Voters know that the Nov. 8 ballot will contain the names of candidate for president, vice president and member of commerce, but the two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution are less well understood.
The “Right to Work Ballot Amendment” would mean that an employee in Virginia would have a constitutional right to work for an employer without being a member of a union.
The “Tax Relief Ballot Amendment” would give local jurisdictions the power to exempt the surviving spouse of any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel or emergency medical services personnel who is killed in the line of duty.
Complete explanation of the proposals and the pros and cons of each is available from the League of Women voters by following this link.
The writers of a new book advocating for changes in the American democracy to make it more relevant to the 21st century will present their ideas at a public forum at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the LOW Community Center.
The event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club.
Jack Trammell and Guy Terrell are the authors of “The Fourth Branch of Government: We the People,” published in July by Brandylane Publishers Inc. of Richmond, Va.
In the book, Trammell and Terrell make the argument that certain fundamental changes in the framework of our democracy — the U.S. Constitution — may be necessary, changes that include eliminating the Electoral College, implementing electronic voting, perhaps even changes leading to a broader and more direct participation by citizens in our governance.
In Chapter 3 of the book, entitled “Our Unfinished Nation,” the authors write: “The Constitution was created to establish a republic, balance the power of the three branches, and establish the mandate to allow governance of a new nation. Changes to the Constitution were then and remain the key to guaranteeing our future. No one wants to destroy the Constitution, but it no longer matches the times we live in either.”
The influence of the Internet and social media, the writers say, has given American citizens greater access to information that ever in our history, but has left many feeling disconnected from the very mechanisms and people who are supposed to represent their interests.
Trammell, who ran for Congress from Virginia’s 7th District in 2014, is an associate professor of sociology and director of disability support services at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. He was a political science undergraduate at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., where he earned a bachelor of arts degree. He holds advanced degrees or certificates in education, special education, history education, and research methodology, including master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
Terrell, holds a master of business administration degree from George Mason University in Fairfax and a masters degree in information systems from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He is a published poet and past president of the Poetry Society of Virginia.
Copies of the book are available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Get together with others to watch the first presidential debate at the home of Jim Donovan at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. Support Hillary Clinton as she demonstrates why she is the only candidate with the knowledge, experience and temperament to lead our nation in the next four years.
Snacks will be provided, but bring your own beverage.
Please RSVP to 540-412-1337 or jamiestoy@hotmail.com
Eileen Bedell, candidate for Congress from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, is coming to Lake of the Woods Sept. 15 to meet with voters at a reception sponsored by the LOW Democratic Club.
Bedell is an attorney and mother of two who lives in Bon Air in Chesterfield County.
The event will take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in the LOW Community Center. Fancy pastries and beverages will be served.
The candidate will make brief remarks and will be available for questions. As at all club events, visitors are welcome without regard to political affiliation.
Bedell earned a communications degree from Virginia Tech before getting her law degree from the College of William & Mary. She has been a general practice attorney for nearly two decades and is solo practitioner at the McNeil Law Group in Richmond’s Church Hill.
“I do everything but criminal defense — custody cases, contract dispute, estate litigation, wills,” she said. “It transfers well to having that broad spectrum of expertise you would need sitting on different committees of Congress. On some level, I have been representing people and small businesses in the 7th in another branch of government for almost 20 years.”
At the time Rep. David Brat, a former college professor, was elected to represent the 7th District in 2014, it included all of Orange, Culpeper, Goochland, Hanover, Louisa and New Kent counties and portions of Chesterfield, Henrico and Spotsylvania counties, as well as portions of the city of Richmond. But legal challenges to congressional district lines in Virginia based on representative inequality resulted in a court-ordered redrawing of some district lines, eliminating Hanover and New Kent County from the 7th District. Brat and two other Congressmen appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and lost, leaving the reconstituted district in place for the Nov. 8 election.
Sara Jezior, who represents the Democratic co-ordinated campaigns for our area, will be guest speaker at the club’s August 18 meeting.
This is your chance to be informed about what is being done locally to maximize the votes for Hillary Clinton for president and Eileen Bedell for Congress. It’s also an opportunity to find out what you can do to support our candidates with canvassing, phone banking and voter registration.
The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the meeting room at the LOW Community Center.
Get together with others to watch the first presidential debate at the home of Jim Donovan at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26. Support Hillary Clinton as she demonstrates why she is the only candidate with the knowledge, experience and temperament to lead our nation in the next four years.
Sara Jezior, who represents the Democratic co-ordinated campaigns for our area, will be guest speaker at the club’s August 18 meeting.