Illiterate Light ends the year on a high note in a year filled with high notes for the Harrisonburg duo. The band’s critically acclaimed album Sunburned came out in January. In summer they played to sellout crowds as openers for The Head and The Heart. With Jeff Gorman on synth bass pedal and guitar, and Jake Cochran standing at the drums, IL rocks into 2024, and we are all along for the high-energy ride. With Mo Lowda & the Humble and Holy Roller.
Sunday 12/31. $30, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Sing along among the trees at Sarah White’s Country Christmas Show, a festive evening full of twinkling lights, tons of ornaments, and honky-tonk holiday tunes. The Virginia-based singer-songwriter is joined onstage by a sleigh full of local musicians, including Michael Clem, Ian Gilliam, Charlie Bell, Matty Metcalfe, Anna Matijasic, and The (All New) Acorn Sisters. White has performed with Merle Haggard, Justin Townes Earle, Earl Scruggs, and Dave Matthews Band.
Saturday 12/23. $20, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 First St. S. thesoutherncville.com
Count it down at the Quirk’s New Year’s Eve Bash. Festive cocktail attire is encouraged at this chic soirée, which takes over the hotel’s lobby. Snack on hors d’oeuvres, grab your drink of choice, and dance the night away to a funky rock ‘n’ roll set by Disco Risqué. At midnight, watch the ball drop on a live projection, and say so long to 2023 with a champagne toast.
Sunday 12/31. $20, 9pm. Quirk Hotel, 499 W. Main St. quirkhotels.com
Godzilla Minus One reflects the aftermath of World War II and the complexity of the monster’s origin. Photo by Toho International.
Writer and director Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One is easily among 2023’s most engaging, exciting, and poignant films. This isn’t some pulp monster movie to be casually dismissed by snobs—it’s a compelling post-World War II drama that periodically features a monster rearing its huge head, and it gives its big, scaly, radioactive leading man his best—and most ferocious—part in years.
Near the end of World War II, kamikaze pilot Koichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) freezes in terror behind his gun as Godzilla attacks a small island, resulting in heavy casualties. Returning in disgrace to shattered postwar Tokyo, he gradually rebuilds his life in the rubble and forms a surrogate family with young thief Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and Akiko, her adopted infant.
As Japan revives itself, Koichi supports his dependents with a risky job aboard a ship that destroys the war’s leftover mines dotting coastal waters. Meanwhile, atomic testing has rendered Godzilla infinitely more powerful, and the creature starts swimming—as always—toward Tokyo to lay waste to the city and its people. Koichi and his fellow veterans band together in an attempt to destroy the seemingly unstoppable beast.
Godzilla Minus One is essentially a broad reimagining of the original 1954 Godzilla, and it draws somewhat on that film’s adult tone. Unlike the light-hearted juvenilia that Godzilla movies became over subsequent decades, the first film was meant to be genuinely scary and disturbing. The monster represented the horrible aftermath of the atomic bombings and the specter of the nuclear age.
It’s a reminder of how rich monster movies—including Japan’s kaiju (giant monster) films—can be. Sometimes with Godzilla, the audience cheers the big gray guy on as he battles Ghidorah, or some other monster, and wrecks Tokyo. Here, the horrible cost of his mayhem is always evident, and viewers wince at the devastation he wreaks, which is the filmmaker’s intention. Yamazaki presents arguably the most vicious, merciless Godzilla in the entire series’ history.
But it’s the human element that makes Godzilla Minus One so successful. The cast is exceptionally likable and sympathetic, from its leads to supporting characters like neighbor Sumiko (Sakura Ando) to Koichi’s captain, Yoji (Kuranosuke Sasaki). These competent actors keep the story potent while successfully seasoning it with comedy.
It’s astounding that Godzilla Minus One cost a reported $15 million when its production values are so lavish. The visual effects are remarkably convincing, while still paying tribute to the classic Godzilla. Although he is largely a CG effect here, the monster is designed to stay true to its traditional bottom-heavy, man-in-a-suit physicality. Among other touches, Godzilla’s trademark roar carries over from his previous cinematic incarnations, and composer Akira Ifukube’s theme music intensifies the action in several key scenes.
To go into greater detail would likely lead to spoilers. Suffice it to say that Godzilla Minus One excels most current films by a wide margin on all fronts. At a time when foreign releases seldom get American distribution, a subtitled movie about a gargantuan lizard that has captivated audiences this widely is a testament to its overall quality. Hollywood could learn a lot about storytelling from this giant, animated dinosaur that is stomping most of its Oscar bait flat.
