Thursday, May 9, 2013
Democratic gubernatorial candidate laid out platform at George Mason's Arlington campus.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe said Thursday he would push to reform the state's Standards of Learning, or SOL, tests if he is elected in November. "The current, once-a-year, high-stakes, multiple-choice testing isn't working for students, parents or teachers," he told a crowd of more than 300 people at George Mason University's Arlington campus, to rousing applause. Under the current system, a fifth-grade teacher who raises a child from a first-grade reading level to a fourth-grade reading level is considered a failure, he said. Teachers who want to break up the test into smaller portions, or test at different levels based on student achievement should be encouraged, he said. McAuliffe also said he would establish a "…
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The Republican Party in Virginia decided to have a primary in 2013, but later changed its mind.
Virginia’s Republican Party annual convention is set for May 17 and 18, and delegates from around the state will select nominees for Lt. Governor and Attorney General. GOP officials have gone back and forth in recent years on whether to host a convention or conduct an open primary. In 2011, GOP officials had decided to hold a primary in 2013, but a group of newly elected members of the Commonwealth's GOP central committee changed course in 2012 and switched to a closed convention. The switch to a convention saves local governments and the state money — primaries are paid for with state and local dollars, but convention costs come directly from the Virginia GOP’s funds. It was the announcement of plans for a 2013 convention that drove Lt. …
Friday, May 3, 2013
The GOP's state convention in Richmond is two weeks away. Here's what you need to know.
Virginia’s Republican Party will convene in Richmond May 17 and 18 for its annual convention, where delegates from around the state will elect nominees for Lt. Governor and Attorney General. The Commonwealth’s GOP central committee voted 47-31 in June 2012 to switch the nomination system from an open primary to a closed convention of credentialed representatives. GOP officials had decided in 2011 to hold a primary in 2013, but a group of newly elected members on the committee reversed the decision that June, much to the dismay of some party members who think it makes the process too insular. In 2009, Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli were nominated during a convention process. Whereas primaries …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
This year's event is Saturday, May 4, at Fort Hunt Park. Last year's event raised $30,000.
Grab your sombrero, it's time once again for Cinco de Surovell, the annual fundraiser event organized by Del. Scott Surovell, a Democrat who represents the 44th District in the General Assembly. Tickets for the fundraiser range from "Amigo" status, at $25, to "El Presidente," at $5,000. This year's event will be the fourth annual fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, May 4 from 1-3 p.m. at Fort Hunt Park, at Pavilion B. Fort Hunt Park is located at 8999 Fort Hunt Road. Saturday's weather forecast, according to The Weather Channel is for "mostly sunny" skies and a high of 68 degrees. See the photo gallery from 2012's Cinco de Surovell event. The fundraiser in the past has featured Mexican food, Tejano music and beer as well as visits with …
The Virginia primary is June 11; the general election is Nov. 5.
Are you a registered voter in Virginia and available to work at least half of Election Day? Fairfax County has a job for you. The county’s Office of Elections is recruiting election officers for the June 11 primary election and/or for the Nov. 5 general election. Qualified residents with bilingual language and technology skills are especially needed. "We encourage all qualified residents to become elections officers, especially those with technology skills, diverse language abilities, young adults seeking civic experience and networking opportunities, and recently retired professionals interested in public service," said General Registrar Cameron Quinn in a prepared statement. Election officers are paid $100 for working all of Election …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
There will be a Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and attorney general June 11. Absentee voting for Fairfax County residents begins April 26.
It's getting to be that time again—time to cast your ballot. On June 11, there will be a Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Absentee voting for the primary begins Friday. There are several qualifying circumstances to vote absentee. This information has been provided by Fairfax County. Can I Vote Absentee? Registered voters who will be away from Fairfax County on Election Day, or, who are unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability, may vote by absentee ballot. See this webpage for details: Am I Eligible to Vote Absentee? To vote absentee, you may use the Fairfax County fillable online absentee ballot application form to enter your information on the screen, print, sign, return your ballot in …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Both Democratic candidates raised just over $449,000, but Aneesh Chopra has more cash on hand.
Aneesh Chopra, one of two Democratic hopefuls for Lt. Governor of Virginia, is ahead of Ralph Northam in the race for campaign funds. Chopra began the year with a starting balance of $714,864 and then raised another $449,915 through March 31, according to finance reports on the Virginia Public Access Project. Northam began the year with a balance of $0 and raised $449,542 through March 31 — just below what Chopra raised. The two hopefuls are the only Democratic candidates gunning for Virginia's open Lt. Governor position, which will be vacated by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) next year. A single Democratic candidate will be selected in a primary June 11. There are a also a number of candidates vying for the Republican nomination, which will be…
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Republicans say a requirement for picture ID protects "sanctity" of the vote; Democrats argue the GOP is keeping certain voters away from the polls on purpose.
Virginia voters will need a photo ID when they're heading to the polls beginning in 2014 under new requirements signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell this week. Supporters argue that a voter registration card with no picture creates an opening for fraudulent voting. McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell said in a statement to The Washington Post that the new law is about protecting "the sanctity of our democratic process.” Democratic leaders have challenged voter ID laws as a type of voter suppression. They note those without a photo ID are likely found among Democratic voters, particularly seniors and college students. The new law will need approval by the U.S. Justice Department, a requirement for any voting changes in most Southern states …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows residents are divided and still learning about Terry McAuliffe, Ken Cuccinelli.
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe hand-delivered 35,746 signatures Wednesday to the Virginia State Board of Elections in Richmond to help secure his place on the ballot in the governor's race. McAuliffe may face Republican Virginia State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on the ballot come November. A new Quinnipiac University poll out Wednesday showed Cuccinelli is viewed as "having better experience, while voters see Terry McAuliffe as slightly less ideological, but neither is well-known to voters who are divided on who should be the next governor, with 40 percent for Republican Cuccinelli and 38 percent for Democrat McAuliffe," according to a news release about the new Quinnipiac University poll. The most …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Does the commonwealth need another name on the ballot?
Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling took himself out of Virginia's race for governor last week, leaving, at least for now, what's shaping up to be a two-person race. The choice for the Old Dominion's next governor, seven months before Election Day, seems to have boiled down to presumptive Republican nominee Ken Cuccinelli, the state's socially conservative attorney general, against likely Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a McLean businessman. The Republican Party of Virginia will hold its convention on May 17 and 18 in Richmond to formally select its nominee. Democrats go to the polls on June 11 to cast their ballots in several races, including governor and lieutenant governor. …
amajorpain
6:25 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
... To the guy with the follow-up comment? Nailed it. Ding ding ding. You are correct sir. Somebody has to push back on these fools or else our illustrious, potentatic (look it up) gummet (use your imagination) will grow and grow and grow until we can't hold the fat slobs up any longer and we will all get crushed underneath the weight of jabba the gummet. (obtw, it would be nice if we could have … more ›