Sept 2023 Two Cents (sl)
on the Nonpartisan school board choice Referendum
by Louise Evans
When the Commonwealth of Virginia gives the right and the power to the electorate over the power of just one voter in the district to decide who is to represent them on the school board, why would you want to cede that power to just one individual voter? Why would you not want to take advantage of the opportunity to choose who represents you? This is the home of Patrick Henry, known as a fiery orator promoting the fight for independence and freedom from tyranny.
When a school board member is appointed, they are more obligated to vote the way their appointed official wants them to, even when it may not be in the best interest of the school system. By being elected by the voters, the school board representative is accountable to the voters and not to just one voter in the district. Read more
Latest News Oct 23 (sl)
LOOK LIKE A HANOVER DEM!
Whether you are working the polls or just want to show your support for our party, look like a Hanover Democrat. Follow this link to get your Hanover Dem shirt, T-shirt or sweatshirt. Let's look our best for our party.
Oct 2023 Next meeting (sl)
MEET OUR NEXT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY ON OCT. 14
Join us at our October Hanover Democratic Committee meeting to hear from Mackenzie Babichenko, who is running unopposed for Hanover County Commonwealth's Attorney. She would be the first woman elected as top prosecutor in our county. The meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. at Around the Table, 155 Junction Drive. Ashland VA 23005 in the Rose's Shopping Center.
Mackenzie embarked on her legal career in Portsmouth as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Earle Mobley. She came to Hanover in 2014 and has served in several capacities including Assistant and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, as well as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, overseeing the office under R. E "Trip" Chalkley, III.
Mackenzie resides in the Sliding Hill area with her husband, Igor, and their three children. Please come out to hear her talk about the role of prosecutor on Oct.14.
Oct 2023 Women's Coffee (sl)
COFFEE IS BREWING
All Democratic Women are Invited!
Let's party! Our October Coffee will be a little different — a celebration of our American right to vote with an outdoor Coffee at the early voting Polls. It's a morning Coffee from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, October 16 at the Democratic Greeting Station at the Hanover Courthouse. So bring a folding chair or stool and your best smiles to show support to our voters and show our appreciation for all our candidates while we share refreshments and enjoy getting together.
The Coffee Caucus is a group for all ages — teens, seniors and in-betweens — who meet monthly, sometimes in the day and sometimes in the evening, usually at the homes of volunteer hostesses at different locations around the county. We have no formal memberships or fees. For more information or to RSVP, contact Diane Neergaard at dianeandallen1@gmail.com, or 804-304-1951.
COFFEE IS BREWING
All Democratic Women are Invited!
Let's party! Our October Coffee will be a little different — a celebration of our American right to vote with an outdoor Coffee at the early voting Polls. It's a morning Coffee from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, October 16 at the Democratic Greeting Station at the Hanover Courthouse. So bring a folding chair or stool and your best smiles to show support to our voters and show our appreciation for all our candidates while we share refreshments and enjoy getting together.
Our Hanover Democratic Women's Coffees are for bringing together Democratic women from all parts of Hanover (and sometimes beyond) for energizing fellowship and for forming strong relationships to help elect Democratic candidates and promote our Democratic ideals locally and nationally.
The Coffee Caucus is a group for all ages — teens, seniors and in-betweens — who meet monthly, sometimes in the day and sometimes in the evening, usually at the homes of volunteer hostesses at different locations around the county. We have no formal memberships or fees. For more information or to RSVP, contact Diane Neergaard at dianeandallen1@gmail.com, or 804-304-1951.
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MEET OUR NEXT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY ON OCT. 14
Join us at our October Hanover Democratic Committee meeting to hear from Mackenzie Babichenko, who is running unopposed for Hanover County Commonwealth's Attorney. She would be the first woman elected as top prosecutor in our county. The meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. at Around the Table, 155 Junction Drive. Ashland VA 23005 in the Rose's Shopping Center.