In 2023, Charlottesville’s music scene thrived with blurred genres and an array of music venues. The year saw bands incorporating ’80s pop hooks, ’90s synths, and other welcome blasts from the past.
With continued fallout from the pandemic, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar stopped hosting shows, leaving punk and indie bands to find new stages, such as the Visible Records gallery. Chinchilla Café welcomed more experimental acts—Films on Song even recorded a music video there. The Southern Café & Music Hall lineup included bands like Lowland Hum that prefer a quieter atmosphere, and Dürty Nellys kept rockin’ fans in the parking lot with gigs played from the bed of a pickup truck.
Among the many excellent releases from Charlottesville artists, some stand out. The following records (and one single) have a presence that will carry into the future.
Kate Bollinger
“You at Home,” single
A collaboration with Dave Longstreth of Dirty Projectors, the single was written and recorded by the two artists in a day—they returned in a year to add guitars, keys, and even the sound of Bollinger’s clogs on the floor. Bollinger’s sunny lilt drives the song, and the intimately recorded acoustic guitars fill the space around it. Bollinger made her debut with the 2022 EP Look at it in the Light, she’s released standalone singles, and is currently supporting Liz Phair on tour.
David Wax Museum
You Must Change Your Life, LP
The Mexi-Americana of this husband-and-wife duo remains accessible and fun. The band uses Mexican folk instruments to make music that’s consistent with American folk rock, often with throwback vibes. Their music is just easy to listen to (but not easy listening).
Films on Song
Slightly Nightly, LP
On its debut record, Films on Song brings ’80s melodies and crunchy guitars to contemporary, fuzzed-out rock. With flashes of glam and soaring dream pop, the music has a luxe vastness surrounding more modest indie vocals and phrasing.
Illiterate Light
Sunburned, LP
With a massive regional following cultivated at live shows, Harrisonburg’s alt-rock duo Illiterate Light gained an even bigger fan base in 2023, releasing Sunburned in January, followed by a national tour as the opening act for The Head and the Heart. From the start, the new record is heavy, layered, and moody. Just as quickly, it turns into the lo-fi brood of songs like “Fuck LA” and the hook-laced “Hellraiser.”
Kendall Street Company
Separation95, LP
KSC is often compared to jam bands because of its eclectic, top-notch musicianship and energetic live performances. But those wary of the genre should not be dissuaded. Kendall Street Company’s grand vision aligns with mainstays like the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and the group’s songs have a wit and sarcasm more akin to indie rock. Separation95 is a master class in eclectic musicianship, and best of all, the sense of humor never leaves the sound.
Lowland Hum
From Self, With Love, LP
The most recent offering from the Charlottesville husband-and-wife duo Lowland Hum features inviting melodies and lightful arrangements. While some songs center around weightier moments in life, Lauren and Daniel Goans navigate them beautifully, finding things genuinely worthy of celebration. With acoustic instruments and Daniel’s savvy production, the band shows that unplugged doesn’t have to mean oversimplified.
Ships In The Night
Latent Powers, LP
Latent Powers by Ships In The Night (Alethea Leventhal) is one of the year’s best. Leventhal’s ethereal vocals channel dark and light simultaneously. She underpins her voice with trip-hop beats and synth sweeps borrowed from the ’90s but renovated for today. Haunting is the word often used to describe her music and it’s apt, given the resulting goosebumps. If you miss Mazzy Star or the Cranes, Ships In The Night is here and now.
7th Grade Girl Fight
Someone Will Be With You Shortly, EP
The post-punk outfit’s sixth release keeps up the energy of its predecessors. The garage rock vibes inject a ’90s flavor into four songs that surge with an exuberant, witty brand of post-punk.
Sonneblom
lig breek deur, EP
Released in November, this four-song EP of solo piano music is a side project for singer-songwriter Ryan Goodrich. Sonneblom (sunflower in Afrikaans) recorded the EP after visiting his South African grandparents to capture the hope and inspiration he felt. Balancing the contemplative with the up-tempo, these songs are perfect for background listening.
Senlin Means and Ellie Picard opened The Beautiful Idea, Charlottesville’s first “anti-fascist bookstore, queer market, and radical community hub,” on the Downtown Mall. Photo by Tristan Williams.
In considering the bookish highlights of the past year—the breadth of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and zines read and shared with others; the bookstore shelves browsed and little free libraries visited; the virtual and in-person readings, discussions, and book clubs attended—a theme emerges. Books by queer writers, about queer characters, and curated by queer booksellers are as critically important as ever. They are also notable in their shared attention to exploring the intersections of self and stranger, mundane and otherworldly, and joy and grief, spotlighting the fluid and universal concepts that unite us.
