Tag: Government & Courts

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A local guide to voting in this year’s non-presidential races

Albemarle County school board candidates Chuck Pace (left) and Jim Dillenbeck (right). Supplied photos.

It’s election season, and presidential candidates aren’t the only ones vying for your vote. From the federal to the local level, here are some of the other candidates Charlottesville-area voters will see on their ballots.

Federal

In addition to selecting a U.S. senator (see pg. 10), Virginians will elect their next batch of congressional representatives.

Following redistricting in 2022, area residents will vote in either the 5th (Charlottesville, Nelson, Fluvanna, and most of Albemarle) or 7th (Greene, Orange, a portion of northern Albemarle) district races. In the 5th, John McGuire (R) and Gloria Witt (D) are running to replace incumbent Bob Good, who was knocked out of the race in the June Republican primary. With Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s decision to run in the 2025 gubernatorial election, either Derrick Anderson (R) or Eugene Vindman (D) will be elected the next representative of VA-7.

State

Across the commonwealth, voters will also weigh in on an amendment to Virginia’s property tax exemption for veterans and surviving spouses. The proposed amendment would change language in the state constitution from “killed in action” to “died in the line of duty.” Changing the wording would extend the current tax exemption to all surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty, including those killed in action who are already eligible.

Local

Albemarle County

In Albemarle County’s Rio Magisterial District, ballots will be cast in a special election for either Jim Dillenbeck or Chuck Pace to serve the remaining year of now-Del. Katrina Callsen’s term on the board. Pace was appointed to the position by the school board last year, and is seeking formal election to the body.  

Scottsville

Albemarle and Fluvanna residents in the Town of Scottsville will cast their ballots in mayoral and Town Council elections. Current Scottsville Mayor Ronald Smith is seeking reelection, with Vice Mayor Edward Payne also tossing his hat in the ring. This year’s election is abnormal as there are three seats open on the Scottsville Town Council, but only one candidate on the ballot—current council member Alex Bessette.

Outside of Scottsville, Fluvanna County has no local races on the ballot this year.

Nelson

In Nelson County, Neely Hull is the sole candidate in the special election for treasurer.

Greene

A special election for treasurer is also on the ballot in Greene County, with Dawn Marshall the lone candidate.

In the Stanardsville District, voters will elect a Board of Supervisors member, with Stephen Catalano the only non-write-in candidate. In Stanardsville proper, there is a special election for a Town Council term expiring at the end of 2026.

Orange

In Gordonsville, residents are voting in several local races, with the mayorship and two seats on Town Council up for grabs. Town Councilor Ron Brooks III is the only candidate for mayor, with current Vice Mayor Emily Winkey, planning commission member Stevean Irving II, and Mary “Cyd” Black running for council.

The Town of Orange also has two Town Council seats on the ballot. Four newcomers are running for the positions: James Cluff, JL “Jeff” Crane, Delmer Seal Jr., and Rita Carroll.

For more information on local elections or to view sample ballots, visit elections.virginia.gov or your respective city or county website.

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Tim Kaine and Hung Cao talk policy and priorities

Candidates Tim Kaine (left) and Hung Cao (right). Supplied photos.

Virginia is one of 33 states with a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs this November. Two-term incumbent Tim Kaine (D) faces a challenge from former navy Captain Hung Cao (R). In the lead-up to Election Day, C-VILLE reached out to both candidates via email.

C-VILLE: What are your top priorities if elected to the Senate?

Tim Kaine: The economy, affordable housing, and health care are issues I hear about all across Virginia.

I’ve proudly helped pass legislation to create good-paying manufacturing jobs, supercharge the green energy sector, and rebuild our infrastructure, but we must do more. Our American Rescue Plan ushered the strongest jobs recovery on record and expanded the child tax credit. …  I’m working to bring that tax cut back and make it permanent. To grow our economy, we must also pass a comprehensive immigration reform package to both secure our border and enable companies to hire more skilled workers.

In 2017, I cast a deciding vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act, protecting the health care coverage of 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. In 2022, I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to slash prescription drug costs. In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, I have introduced the only bipartisan bill in Congress that would guarantee all women the freedom to make their own reproductive choices.  

