The Board of Supervisors has selected Rio District representative David Slutzky as its new chair, replacing Ken Boyd, of the Rivanna District, the county has announced via press release. But the shift is more than geographic—Slutzky is probably the most liberal member of the board, while Boyd is surely the most conservative. With the election of White Hall District’s Anne Mallek in 2007, the BoS became majority-Democratic. (Mallek was named the BoS’ vice chair today.) Slutzky can drive conservative Republicans to distraction, so expect today’s change to lead to some anger and hand-wringing in some quarters of the county.
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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We don’t have a podcast for this one, but we wrote up a little story at Charlottesville Tomorrow.
Another change in the County is that Eric Strucko is now chair of the County Planning Commission.
Does this mean that Slutsky won’t run against Bell for Richmond?
Well I hope he’ll bring about a bit more change than we’ve seen so far. I’d hoped that a Democratic majority would cause the county to come up with some more responsible contraints on growth. So far that hasn’t been the case.
The C-ville Tommorow article mentions that Sally Thomas’ term is up next year. While I personally would hope that she’ll run for another term, I’ve heard a rumor that she probably will not. I wonder if I should run for her seat?
Waldo, how does that work anyway? How does one get the Democrats to nominate you? I suspect I’d stand a chance in hades, but who knows?
Actually, Lonnie, BoS seats are officially nonpartisan. Parties don’t nominate candidates. You just up and run. :) You’d just need to file your papers with the SBE, get enough signatures to show up on the ballot, and you’re in.
the running.
why doesn’t the City have the same system I think we’d see better candidates
TJ, the city system is much simpler- you get the democratic nomination and your in. No need for lots of mail and pesky door to door. If your really luckly they will change the nominating process just to screw you. (just like they did for Waldo)
As for the Chairman of the BOS I thought they did on taking turns. And if you do it right your the Chairman when you run for re-election. Slutsky, who never seen a tax increase he didn’t like, will probably try to get his unworkable development rights scheme going.
I’ve spoken to Slutsky about his TDR proposal, and I suspect he’d be okay with a much simplier TDR program serving a much smaller and specific need.
For example, currently it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to get an easement on a small parcel. You can’t even donate them most of the time because no one will hold them.
It may be possible that through TDR the county could grant small land owners a means to voluntarily extinguish the division rights on their properties and acquire the same tax benefit as those using land use.
Initially the program could serve just to remove development rights from small parcels containing identified rare species, or items of cultural or historical value to the community. This would then also preserve TDR as a tool for later use.
This is one way of going forward with TDR that I think everyone could support.
Actually the City Council and Board of Supervisor elections for November 2009 are handled the same way. Political parties can place a nominee on the ballot between May 8, 2009 and June 9, 2009. Both the Albemarle County Republicans and Albemarle County Democrats nominated candidates for the Board of Supervisors in 2007. Charlottesville Democrats nominated a slate of three candidates for City Council.
Candidates can also opt to run as independents and then their petition signatures and candidate declaration forms have to be submitted by June 9, 2009.
It is the School Board races that are non-partisan in that only the voters, through petition signatures, can place a school board candidate on the ballot. The political parties may endorse after the fact, but they can’t get you on the ballot for school board.
Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
That’s really interesting, Brian—I had no idea. Reading through the archives of cvillenews.com, it’s apparent that I once knew that, but at some point it vanished from my head. :) Thanks!
Okay then… question remains. How does one get the Democrats to nominate you? Basically do you attend alot of parties and just talk up your potential, or is there actually a process of some sort?
Lonnie, Brian wrote about the County Democrats’ caucus in May 2007, and there’s also audio and video that documents the process.
A month later, Brian also covered the City Democratic convention.