In times when the world can feel crushing in its extremes and the weight of genocide, health inequities, and climate collapse stoops our backs and hunches our shoulders, these books and spaces offer comfort and encouragement to take a breath, take action, and take care of each other.
Poem Bitten by a Manby Brian Teare
For anyone familiar with Lambda Literary Award-winning poet and University of Virginia professor Brian Teare’s work, Poem Bitten by a Man will be a joy to encounter, and for those new to it, an invitation. This book-length lyric essay explores themes of Southern identity, queerness, and illness, alongside the lived experiences, work, and inspirations of artists, creating a collage drawn from the archives, the poet’s own journals, and the paintings whose physicality belies the real and imagined worlds from which we admire them.
This book made the list for the abundant pleasure of holding Teare’s phrases in one’s mouth while reading lines such as “Glyph or grammar, the difference has something to do with time, the way I open the notebook then the laptop years later, write then type, fold seconds into each syllable, minutes into each sentence, the selves of each moment cool & creased as they collapse into pleats.”
What else to know: Albion Books, Teare’s poetry micropress, is currently in the middle of its ninth subscription series of limited-edition, hand-bound poetry chapbooks, which reflect the same care and attention to detail that Teare puts into his writing.
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
National Book Award finalist and local author Amber McBride’s young adult novel in verse is for readers of all ages. A mythical journey through grief and depression, the tale is filled with magic, even while exploring the violence and pain of white supremacy, suicide, and childhood trauma. Its thoughtful content warnings should be taken seriously, though, and it is not a book for everyone or every mood. However, it is an honest and heartfelt work that was inspired by McBride’s own experience grappling with clinical depression, and informed by her grandmother’s Hoodoo practices, which were passed down to her. Ultimately, We Are All So Good at Smiling made this list for the ways it opens up readers to conversations around mental health, and celebrates the power of friendship and family, community and healing.
What else to know: McBride’s new book of poetry, a collection that draws inspiration from Hoodoo and tarot in examining death, rebirth, and Black womanhood, will be published in February.
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
For queer mountain lions and the people who love them, by which I mean: You should all read this book and share it with others, if you haven’t already. Charlottesville native Henry Hoke returns with another slim tome that topples preconceived notions you may have about whose stories get told and how. This short and singular book is more than a bit unlike other novels that have attempted to probe the topics of queerness, chosen families, human destructiveness, and environmental collapse—and is better for it in terms of both its unique narrative approach and its compact structure. Earning starred reviews and making best-of lists aplenty, Open Throat is a surreal and satisfying exploration of community, storytelling, and identity that offers a propulsive and unforgettable reading experience.
What else to know: Hoke will moderate a conversation with fellow writer Kaveh Akbar in January at New Dominion Bookshop.
The Beautiful Idea
No one can claim that Charlottesville doesn’t have great bookstores. From used bookshops with thousands of titles stacked every which way to stores specializing in bright, new books and literary events with award-winning authors, it’s a decadent ecosystem for the bookish among us. This saturation makes it all the more exciting when a local space opens that offers new and needed realms of books and zines. Enter The Beautiful Idea, a trans-owned, antifascist bookstore (and more) that opened in September on the Downtown Mall, bringing together the offerings of the F12 Infoshop with dozens of queer vendors, artists, and bookmakers. Tall shelves line the walls, filled with novels, nonfiction, graphic novels, zines, and so much more, with a focus on queer and trans writers as well as radical and antifascist perspectives.
What else to know: If the in-store selection feels like sensory overload, try focusing on the staff picks shelf or sign up for the Antifa Book Club to receive curated books and zines each month.
Mary Esselman at Veritas Illuminated. Supplied photo.
My Christmas spirit sense starts tingling early and often here in Charlottesville. Way before Carter Mountain Orchard serves its first apple cider donut, I’m half-deranged with holiday anticipation, eager to push past the trick-or-treating munchkins on the Lawn and the dry forkfuls of Thanksgiving dinner, just to get to the good stuff:
running the Downtown Mall dressed like Santa Claus.
snuggling into Lost Saint, the subterranean speakeasy, for a frothy winter Flip.
wassailing ’round the fire at Potter’s Craft Cider.
wiping away a Tiny Tim tear at the Shakespeare Theater’s A Christmas Carol.
and enduring Sherry Taylor playing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” for the 1,000th time on 95.1 because I know if I hang on long enough she’ll play Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” and all will be right with the world.
