Council has gone back and forth on the issue of moving elections from May to November, but after the election of three strongly pro-November candidates, a move seemed certain. At last night’s Council meeting, the first of two votes (the second will be held in two weeks) was taken, and the measure passed by a bare majority. One of the two dissenters was, of course, Republican Rob Schilling, but the surprise was newly-appointed and newly-elected Democrat Mayor David Brown, who campaigned on the promise of moving elections. Brown voted last, expressing sympathy for Schilling, who is opposed to having his term (like everybody else’s) cut short by six months by the move. If the majority remains, and if the vote happens in two weeks as scheduled, the next Council election will take place in November of 2005. 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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That’s odd. I thought that Schilling publicly expressed interest in making the change a while ago. Is my memory faulty?
I remembered thinking at the time that it was dumb for him to advocate boosting turnout, because that hurts Republicans.
That’s odd. I thought that Schilling publicly expressed interest in making the change a while ago. Is my memory faulty?
I didn’t include that in the writeup, because I had the same doubts, but I have the exact same memory.
I remembered thinking at the time that it was dumb for him to advocate boosting turnout, because that hurts Republicans.
Rob is in an awkward and ultimately-losing position. He’s tried to paint himself as a man of the people that stands up to Democratic hegemony to make common-sense changes that will be good for Charlottesville’s most disadvantaged citizens.
The problem is that what Schilling wants is what a lot of uber-conservative Bush-era Republicans want: power, at the expense of those disadvantaged citizens. Now that Schilling is faced with the choice between doing what’s best for his supposed base (having elections on — get this — Election Day) and what’s best for his dwindling party (holding the elections not on Election Day, thus lowering turnout and keeping him in office longer), he’s voted against his “base.” He can justify this with ridiculous claims (How do we know that having elections on Election Day is really what’s best? Have we considered other methods of increasing turn out like, say, free puppies?), but those are the facts, and Schilling has been once again acted to support his real base: Schilling.
Really think this council lingers on issues to the point they become useless to citizens of this city.
Meadowcreek, elections, transportation. Is it wise to disagree to the point of never coming to a common ground?
The atmosphere of city council meetings is a few people with some legislative power really enjoy bickering over the same things, day-in day-out, year-in year-out.