Mackenzie embarked on her legal career in Portsmouth as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Earle Mobley. She came to Hanover in 2014 and has served in several capacities including Assistant and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, as well as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, overseeing the office under R. E "Trip" Chalkley, III.
She is an active participant in the Hanover County Bar Association, Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and other local and regional initiatives such as the Hanover Child Abuse Response Team, Hanover Sexual Abuse Response Team, Richmond Regional Human Trafficking Collaborative, and Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children. Additionally, Mackenzie served as the Republican co-chair of the Virginia Redistricting Commission in 2021.
Mackenzie resides in the Sliding Hill area with her husband, Igor, and their three children. Please come out to hear her talk about the role of prosecutor on Oct.14.
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Campaign for Pam Garner in Senate District 26
Here are two opportunities to help campaign for Pam in her Senate race
Door knocking from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7. If you are a first-time canvasser, we will make sure you are trained and comfortable before you knock, and if you are an experienced canvasser, we will make sure you are set up with a list and literature.
Postcard writing from 6-9 p.m., Monday, October 8. We will be writing postcards to encourage people to get out to vote if they don't usually vote in off-year elections. Once you sign up, the campaign will follow up with more details.
The 26th District includes a large part of eastern Hanover and extends through the middle Peninsula. Pam's website is garnerforva,com.
LOOK LIKE A HANOVER DEM!
Whether you are working the polls or just want to show your support for our party, look like a Hanover Democrat. Follow this link to get your Hanover Dem shirt, T-shirt or sweatshirt. Let's look our best for our party.
HELP GET BIDEN AND HARRIS ON THE BALLOT
Sign up to help Joe Biden and Kamala Harris get on the ballot. Follow this link.
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on the Nonpartisan school board choice Referendum
by Louise Evans
When the Commonwealth of Virginia gives the right and the power to the electorate over the power of just one voter in the district to decide who is to represent them on the school board, why would you want to cede that power to just one individual voter? Why would you not want to take advantage of the opportunity to choose who represents you? This is the home of Patrick Henry, known as a fiery orator promoting the fight for independence and freedom from tyranny.
When a school board member is appointed, they are more obligated to vote the way their appointed official wants them to, even when it may not be in the best interest of the school system. By being elected by the voters, the school board representative is accountable to the voters and not to just one voter in the district.
Elected school boards have more autonomy to work with the parents in the school system, as they are more accountable to the parents. They do not have to fear not being reappointed if they make one vote contrary to one person in the district. If the voters in the district do not think they are doing a good job, they can be voted out. Under the appointed system, the voters have little say in who represents them
The current Republican governor was elected on parental choice in schools. What more evidence is there in parental choice than to elect the school board member who represents you?
Local voters elect the Sheriff, the Treasurer, the Commissioner of Revenue, the Commonwealth Attorney, and Soil and Water Conservation District representatives. None of these have taxing authority. Likewise, an elected school board will have no taxing authority. There is no push to make these elected positions rather than political appointees because when they are accountable to the voters and not the Board of Supervisors. All elected officials must work together for the greater good of the community and the taxpayers.
In 1992, the General Assembly gave the authority for the voters to decide how they want to be represented, by the Board of Supervisors appointing a school board member or by the voters casting a ballot for who will represent them. Only 11 of 133 localities in Virginia still do not elect their school board. In November, all local public office positions are on the ballot. The referendum questioning whether Hanover County should join the vast majority of the localities in the Commonwealth and change from an appointed to an elected school board is on the ballot. This allows Hanover County voters to vote on how they want the school board to be formed. The change is fundamentally who the school board is ultimately accountable to, one Board member or the voters in their district
1992, 31 years, Virginia has been able to have elected school boards for 31 years! And there has been no attempt to allow school boards taxing authority. Why? Because taxing authority in Virginia is at the local Board of Supervisors level. Allowing the voters to elect the school board in Hanover County is not going to change that.
This referendum is nonpartisan. All voters want to choose how our government works. We expect our government to work for us. A Yes vote on the referendum gives the voters the power to directly choose their school board representative.
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