Call me Buddy the Elf (I do resemble a menopausal Will Ferrell), but I can’t help loving this time of year, with its weird, wonderful traditions and discoveries. Somehow they help me make sense of an upside-down world, as if I’m watching glitter settle slowly on a peaceful snow globe scene.
This particularly dark December I needed to find light—strong enough to pull me from the pallor of my laptop, and bright enough to reveal hope for humanity.
That’s how my beleaguered husband (you try living with Buddy the Elf) found himself driving us, on a chilly Thursday evening, down Route 151 to check out a fancy winery light display, and a not-so-fancy winery homage to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
What
Veritas Illuminated light display at Veritas Vineyard & Winery, and a boozy pop-up Christmas Vacation experience at Flying Fox Vineyard & Winery (Veritas’ hip, younger sibling).
Why
To find twilight against the mountains, twinkling in the trees, and an irreverent cup of Cousin Eddie cheer.
How it went
A bedazzling, hilarious combination of comfort and joy.
Veritas Illuminated was like a fizzy, festive cocktail of an experience, warmed by the sunset glow over the mountains and the crackling fire inside the tasting room.
Flying Fox Christmas Vacation was like an eggnog chaser served in a plastic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer mug—creamy and sweet, with a ticklish kick.
In 20 years we’d never been to Veritas, and I was surprised by its natural beauty and charm. I’d expected something more country clubby, where we’d feel underdressed and out of place. But we felt comfortable goofing off right away, snapping selfies under the lit-up gazebo and within the giant, holiday-wrapped photo frame near the patio.
Stepping inside the tasting room, however, we were momentarily struck dumb by the picture-perfect holiday scene: what looked like the cast of White Christmas sipping wine before the massive stone fireplace; a towering evergreen, merrily bedecked; friendly staff serving hot chocolate and mulled wine; and breathtaking views of the purpled mountains in the darkening night. We feasted on stew and a fried chicken biscuit, then headed out on the half-mile walking path through the illuminated woods.
Ah, the lights! Traipsing through the sparkling grove felt like traveling through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, past the Sea of Twirly-swirly Gumdrops—and also a bit like wandering through the woods in Narnia with Lucy and Aslan: magical, exhilarating, and full of sweet surprises.
When we’d had our fill of outdoor wonder, we stopped by Flying Fox for the yang to Veritas’ yin. What a hoot. A holiday “Schitt’s Creek” motel vibe on the outside, and Cousin Eddie’s powder-blue leisure suit vibe on the inside. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation plays on an old-school TV as you enter. Multi-colored tinsel and ticky-tacky taxidermy grace the ceiling and walls, and you can nurse your eggnog on the groovy sofa near the life-sized plastic manger scene.
Somewhere between the Veritas glow and the Griswoldian splendor, I realized I’d found the imperfect but hopeful humanity I’d sought, what Yeats called “the uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor.”
So don’t be a cotton-headed ninny muggins this holiday season: go find joy in the light.
The results are in! In November, C-VILLE readers submitted the best photo they captured in 2023, each illustrating the theme “What a day!” Our judges—Ézé Amos and Stacey Evans—reviewed more than 80 submissions, and what follows are the best of the bunch. The final list features gorgeous landscapes, bustling wildlife, and captivating shots in and around Charlottesville. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated.
1. “Varied Interests” by Raman Pfaff
May 7, 2023. iPhone 14 Pro. Mona Lisa draws daily crowds at the Louvre, but in this photo some seemed more interested in other art. One seems to want the day at the museum to end.
2. “Rainy Day at Fourth and Market” by Steve Ashby
January 28, 2023. Canon-P. The intersection at Fourth and Market streets was glossy from a light rain as I waited for a shopper to exit the Market Street Market. Exposed at 1/8th of a second with a Canon-P equipped with a 53mm/2.8 Soviet-era lens and loaded with long-expired Kodak Plus-X film. Processed for 10 minutes in Kodak HC-110, dilution “H” (1:63).
3. “Alone Time” by Max Hoecker
October 1, 2023. Canon G7X. I was in Baltimore to see the Orioles. Meanwhile, there was an anime convention going on at the time. My family was at the food truck when I noticed this participant sitting by herself.