I have spent my entire career, including 17 years as a fair housing attorney, fighting for fair housing and working to lower housing costs in Virginia. My LIFT [Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers] Act would help first-time, first-generation homebuyers accelerate wealth-building through homeownership. We need to get this passed and signed into law. 

Hung Cao: Securing our open border. In fact, everything that’s going wrong in our country right now stems from our wide-open southern border, and Virginians across the commonwealth know it. … Our wide-open southern border is a huge national security threat.

How does your platform align with and support the best interests of Virginians?

TK: My campaign motto is “Standing Up for Virginia” because my entire campaign is entirely about Virginia. … If I continue to have the great honor of serving my commonwealth, I’ll keep building on my work and keep listening to Virginians and what’s on their minds.

I want to continue lowering costs for Virginia families by cutting the cost of child care and slashing taxes for working families.

Communities across the country, but especially northern Virginia, are facing rising housing costs. I introduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act, which would protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination, the Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers Act, and am one of the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act. I support an expansion of the low-income housing tax credit, responsible for increasing the supply of affordable rental housing.

HC: We have to make the cost of living, goods, gas, and groceries more affordable. Under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Tim Kaine’s radical agenda, Americans and Vir­ginians are hurting from the increased cost of goods and prices, making the American dream no longer what it was when my family and I immigrated to this country. But we have to start with securing the border. That’s step one. … We need to put the American people and Virginians first and that begins with closing our border.

How do your policy positions differ from your opponent? How, if at all, do they overlap or intersect?

TK: Unlike my opponent, I trust Virginia women to make their own health care decisions. After the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, I got to work and introduced the only bipartisan bill in Congress that would codify the core holdings of Roe v. Wade and related Supreme Court cases to protect access to abortion and birth control. 

I proudly helped pass legislation that is expanding high-speed internet, rebuilding roads and bridges, rail and public transit, ports and airports all over Virginia. I also worked to pass legislation that is bringing manufacturing back to America and easing supply chain issues. My opponent opposed all of these investments and the good-paying jobs they are bringing, and would vote against the reauthorization of our bipartisan infrastructure law in 2026.

… I believe health care is a right, which is why I’ve introduced a Medicare-X plan that which would give all Virginians access to a plan similar to Medicare. Furthermore, I will always fight to defend Social Security and Medicare and ensure that these programs are sustainable for generations to come. 

HC: I am running for U.S. Senate to save the country that saved my life. I spent 25 years in Navy Special Operations with combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, while Tim Kaine spent 30 years in elected office. … In the U.S. Senate, I will always put Virginia first and protect the commonwealth.

If elected to the Senate, will you certify election results regardless of party outcome if the election is deemed free and fair?

TK: Of course! 

HC: Yes.

What, if any, concerns do you have with your opponent, his campaign, or his platform?

TK: My opponent has insulted and talked down to the Virginians that he hopes to represent in the U.S. Senate. … He has also continued to insult Virginians by failing to show up for them, when he skipped 12 of 13 candidate forums in his Republican primary election. My favorite part of my job is traveling and meeting Virginians in every corner of the commonwealth. If someone won’t show up for you, they won’t stand up for you.

HC: After 25 years serving our country in the Navy, I’ve been all over the world. I’ve seen communism first-hand and know what it’s like to lose your country. We’re losing ours today and trust me, there’s nowhere else to go. I’ve spent my life trying to repay my debt to America, and I’m not done fighting for us. Tim Kaine is a weak man in a dangerous world and along with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, he is destroying Virginia’s way of life.

This interview has been edited for length.

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Democratic candidate Gloria Witt on her priorities, platform, and opponent

Democratic candidate Gloria Witt grew up in Amherst County, which is located in Virginia’s 5th District. Supplied photo.

Voters in Virginia’s 5th District will choose a new congressional representative come November 5, with Democrat Gloria Witt and Republican John McGuire vying for the seat. Ahead of Election Day, C-VILLE reached out to both candidates to learn more about their local and national priorities.

C-VILLE: What are your top priorities if elected to Congress?

Gloria Witt: My top priorities are rooted in making sure that the people of the 5th District have opportunities to thrive. This includes ensuring access to quality health care, protecting Social Security and Medicare, addressing the affordable housing crisis, and expanding economic opportunities through job creation and workforce development. I also prioritize preserving democracy by protecting voting rights and accepting the outcomes of our elections.

