Posted on 10/18/2011 6:22:53 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
October 17, 2011
Dear
The news from the last few days could not have been more incongruous. Nor could it have revealed a greater misunderstanding of state government on the part of the electorate.
First, the public is pleased with the direction of the state and the current General Assembly. Olympia Meola wrote, when reporting on the new Christopher Newport University/Richmond Times-Dispatch poll, "Virginians are a largely content bunch when it comes to the direction of the state ."
Second, Virginians face an election which will completely change the direction of state government. Bob Lewis of the Associated Press wrote, "if Republicans gain three or more Senate seats in next month's decisive legislative elections, conservatives would consolidate their hold on Virginia government and turn state policy hard to the right." Bobs math is off by one it will take a gain of only two seats. A tie goes to the Republicans, as the Lieutenant Governor, a Republican, cast the tie-breaking vote.
Third, Virginians are apathetic about that same election. Wes Hester of the Richmond Times Dispatch writes, "A vast majority of Virginia voters really don't care much about the upcoming General Assembly elections, according to a new Christopher Newport University/Richmond Times-Dispatch poll."
This bodes for a low turnout election the kind of election where VEA members and their friends and families will have a significant impact.
Redistricting has caused a great deal of confusion folks don't know what district they are in. The Virginia State Board of Elections has a tool on their website to help voters in this regard. Follow this link to discover where you vote:
https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/PublicSite/Public/FT2/PublicPollingPlace.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
VEA's Executive Director, Philip Forgit, has been leading the chant "Elections Matter" at recent meetings. He is certainly right. If we lose this next election by losing the Virginia Senate we will lose in the battles to gain needed funds for our schools, to protect VRS and to keep public money, so desperately needed by our public schools, from going to private schools. Mark your calendar for November 8, and vote for VEAs recommended candidates. This election will matter, and if the public is apathetic let us make sure that we are energized.
Thank you,
Robley Jones VEA GR&R
unions are about to see how elections matter as their relevance will be diminished with the rise of conservatives in the state legislatures...
they will be forced to violence soon that will only hasten their demise.
teeman
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