There is, of course, some coverage of last night’s election. In the Progress, John Yellig reviews the results of the Council race, while Bob Gibson looks at the School Board race. Gibson points out that all of the winners — Michie, Puryear, and Wade — are Democrats, making last night a sweep for the city’s majority party. And election official and local Republican Rick Sincere has photos of the day, a list of write-ins (which includes at least four cvillenewsers) , and his analysis of the numbers.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
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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Congrats on your write-in vote, Waldo!
I’d only echo the sentiments of many, with regard to Schilling’s loss: a shame that the local Republicans couldn’t find an option more acceptable to mainstream voters; a bigger shame that we now have a single party council in C-ville. Whomever holds the majority, I don’t care which party, benefits from the voice of the minority being a regular presence among them.
Amen. Monocultures are bad in all applications, whether crops, computing, or politics. Democrats are no more obliged to tie one arm behind their backs than Republicans are on a national level, but I do have to wonder what can be done to attract reasonable Republicans to run. Moving the elections to November is a step in the right direction, and I think that moving to Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) would also be helpful. Attracting good candidates (and overhauling the party) will take an investment of time, money and effort on the part of the RPV, something that I don’t think will happen anytime soon.
Instant Runoff Voting is a policy that I support as well. It benefits Republicans, Independents, and Libertarians by making their voice count. Rather than a protest vote, they still have a say even if their candidate loses. It also benefits Democrats by protecting against defections to independent candidates. I suspect this was a major factor in Schilling’s original victory, when Stratton Salidis ran as an independent. And it encourages a wide diversity of candidates, allowing people more choice and, hopefully, better government.