On the national level, I am focused on safeguarding democracy, addressing income inequality, and expanding access to health care and affordable child care. I want to restore reproductive rights, strengthen mental health care, and ensure our veterans get the support they deserve. 

Locally, I want to focus on revitalizing our small towns and rural communities by addressing the housing shortage, supporting farmers, and increasing infrastructure investments, especially in broadband access. Public education is a top priority. I will push for vastly expanded career and technical education programs.

How does your platform align with
and support the best interests of constituents in the 5th District?

GW: My platform is based on the everyday needs of families, workers, and small-business owners in the 5th District. We need practical solutions for affordable health care, better-paying jobs, and ensuring our children receive the education and skills they need. We are failing our youth; they have to leave or they are stuck making a starvation wage. My goal is to lead the charge to make sure that our career and technical programs are producing enough workers for existing business and attracting new businesses with a skilled workforce.

How do your policy positions differ from your opponent?

GW: My opponent and I have very different visions for the future of this district. I believe in expanding access to health care, investing in public education, and making sure working families have the support they need. In contrast, my opponent supports policies that roll back social programs like Medicare and Social Security. I also support a woman’s right to choose, while my opponent wants to restrict reproductive rights. Fundamentally, I believe in building a fairer, more free, inclusive future, while my opponent is focused on policies that benefit the wealthy and big corporations and restrict individual freedoms. I also accept that Trump lost the 2020 election.

How, if at all, do they overlap or intersect?

GW: We may overlap in wanting to create more jobs and spur economic growth, but we differ in how to achieve that. 

Party control of the House of Representatives is anticipated to be decided by a narrow margin this year. How would Democratic control of the House benefit 5th District constituents?

GW: Democratic control of the House will ensure we continue to make progress on critical issues like health care affordability, protecting Social Security, and addressing income inequality. It also means ensuring that democracy and voting rights are protected from those who want to undermine them. A Democratic House will work toward policies that lift up all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

If elected to Congress, will you certify election results regardless of party outcome if the election is deemed free and fair?

GW: Absolutely. Our democracy is built on the foundation of free and fair elections. It’s critical that all elected officials respect the will of the voters. … Refusing to do so threatens the very fabric of our democracy.

What, if any, concerns do you have with your opponent, his campaign, or his platform?

GW: My main concern with my opponent is his alignment with far-right extremists who undermine our democratic values. He has shown a willingness to support dangerous conspiracy theories, and that worries me greatly. He has also supported policies that strip people of their health care and phases out Social Security. … His opposition to common-sense gun reform and his stance on reproductive rights are extreme. 

Why should Virginians choose you to represent the 5th District?

GW: Virginians should choose me because I’m focused on real solutions that put people first. I grew up on a small farm carrying water and canning food, I know this district, and I’ve lived the challenges many of us face. I’m committed to creating a future where every family has access to health care, where seniors don’t have to worry about their Social Security, and where our children receive the education and skills they need to succeed. I’ll fight for everyone, not just the wealthy or well-connected, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

As of press time, John McGuire had not responded to any of C-VILLE’s requests for comment. This interview has been edited for length.

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Charlottesville celebrates the 10th anniversary of legal same-sex marriage in Virginia

André Hakes and Catherine Gillespie, holding their son, received the first same-sex marriage license in Charlottesville, and maybe the state of Virginia, at 1:03pm on October 6, 2014. Photo by Breanna Larocca.

Same-sex couples have had the legal right to marry in Virginia since October 6, 2014. Several couples who wed in Charlottesville on that day came together a decade later to commemorate the anniversary where they celebrated all those years ago: Charlottesville Circuit Court.

“Ten years ago today, we unexpectedly found ourselves with the opportunity to get married after thinking about it for years,” said Catherine Gillespie at the gathering. She and her longtime partner, André Hakes, were together for 19 years before they could get married in Virginia and were at the courthouse that morning, ready to go the minute they got the go-ahead.

For each of the couples married in Charlottesville on October 6, 2014, finally being allowed to get legally married came as a surprise after the Supreme Court unexpectedly declined to hear an appeal challenging a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

Gillespie and Hakes were the first same-sex couple legally married in Charlottesville, and some claim in the entire state, having their ceremony minutes after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mandate at 1pm. The ability to be married was not only a celebration of their love, but provided legal protections for their family.