4. “White Pelicans Fish Buffet” by Stuart Scott
July 27, 2023. Olympus E-M1 MarkII with Leica DG 100-400/F4.0-6.3. While visiting Yellowstone National Park, I was surprised to see a group of white pelicans working as a team to herd small fish for their meal. I have a series of pictures as they stay in a line formation then curl around to trap their next meal. You can see the ripples in the water as they move in for a feast. I watched for over an hour as they repeated the fish herding.
5. “Labyrinth” by Carlton Carroll
May 20, 2023. Autel EVO 2 Drone. This new labyrinth was created at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont by a local scout for her Eagle Scout project. The scout designed the labyrinth layout, and with the help of her troop, cleared, tilled, and placed the logs. This photo was taken as the project was completed.
6. “Fall Beauty in Aspen” by Laura Mark
October 1, 2023. iPhone 13 Plus. This picture was taken at the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen, Colorado.
7. “Seaside Splendor” by Chloë-Ester K. Cook
May 28, 2023. Nikon L35 AF, Ektar 100 Film. This was taken at the Calanque d’En Vau in the Calanques National Park outside of Cassis, France, with my partner on my first-ever European trip. Calanques are beautiful steep-walled inlets of the Mediterranean Sea—and they’re worth every step of the slick, sharp, sweaty hike it takes to get there.
8. “A Few of My Favorite Things!” by Bill Shaw
January 7, 2023. Canon EOS 6D, EF50mm lens. Depicting my wife with a few of her favorite things. Raindrops on roses, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens!
9. “Bonfire at Bagatelle” by Mike Powers
October 28, 2023. iPhone 13 Pro. The full moon rises over a majestic bonfire marking the end of a perfect fall day in Albemarle County, as teens relax while keeping an eye on social media feeds.
10. “Ferry to Vinalhaven” by Forest Veerhoff
August 21, 2023. Canon Rebel 2000, Portra 160 Film. I took this photo on a backpacking trip in Maine this summer. We began our journey here on a ferry to the island of Vinalhaven. I captured this moment because I was drawn to how each subject is in their own world, some of them even ignoring the beauty around them. We see here a sense of wanderlust and adventure and a question of who these people are and where they are going.
Our judges:
Ézé Amos is a documentary photographer and photojournalist who immigrated to Charlottesville from Nigeria in 2008, and now captures the unique spirit and energy of our city. His many photo projects include Cville People Everyday, Cville Porch Portraits, Witnessing Resistance, and his most recent and ongoing project, The Story of Us “Reclaiming The Narrative of #Charlottesville Through Storytelling and Portraits of Community Resilience.” Amos is also an affiliate photographer with numerous national and international media organizations, and his work has been featured by The New York Times, Getty Images, NPR, AP, CNN, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker, among others. Amos’ photo of the melting of Charlottesville’s Robert E. Lee statue made Time magazine’s Top 100 Photos of 2023.
Stacey Evans is the imaging specialist and project coordinator at the University of Virginia Library Digital Production Group. She has over 25 years of experience as an artist, educator, and professional photographer, and her work has been published, exhibited, and collected nationally. Her art practice focuses on the intersection of the built environment and nature through topographic photography from moving vehicles. She previously taught workshops on digital photography through the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Piedmont Virginia Community College, and now privately. Evans graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a bachelor of fine arts in photography.
During the height of holiday traffic before and after Christmas, the Virginia Department of Transportation will suspend most work zones and lane closures. But VDOT says that drivers should still be cautious, with more cars on the road and potential inclement weather. Photo by Virginia Department of Transportation.
Sure, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But along with holiday festivities comes the traffic. Lots of traffic. And while roads will be bumper to bumper in the coming weeks, the Virginia Department of Transportation has a few tips for minimizing your travel stress.
According to VDOT, the periods of heaviest traffic will be the Friday and Saturday before Christmas (December 22 and 23) and the weekdays immediately following the holiday (December 26 to 28). Some areas where traffic is expected to be the worst include I-95 northbound and southbound near Fredericksburg and I-395 northbound near Arlington. VDOT will suspend a majority of work zones and lane closures during the peak holiday travel window, but some semi-permanent zones will remain closed. Construction, lane, and shoulder closures will continue in Hampton Roads, which may cause significant congestion on nearby portions of I-64.
VDOT also reminds drivers to stay safe this season and keep an eye on weather conditions. “One of the things that we always stress—and it’s really easy for people to forget … in all the business of the holiday season—is to make sure that you stay weather aware,” says Lou Hatter, VDOT communications manager for the Culpeper District. “Particularly as we get into the colder parts of the year, people who are traveling should always be aware of the weather conditions, not just where they are, but also where they’re going … and the route along the way.”
