Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

Page 126 of 549

Analog Stations Will Disappear on Monday

Four of the five local TV stations will switch to broadcasting digital signals on Tuesday, Brian McNeill writes in the Progress. NBC-29, CBS-19, ABC-16, and FOX-27 will all cease to broadcast in analog, although NBC-29 is compelled by the FCC to broadcast 24/7 instructions on switching to digital for the next couple of months. WHTJ, the local PBS affiliate, will continue their low-power analog broadcast until June, when they’ll shut it off.

Study: Albemarle Co. is Pretty Efficient

A third-party audit has found that Albemarle County is efficiently operated, but can improve, Brandon Shulleeta writes in today’s Daily Progress. The 112-page report (612K PDF) enumerates 140 ways that money can be saved, though a bunch of them require big up-front spending for long-term savings, which can be politically difficult. Interestingly, one recommendation is to hire more staff, since the county is apparently pretty lean in some departments, which sounds good, but actually results in inefficiencies. Shulleeta lists some of the more interesting recommendations, but it’s worth flipping through the report to see more of them. The study was conducted by VCU’s Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute.

Lowry May Run for BoS

A fellow by the name of John Lowry, of North Garden, is looking to run for Sally Thomas’ seat on the Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Brian Wheeler reports for Charlottesville Tomorrow. Lowry is the chair of the Albemarle Economic Development Authority, a William & Mary alumnus, and is retired from a career in finance. Thomas hasn’t stated her intentions for reelection, so it’s a fair guess that Lowry’s decision is contingent on whether or not she’ll be running, too. He’s got a campaign website, and is in the process of collecting signatures to get on the ballot to run as an independent, though he may opt to run with party affiliation. The green color scheme on his website says “Democrat”…but his bowtie says “Republican.”

Szakos to Seek Dem. Nomination for Council

Community organizer Kristin Szakos is running for the Democratic nomination for City Council, Chiara Canzi reports for C-Ville Weekly. Szakos was the volunteer coordinator for the Obama-Biden campaign in Charlottesville, and plans to formally announce her campaign on Saturday. More information about her is available on her campaign website.

Both Mayor David Norris and Vice Mayor Julian Taliaferro are up for reelection at the end of this, their first term. Neither have publicly stated whether they intend to run for another term. Though the general election is in November, the Democrats’ nomination process isn’t yet clear. The party has long held a nomination convention, requiring hundreds of people to pile into a room and remain there through round after round of voting. When there are few candidates (as with the unchallenged Norris and Taliaferro, two years ago), it goes smoothly. But when there are a bunch of candidates (like in 2002), it’s an hours-long process that might make for interesting sport, but it’s hugely unpleasant and not particularly democratic. There’s debate within the party over changing the process this time around, such as moving to something closer to a traditional primary. Since the Democrats just about always win, how the nominees are chosen basically determines who is going to sit on Council.

Rodney Thomas Running for BoS

Republican Rodney Thomas is running against incumbent Democrat David Slutzky for Board of Supervisors, Brian Wheeler writes for Charlottesville Tomorrow. Thomas is a former chair of the Albemarle Planning Commission, owner Charlottesville Press, and was a 1999 graduate of the Sorensen Institute‘s Political Leaders Program.

He’s a good guy for Republicans to be running. He’s a nice guy, thoughtful and capable, rather the opposite of the sort of candidates who Virginia Republicans tend to put forward against incumbent Democrats. David Slutzky may have a fight on his hands.

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