“We had people come after our family and want to take [our son] away because of who we were,” said Gillespie. “To get a sense of security from a marriage license, which then allowed André to become an official parent, I mean, it was incredible.”

Reminiscing on the anniversary, four of the five same-sex couples who wed at the Circuit Court on that day in 2014, spoke about the important legal protection afforded by marriage.

Debra Guy and Meredith Wolnick also got married that afternoon, a bit later since their then-4-year-old daughter was taking a nap. For them, the ability to marry brought not only legal stability, but some appreciated simplicity.

“We still have the book of wills and medical directives that we had drawn up in 2010. Just the simple things that some folks who are married take for granted—signing a permission slip or taking [our daughter] to the doctor … that’s how at the practical level it changed our lives,” said Guy.

For longtime Clerk of Court Llezelle Dugger, the day brought not only the opportunity to fulfill her campaign promise of signing marriage licenses for same-sex couples as soon as legally possible, but an opportunity to celebrate friends’ relationships and legal protections. The only downside? She was too busy signing marriage certificates to be in any of her friends’ wedding photos taken in front of the courthouse.

Dugger recalls the clear blue skies on that day, as well as the celebrations around town. “Now, 10 years later, we celebrated. But you know what? It’s normal,” she says. “We don’t have the hoopla of October 6, 2014, but that’s excellent in and of itself.”

While same-sex couples are celebrating their right to marriage, Gillespie pointed out the need to continuously advocate for other members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We use humor a lot in managing fears and frustrations, and one of the pieces of humor that we’ve used recently is that we’re old news. Gay couples, we got the right to marry 10 years ago,” said Gillespie. “I think the battle for the trans community right now is a battle for understanding, because if we can get to a place of understanding, then we can move away from fear. And if we can move away from fear, then maybe 20 years from now, politicians won’t be using them as a punching bag.”

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A seat on the Albemarle County School Board is up for grabs in upcoming special election

Candidates Chuck Pace and Jim Dillenbeck. Supplied photos.

It’s election season, but the presidential and congressional races aren’t the only contests on the ballot November 5. Albemarle County is holding a special election for now-Delegate Katrina Callsen’s remaining year as the Rio District’s school board representative.

The district, which spans from just north of the city into Earlysville, includes Agnor, Broadus Wood, and Woodbrook elementaries, Lakeside Middle, and Albemarle High School. 

The candidates—Chuck Pace and Jim Dillenbeck—are both longtime Charlottes­ville-area residents with backgrounds in local education, having previously coached football together at Albemarle High School in the ’90s. Pace and Dillenbeck find common ground in their desire to increase support for teachers and improve student outcomes, but differ on other issues. 

Appointed to the seat last December, Pace says he has “a pretty positive outlook on the schools right now. When I go into them, I do see pretty cool stuff going on, really, and that doesn’t matter if it’s elementary school or middle school or high school.” 

“No question that we have things that we’re struggling with,” he adds. “That’s always true.”

Academic achievement, attendance, and behavior have emerged as challenges—locally and nationwide—since returning to in-person instruction following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve seen deficits, kids who are just coming to the next grade level, but not knowing what they would expect them to at that grade level,” says Pace. “They have created pacing guides for our teachers … tests that are given quarterly to help track progress of students—and that’s making a difference. … We have to figure out where the deficits are so we can address them.”

In addition to pacing guides, ACPS is currently working to implement a new reading curriculum. Pace is excited about the materials, but concerned that the rapid implementation required by Gov. Glenn Youngkin is contributing to teacher burnout. 

“Once teachers get through the stressful period of mastering the tools  … their lives will probably get easier over the long haul,” he says. “I know it’s really stressing some of our teachers out.”

Teacher and staff support is top of mind for Pace, who has worked as an educator and science coordinator for almost three decades. The school board is Pace’s primary job as he was in the midst of a health-related career pause at the time of his appointment.

Dillenbeck is less optimistic about the current state of education in Albemarle County. 

“As a former teacher and having raised four kids and seeing them through school … my concern is for the kids in the neighborhood and the kids in our community who don’t have some of the opportunities that we had,” says Dillenbeck, who was inspired to run after a conversation with former school board candidate Meg Bryce last year.

