board did vote in open session, 3 to 3, and with that vote, said that Dr. Bentley had our full support to come in and work with us as our new superintendent,” Tonelson said. Forget for a minute whether the vote was … Continue reading When does a 3-3 vote equal a majority? →

Commissioner of the Revenue in trouble – again

As if there were any doubts that Norfolk's Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald needs to be reined in, the front page, above the fold story in today's Virginia Pilot should dispel them. The story lays out what appears to be the misuse of a city credit card by McDonald over the course of three … Continue reading Commissioner of the Revenue in trouble – again →

House Dems ask for Governor’s intervention on US Navy Vets investigation

In a letter to Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia House Democratic leaders Ken Plum and Ward Armstrong are requesting that he remove from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's office the investigation of the U. S. Navy Veterans' Association and "immediately redirect the investigation to the Virginia State Police." U.S. Vets has come under scrutiny as allegations of … Continue reading House Dems ask for Governor’s intervention on US Navy Vets investigation →

Opinion, please: covering the opposite

Late last week, Washington Post blogger David Weigel resigned from his post after emails he wrote to a private listserv became public. Weigel, who covered the conservative movement and the Republican Party, it turns out, is not a conservative. What he is depends on what source you use, but most agree he is a libertarian. … Continue reading Opinion, please: covering the opposite →