Follow the money
Breaking down campaign finance reports
With election day less than two weeks away, candidates will submit their final campaign fundraising reports on October 28. Using data provided by the Virginia Public Access Project, here are how things stand in two races with significant local ties, as of the last reports submitted September 30.
Charlottesville City Council
The three Democratic candidates raised (and spent) most of their money before the June primary, with Lloyd Snook leading the way in both fundraising and spending among the six candidates still on the ballot. He’s received $60,486 in donations overall, including $5,000 contributions from author John Grisham, VinoTours owner Richard Hewitt, and Virginia Realtors. VPAP reports that Snook has spent $45,289, with a significant chunk going toward TV ads.
Behind Snook are Sena Magill ($35,603 raised) and Michael Payne ($24,055), followed by independent candidates Bellamy Brown ($17,071), Paul Long ($801), and John Hall ($756). Magill received the largest individual donation—$10,000 from longtime Democratic donor Sonjia Smith back in 2018—while Payne leads in small donations with 228 contributions of less than $100.
Brown, however, has led all candidates since the primary, with $5,194 raised between July and August. His top donors include Ludwig Kuttner, owner of IX Art Park, who contributed $1,000. Magill ranks second over that span with $1,715, followed by Snook at $550, and Payne at $185.
State Senate – District 17
Former Charlottesville School Board member Amy Laufer (D) is challenging incumbent Senator Bryce Reeves (R), who’s represented the 17th District since 2012. While Reeves has outraised Laufer roughly $1.3 million to $880,000, he’s lost ground to her in Albemarle County. Laufer, a county resident and UVA alum, received $228,758 in Albemarle donations, dwarfing Reeves’ $14,450 figure.
The 17th District encompasses parts of Albemarle, Louisa, Orange, Culpeper, and Spotsylvania counties, as well as Fredericksburg City.
Stay in the fight
The World Series has arrived, and the Washington Nationals are facing off against the Houston Astros in D.C.’s first appearance in the best-of-seven series since 1933. Looking for somewhere to watch the games—and cheer for former UVA standouts Ryan Zimmerman and Sean Doolittle? Check out these places:
Twenty percent off for wearing Nats gear: Draft Taproom (Downtown Mall)
Best wings in town: Asado Wing & Taco Company (1327 W. Main St.)
Watch outdoors: Boylan Heights (102 14th St. NW)
Play pool between innings: Firefly (1304 E. Market St.)
Big screen, sound on: Buffalo Wild Wings (431 Gander Dr.)
Open late for weekend games: Beer Run (156 Carlton Rd., Suite 203)
Feeling an Irish pub?: Tin Whistle (609 E. Market St.)
Eat chicken and waffles while you watch: Holly’s Diner (1221 E. Market St.)
Quote of the week
“The world is looking to Charlottesville to set a precedent.” —Rosia Parker, a member of the initial Police Civilian Review Board and The People’s Coalition, on City Council’s CRB proposal
In brief
Civilians weigh in on CRB
Members of the city’s initial Police Civilian Review Board, which spent a year formulating a proposal for how the board should be run, protested what they called a “watered down” version of the bylaws put forward by City Council at its October 21 meeting. In a press conference outside City Hall and in public comment, members and others criticized council’s version for eliminating the auditor role, not allocating a budget for the CRB, and removing its authority to comprehensively review police policies.
Acknowledging history
On October 23, city schools will unveil a historic marker at Johnson Elementary School to recognize the first black students to enroll in the then-all-white school in 1962. There are also markers outside Venable Elementary and the Albemarle County Office building, formerly Lane High School.
Moneyline mistake
A University of Alabama student from Crozet has pleaded not guilty to calling in a bomb threat to the Louisiana State University football stadium during a game against Florida earlier this month. Baton Rouge police say that Connor Bruce Croll, 19, confirmed he made the threat in an attempt to disrupt the game to prevent his friend from losing a large bet.
Another downtown mural
A new mural has been unveiled on Second Street. Jake Van Yahres—a local artist and Charlottesville native—designed “Together We Grow,” and muralist Christy Baker and Charlottesville High School students have been working to finish it over the past two weeks. The piece is a gift from the Van Yahres Tree Company to celebrate the company’s 100 years in Charlottesville.