While he’s been out of the education system for more than 25 years, Dillenbeck believes his two-plus decades in business could benefit the board. “In the business world, we talk a lot about measuring success and addressing areas of weakness in business,” he says. “I’m afraid that if we apply the same standard of success or failure to the schools, what we would see is that the schools are failing.”

Dillenbeck, who works as a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual in Charlottesville, is concerned about low test scores and achievement gaps at several of the elementary schools in the Rio District. Scores at Woodbrook Elementary are consistently below both district and state averages, with significant achievement gaps for Black students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.

Katrina Callsen resigned from the Albemarle County School Board last fall to focus on her campaign for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Supplied photo.

According to data from the Virginia Department of Education, only 46 percent of Woodbrook students passed state English assessments last school year, compared to a pass rate of 75 percent in Albemarle County and 73 percent statewide. The pass rate for state English assessments at Woodbrook has also declined over the last three years, decreasing from 53 percent in the 2021-22 school year to 48 percent in 2022-23.

Beyond academic achievement, Dillenbeck also wants to improve teacher and staff support, school safety, career preparation, and communication between teachers, families, administrators, and the school board. In each of these areas, he supports increasing resources, with particular emphasis on retaining teachers through salary increases and additional support and safety personnel.

“I believe that the teachers … they’re the front line workers, and if they feel supported by the administration and empowered to enforce the rules on behavior, rules on cell phone use, then the school system is going to be operating at a good level,” says Dillenbeck. “We need to have a school resource officer, in my opinion, in every high school and in every middle school in the county.”

Regardless of which candidate wins, the Rio District school board seat will be up for grabs again next fall. More information about the Rio District candidates can be found on their campaign websites.

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Charlottesville City Council increases salaries and considers ranked-choice voting

Charlottesville City Council voted to increase members’ pay for the first time since 1996. Photo by Eze Amos.

At its August 19 meeting, Charlottesville City Council delved into a number of hot-button local issues, including council salaries and ranked-choice voting.

Under new legislation from the Virginia General Assembly, city governments can now vote to increase salaries, with pay limits determined by locality population size.

A proposed salary ordinance would increase councilors’ annual pay from $18,000 to $34,000 and the mayor’s salary from $20,000 to $37,000.

“It seems to me that [this] sends a very unwelcome message to people, and I don’t think it’s a wise idea,” said City Councilor Lloyd Snook. The councilor has been vocal in his opposition to the salary increase, citing the bad optics of raising pay amid continuous tax hikes by the city.

Councilor Natalie Oschrin rebutted Snook, arguing an increase in pay would allow more people the financial opportunity to serve on the council. “I think that’s actually an interesting choice of words, ‘unwelcome,’ when, from our perspective, it would be more welcoming for more people to be able to join this board,” she said.

Councilors at the August 19 city council meeting ultimately voted to increase council salaries effective July 1, 2026 by a vote of 4-1, with Snook the sole dissenting vote. This is the first pay increase for the council since 1996. The next round of city council elections will occur prior to the implementation of the raises.

Moving down the agenda, councilors considered an ordinance adopting ranked-choice voting for the Charlottes—ville City Council’s June 2025 primary elections.

“With our equipment that we have in Charlottesville, [voters] will be able to make up to six rankings for candidates,” said General Registrar and Director of Elections Taylor Yowell. 

Two council seats will appear on the ballot next June, meaning candidates need to obtain 33.3 percent of the vote if the ranked-choice system is adopted. The percentage needed to declare a winning candidate or candidates in a ranked-choice election is determined by the number of available seats.

Several community members spoke in favor of the ranked-choice voting ordinance during the community matters portion of the meeting, including former delegate and founder of Ranked Choice Virginia Sally Hudson.

“Charlottesville has a long history of being proud to be a cradle of democracy, and there’s a long history of ranked-choice voting activism in this community,” said Hudson. “Ranked-choice voting started in Charlottesville more than 20 years ago when UVA students first adopted ranked-choice for their student council elections. And while that may not sound like a very big deal, roughly 5,000 students cast their ballots for student council every year on grounds—which is almost as many people who vote in a Charlottesville city council primary.”

