Developing bronchitis during the campaign declaration season turned out to be a fast way to get behind on the news. Catching up—thanks to antibiotics—here’s who’s running.
A pair of candidates have announced for the seat being vacated by conservative Democrat Lindsay Dorrier. Scottsville’s Chris Dumler is running for the Democratic nomination. The 26-year-old attorney and U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps officer says that he intends “to follow in the footsteps of Lindsay Dorrier,” supports closer collaboration with Charlottesville, and is a believer in building a dam rather than dredging. Just today a Republican announced he’s running for the Republican nomination in the district: James C. Norwood, also of Scottsville. The 67-year-old retiree used to run a chain of Virginia shoe stores. He praised Dorrier in his campaign announcement, and said that he wants to promote small businesses and improve the school system by rewarding teachers. He has not taken a position on either the water supply or the western bypass (are we still talking about that?), saying that he has to learn more about those matters.
And a pair of candidates have announced their candidacy for City Council, too. Andrew Williams is taking another bite at the apple, running as an independent candidate. He ran as a write-in candidate last time around, after he failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. The 24-year-old is a student at Averett and a claims adjuster at State Farm. He says he would work to deal with racial issues in the city, and on the topics of the Meadowcreek Parkway and the water supply, he says that “there are some things I don’t know, but I’ll use my energy to find the information I need to make the right decision for residents.” The other candidate is Paul Beyer, the 29-year-old son of homebuilder Rick Beyer, with whom he works at R.L. Beyer. He’ll make it official on Wednesday, but says he’ll be promoting job creation by small businesses, as well as “fostering the music scene, biking community, gardening movement, [and] creative classes.”
Primaries are late this year, due to redistricting—expect more candidacy announcements in the next few weeks. Nominations will be in August, and elections are in November.
How is it that a county that voted for Obama, heck that switched from George W. Bush to John Kerry in 2004, apparently has sunk into libertarianism, tea party symbolism, and real estate interests? Is it the circumstance of a few oddballs on the current board, or the recession, or money calling the tune? Maybe our optimistic suburban Kerry voters are bored by off-year & local politics.
Its the economy stupid.