Remember, folks: the City Council elections are today. The polls are open from 6am until 7pm. If you don’t know where to vote, look it up on the SBE’s website. WINA will begin live coverage at 7pm, announcing the results as they come in. The hard-core can go to the victory parties — the Democrats’ is at their campaign headquarters (503 E. Main, on the Downtown Mall, under the Water St. parking garage), and the Republicans’ is at Wolfie’s Bar and Grill (nee Boudreau’s), at 1525 Rio Rd.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Monthly Archive for May, 2004
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In the past few days, Elizabeth Nelson has completed her series of profiles on City Council candidates. Republican Kenneth Jackson, a part-time cook at the Schnitzelhouse, describes himself as a “home grown tomato,” pointing out that he is the only local running for office. Nelson points out that his “familiarity with the details of…city issues has appeared limited,” though Jackson assures that he will for that through education himself. He promises to, if elected, analyze not just the city budget, but actually review and critique a line-item budget for each city department. Republican Ann Reinicke, a resident of Charlottesville for 18 months, decries what she sees as Council’s insular nature and unwillingness to accept outside opinions. She believes that her community involvement would make her a good addition to Council. Notably, she clarifies in this interview that she believes that creationism has no place in science class, but does not think that schools should be banned from teaching cultural beliefs. (Which they’re not, and there appears to be no threat of.) Finally, Nelson wrote about Democratic incumbent Kevin Lynch, who is finishing up his first four-year term on Council. Lynch, known as a neighborhood activist, says that he is not done with the work that he set out to do on Council, and would like another four years to continue his work on matters pertaining to sustainability and transportation.
In yesterday’s editorial (“Fresh Voices, Energized City”), the Daily Progress endorsed three candidates for City Council: Kendra Hamilton, Kenneth Jackson, and Ann Reineke. The endorsement of Republicans is noteworthy, because of Democrats’ long dominance of Council. The Progress said of Jackson and Reineke that they are “remarkably well informed, considering they come from the city’s weaker political party.” Putting the best face on Jackson’s three separate attacks on people with knives during his adult life, they asked, rhetorhetorically, “What other candidate has seen the law enforcement system, the court system, the social services system from the perspective of somebody in trouble?” Because WVIR, C-Ville, The Hook, and WINA do not endorse candidates, the Progress’ endorsements tend to carry some weight.
Independent Council candidate Vance High has accused Democratic candidate David Brown of attempted bribery. High says that, in a private phone call between the two, Brown offered High a position on a city environmental committee if High would drop out of the race. (There is a fear among some Democrats that High could have a spoiler effect, drawing votes away from the weaker Democratic candidates.) Brown denies that any such a trade was offered, saying that he simply told High that he would have been good to have on the Streams Committee, and, separately, that if High were to drop out, that would help assure that High’s interests would be represented on Council. High’s response to that? “Hell no.” Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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