Councilors voiced both questions and support for the voting system, but the decision on implementation is still up in the air. The second and final reading of the ranked-choice voting ordinance, along with the council’s vote, is slated to appear on the consent agenda at the next Charlottesville City Council meeting on September 3.

For more information about the ordinances or to watch the full council meeting, visit charlottesville.gov.

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Draft congressional budget bills allocate millions for local projects and organizations

Sen. Tim Kaine, who is up for reelection this fall, serves on the Senate Committee on the Budget. Photo by Gage Skidmore.

After a tumultuous budget cycle that led to the ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, Congress is diving back into budget negotiations for Fiscal Year 2025. Draft bills passed by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee include more than $3 million in appropriations for local projects supporting Charlottesville and Albemarle County efforts around affordable housing, infrastructure, and youth engagement.

The largest local appropriation included in the draft legislation would support Charlottesville City Council’s work to convert a “defunct commercial building” at 501 Cherry Ave. into mixed-use affordable housing. The $1.25 million in funding falls short of the original $2.4 million requested by Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.

The redevelopment—located at the site of the former IGA grocery store—will reportedly include 71 apartments for “low- and moderate-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families,” according to language in the draft bills. Community members are invited to attend a meeting at the Jefferson School African Heritage Center auditorium on August 24 from noon to 2pm covering community input on the project and local history.

“The construction of 71 affordable apartments … will help provide workforce housing for people in Charlottesville and be a significant investment toward the goal of ensuring everyone can still afford to live in Charlottesville as our economy continues to grow,” said Charlottesville City Councilor Michael Payne in a comment via email.

Further funds have been allocated toward local affordable housing efforts, with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville afforded $1.074 million in the draft legislation. If included in the final congressional FY25 budget, the funds will support Habitat’s construction of 11 affordable units in the Southwood community.

“This funding helps Habitat honor the nondisplacement commitment we made to the original residents … by ensuring that we are able to construct the variety of home ownership and rental options necessary to meet the needs of every family who wishes to remain in Southwood,” said Habitat Communications and Annual Giving Manager Angela Guzman via email. “We sincerely appreciate this vote of confidence in Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville’s innovative, resident-led approach to tackling the affordable housing crisis in our community.”

The draft appropriations also provide Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority with $880,000 for vital equipment improvements. “If the funding is eventually approved, we will be using it to replace the existing powder-activated carbon system at the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant with a new, more modern slurry feed system,” said RWSA Director of Administration and Communications Betsy Nemeth via email.

The congressional funds allow RWSA to lower costs for ratepayers, according to Nemeth, while maintaining access to clean drinking water.

Other notable local appropriations in the draft spending bills include $200,000 for ReadyKids, Inc. and $61,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia. Both programs aim to support local youth, with draft funds slated to support mental health counseling and out-of-school programming in Charlottesville and Albemarle.

“For every child that receives trauma counseling at ReadyKids, there are two children waiting for services,” said Eileen Barber, ReadyKids’ lead communications specialist, via email. “To ensure our counseling programs are sustained, we’re pursuing new opportunities, including earmarks, to bolster these essential services.”

Funding for the Boys & Girls Club will help with “transportation … so youth can access out-of-school-time programs and field trips after school and during the summer,” according to CEO Kate Lambert. “The project presents an opportunity to alleviate the current and persisting transportation issues and give youth access to a safe, inclusive, and productive environment during times when they are most vulnerable.”

While the draft legislation is promising, the funds are by no means guaranteed. Representatives have until September 30 to either adopt a budget or pass a short-term bill to prevent a government shutdown.

Bipartisan support within the Senate Appropriations Committee is a positive indicator for the budget legislation, but the bills must pass by the Senate at large and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. In a joint statement announcing more than $125 million in funding allocations for various Virginia projects and organizations, Sens. Kaine and Warner celebrated the passage of the draft legislation and acknowledged the work still to come.

“We’re thrilled to see the Senate move forward on government funding legislation that includes essential funding to support our servicemembers and military families, implement our seismic investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, promote public safety, invest in affordable housing, curb fentanyl trafficking, improve customer service at the IRS, and much more,” said the Virginia senators. “We are looking forward to advocating for these priorities and working with the House of Representatives to provide robust funding bills that address the needs of Virginia and the country.”