Hatter also recommends that travelers dress for the weather when driving, and have resources on hand in case of an emergency. “It’s always a good idea to have some kind of a winter coat, some sort of decent footwear, again just in case you get stuck,” he says. “You don’t want to be stuck out on the road somewhere in traffic backup wearing short pants and flip flops in December. It’s always a good idea to pack those extra clothes, [and] something that can help you stay warm if for some reason you get stuck.”
Safe driving is important year-round, but especially when roads are crowded. In addition to standard best practices of using turn signals, wearing seat belts, and not driving when distracted or under the influence, VDOT recommends leaving extra space between you and the car in front of you.
“With increased traffic, it’s even more important to make sure that you maintain a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles,” says Hatter. “Be aware and thoughtful about the fact that there’s going to be more traffic out there on the roads.”
According to data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, areas of high traffic were the most frequent crash sites across the Charlottesville area in 2023. Areas with some of the highest crash volumes this year include the Barracks Road Shopping Center, Route 29 near Stonefield, the 250 Bypass at Pantops, and Interstate 64.
To learn more about anticipated traffic conditions across Virginia this holiday season and other VDOT safety recommendations, visit vdot.virginia.gov. Real-time conditions can be found through the Virginia 511 app or information line.
Fifth District Rep. Bob Good was named chair of the House Freedom Caucus on December 11, and will start the job in January. For years, the Freedom Caucus has played a prominent role in congressional politics, including the ouster of former House speaker Kevin McCarthy and the lengthy process to elect a replacement speaker.
In a press release announcing his appointment, Good said, “I look forward to building on the work [Scott Perry] has done and continuing the fight to reduce government spending, secure our borders, and defend our constitutional freedoms.” The Virginia representative will replace Pennsylvania Congressman Perry as chair of the ultra-conservative caucus.
Good was elected to Congress in 2020, and has gained significant influence amid a divided Republican party. Though his new leadership position may bolster his national prominence, the local impact of Good’s chairmanship is likely to be limited, according to University of Virginia Crystal Ball Editor Kyle Kondik.
Rather than give him direct access to additional resources for Virginia’s 5th District, Good’s appointment affords him additional political sway within Congress, due to the narrow Republican majority in the House.
“The Freedom Caucus as a group does exert some power within the Republican Conference,” says Kondik. “There’s a lot of must-pass bills that have come down the pike this past year. And typically, the majority party is the one that’s on the hook for providing the votes for that. But the Republicans haven’t had party unity on a lot of these things.”
Newly elected Delegate John McGuire announced he will challenge Good for the Republican congressional nomination in 2024, partially due to Good’s lack of support for former president Donald Trump. Good, however, may get a boost from his new position in the primary election. “Given that primary electorates can be kind of ideological, [it] may be helpful to Good that he’s in with the Freedom Caucus,” says Kondik. “It’s gonna be harder to get to his right.”
Virginia’s 5th District is pretty safely Republican, meaning Good is unlikely to be defeated in the 2024 general election—but the congressman’s new position could bolster a Democratic challenger. “Certainly the case that Democrats would make against Bob Good is just that he’s too far right, even for a conservative leaning district,” says Kondik. “Maybe it’s easier to make that kind of argument when he’s in charge of the Freedom Caucus.”
In brief
Civic duty
The City of Charlottesville announced that it intends to fill a vacancy on the Police Civilian Oversight Board, and that applications are open to the public. The PCOB monitors the Charlottesville Police Department, with a stated mission of promoting transparency, fair policing, and the protection of citizens’ civil rights. Anyone interested in serving on the board, can apply through the Charlottesville Boards and Commissions Vacancies webpage by February 29, 2024.
Special invite
University of Virginia rower Sky Dahl was invited to January’s 2024 Paralympic Selection Camp. Dahl, a junior, is one of 13 athletes participating in the camp, which selects the rowers who will represent the United States in the 2024 Paralympic Games, held in Paris from August 31 to September 1. The camp will host the athletes in Sarasota, Florida.
Sky Dahl. Photo by UVA Athletics.
New rep
The Albemarle County School Board has selected a new representative for the Rio Magisterial District, after the seat was vacated when Katrina Callsen resigned to run for a House of Delegates seat. Charles Pace, a former Albemarle County Public Schools teacher and central office administrator, will fill the role. Pace taught biology and chemistry at Albemarle High School, served as K-12 science instructional coordinator, and as science department chairperson for Blue Ridge School. Despite his recent appointment, he may face competition in November, as the Rio seat will be up for grabs at the next general election.