The U.S. Senate reconvenes on September 9.

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City Council to consider ranked-choice voting ordinance

Former delegate Sally Hudson founded Ranked Choice Virginia in 2021. Photo: The Smiths.

Charlottesville City Council will formally consider a draft ranked-choice voting ordinance at its August 19 meeting. If approved, Charlottesville would become the second locality in Virginia to adopt ranked-choice voting, and the new voting system will be used on a trial basis in the city’s 2025 election.

Under a ranked-choice system, voters can rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the first preference vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is then eliminated. Voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice then have their second preference candidate votes tallied and added to the vote totals. The process continues until a candidate has earned a simple majority of votes.

“The beauty of ranked-choice voting is it ensures that we elect leaders who actually build coalitions from the breadth of their community, rather than just rallying an extreme minority,” says former delegate Sally Hudson. “It lets voters vote for who they really like no matter how many candidates run.”

During her time in the Virginia General Assembly, Hudson introduced a bill allowing cities to adopt ranked-choice voting. She went on to found Ranked Choice Virginia in 2021 and continues to advocate for the adoption of the voting system across the commonwealth.

Benefits to ranked-choice voting are numerous, according to Hudson. Key positives include empowering voters to select their preferred candidate and reducing, if not completely eliminating, the risk of splitting the vote among like-minded candidates.

“If it turns out that your favorite candidate is not among the most popular picks, you still get a voice in who the final selection is from your community, from the last candidates,” she says. “Once candidates don’t have to worry about splitting the vote and accidentally tipping the scales toward someone they don’t support, we see more candidates who are willing to throw their hat in the ring, and that means that voters get more options.”

Locally, Hudson says one of the races that could most benefit from ranked-choice voting is city council elections.

“We now have the virtue of having wide fields run for just a handful of city council seats each year, and that’s exactly when you can see vote splitting,” she says. “Somebody [can] get elected to council with a relatively small share of the vote, maybe only 20 or 30 percent … a ranked choice election can ensure that you find the winners who really do have broad support in the community and don’t just have a super vocal slice that is out of step with the rest.”

Though Charlottesville City Council will formally consider the adoption of ranked-choice voting for the first time on August 19, preparations have already begun behind the scenes for the possibility of using the voting system in local elections in 2025. A number of logistical steps have been taken (namely, finding ranked-choice-capable software for voting machines), but the largest hurdle is still to come: voter education.

“It’s a switch for people,” says Hudson. “Once voters have a chance to see it in action, they consistently report that they understand the new system and that they like it. … You do have to do voter education, but if you do it and you do it well, then voters get it. They like it. They want to do it again.”

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Charlottesville City Council discusses housing and salaries

More than a dozen constituents spoke at the August 5 council meeting. Photo by Eze Amos.

Charlottesville City Council had a jam-packed meeting on August 5, covering everything from affordable housing efforts to potential salary increases for councilors.

Earlier this year, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation, introduced by Charlottesville-area Del. Katrina Callsen, which allows city councils to increase compensation for their members. Currently, Charlottesville city councilors receive a salary of $18,000 annually, with the mayor’s salary slightly higher at $20,000. Under the proposed ordinance, councilors’ pay would increase to $34,000 and the mayor’s to $37,000, effective July 1, 2026.

Discussion by council showed support from a majority, with the sole dissent coming from Councilor Lloyd Snook.

“I think at a time when we are raising taxes on basically every tax we could raise this past year, it’s certainly not good politics and probably not wise more broadly for us to take the most full advantage of what the General Assembly has done,” said Snook. “If we want to be really honest with ourselves, … if we’re looking to keep pace with inflation … raise it to $22,500 for councilors and $25,000 for the mayor.”

The rest of the city council spoke in support of the ordinance.

“I disagree with the fundamental proposition that the original salary, when it was set way back in the dark ages, was anywhere close to what it should have been,” said Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston.

Pinkston and the councilors in favor of the salary increase also cited the potential for a pay improvement to allow more people the financial opportunity to serve on council.

“The thing about this role, and the reason I love it, is that you’re always carrying the city around with you in your heart and your mind,” said Pinkston. “I will wholeheartedly and enthusiastically vote for this without any shame whatsoever.”

Councilors Michael Payne and Natalie Oschrin echoed Pinkston’s points.

“There’s an idea that [this] could be a fully part-time volunteer legislature, but with the complexity of local government, I think it’s more akin to a second job,” said Payne. “I have talked to people who thought about running for office. … Financially, it wouldn’t be feasible for them.”

“More people should be able to do this and the money help[s] make it more accessible to more folks by voting for this increase,” said Oschrin. “We’re not voting necessarily on our own salaries. We’re voting on the salaries of the next incoming councilors.”

Mayor Juandiego Wade also weighed in on the potential salary increase: “I think it’s one of the most significant things that I can do as an individual councilor to increase the diversity on this board.”

While he is able to take time off of work for council obligations, Wade highlighted how that is not a reality for a significant number of potential council members.

Constituents were divided on the salary ordinance.

“This is one of the single most important things that you guys can do to help us become a more equitable city going forward,” said one public commenter in favor of the pay raise. “If people can’t afford to live in this town, they can’t serve on council—it’s that simple. … I would like as broad of a spectrum [as possible] of people from our population to be able to afford to serve. … There’s a reason why our general assembly is largely composed of doctors and lawyers, and no disrespect to them, but I don’t feel that that is a proportional representation of the people in our Commonwealth.”

Another speaker was decidedly against the measure. “It is completely unfathomable to me that you all would sit with the possibility of discussing a pay raise tonight—not just any pay raise, [but] a pay raise somewhere 88 to 89 percent over where you currently are,” he said. “You are actually going to sit and vote on this subject when just outside your door there are homeless people that need to be addressed.”

The vote on the ordinance increasing city councilors’ salaries is scheduled for the next council meeting on August 19. A second public hearing will be held at that time.

Another major development at the council meeting was the approval by Piedmont Housing Alliance and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville Area of city funds going toward the offer on Carlton Mobile Home Park.

With this financing, PHA and Habitat were able to proceed with a $7.25 million offer on the park before the August 6 deadline for consideration.

Under the agreement, the city will not have ownership of any portion of the park if the offer goes through but will assist with the financing of interest and principal payments. In an agreement with residents, Carlton will remain a mobile home park, but the purchase lays the groundwork for eventual redevelopment into deeply affordable housing.

“I want to remind everybody that this is an offer. Our fingers are crossed and hopefully it works out, but it’s not in our hands after today,” said Oschrin. “Part of why I am so supportive of this is that it will be getting redeveloped, and it is not being purchased to freeze in amber. It will become more housing for more people, which is obviously what we need.”

There has been no additional developments on the joint city, PHA, and Habitat offer on Carlton Mobile Home Park at press time.

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In brief

Charges have been dropped against UVA professor Noah Salomon. Photo by Eze Amos.

Termination trend

Theta Chi’s Fraternal Organization Agreement has been terminated by the Office of Student Affairs at the University of Virginia. The decision affirms that a hazing incident from March violates Adam’s Law, a piece of Virginia anti-hazing legislation from July 2022. Per the Hazing Misconduct Report published on July 2, Theta Chi may not seek re-establishment until the 2028-29 academic year, provided that it halt all public and private “underground” operations. The report found that Theta Chi engaged in hazing, including coerced servitude and other embarrassing or harmful acts.

Charges dropped

Trespassing charges have been dropped against Islamic Studies Associate Professor Dr. Noah Salomon, who was arrested by Virginia State Police as they forcibly dissolved a pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Virginia in May. Salomon acted as an unofficial facilitator between students and UVA police prior to the escalation. He is the sixth person of the 25 people arrested for trespassing to have his case dismissed. “May [the] dismissal of my case be an occasion for us all to demand that the University of Virginia and all universities never again summon a small army to suppress peaceful student protest,” he told CBS19.

Humane hope

Habitat For Humanity of Greater Charlottesville is hustling to put together a bid for the Carlton Mobile Home Park after a $7 million offer was made by an unknown source. Residents have a 60-day window, which ends on August 6, to counter the initial offer. Carlton residents have collectively signed a petition that allows Habitat to make an offer on behalf of the park. Signatures have exceeded the 25 percent quota of households required by the Virginia Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act, but the status of the counter offer remains uncertain.