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... This Train Bonnie van der Linde This train of thoughts travels faster than the flood of tears that turns my cheeks to rust. How fast I go until I run off the tracks and I dont think I dont know if I can be free like the heron if I can be truth like the data if I can feel his pain in my chest. Meanwhile I carry his heart around in my purse. 15  ...

... Strait from the Vine Brandy Vest Looking back, hourglass isnt exactly the word he would have used to describe her. Sure, she was curvy, but not enough to warrant a lingering gaze. She was more like a bunch of grapes, but because of her large shoulders, not her chest. Thats not something he would say aloud either: Youre as curvy as a bunch of grapes - you have mens shoulders and small tits. Wide at the top and small at the bottom - she walked with her feet close together, which, if her hips had been wider, would have given her the sway of a model on the catwalk. Which would have countered out the wide shoulders. As it were, it looked like shed grown up in the 50s. That was the reason hed fallen for her quirks in the first place - she was far too intense and grab-life-by-the-ballsy for that spinster gait. Hed seen her around the office a few times: the new girl, supposedly from the South but without a trace of accent, who had spilt her entire 32 ounces of Coke onto the boss within two hours of her first day. As if she werent getting enough looks already for having fast food in the office when every other peon skipped breakfast and stared menacingly at his or her salad and protein shake when it came time for lunch. From his vantage point in his corner office, hed chalked her clumsiness up to being an out-of-towner. She had moved from Virginia with her family when she was 19, old enough to have gone off on her own, but young enough to still believe in the romance of starting over someplace new. Two years later, she still lived with her parents, but there was nobody to judge her for it - he certainly wasnt - and it kept life simple. Thats what shed told him, at least. Going on his first impression, she was pretty damn cute. She wore her hair almost short enough that it could have been one of those no-nonsense pixie cuts if it were straighter. As it were, her curls made her look like she had a never-ending supply of optimism, the way they bounced with every step. And the constant smile - small, like an Ive-just-done-a-good-deed smile - only made her prettier. Thered been research on that; guys were naturally attracted to women that smiled and looked happy, so he felt slightly less guilty about checking out the new girl. The last female to join the firm had been a 40-something year-old with proportions that, quite frankly, belonged in a before picture. Hed already noted that the new girl wasnt exactly bodacious either, 9 Strait from the Vine | Brandy Vest but she was young and cute. And he was handsome and successful. A match made for a real estate commercial. 2.5 kids, white picket fence, labrador in the backyard. Yeah. Right. ***** When hed first asked her on a date, she hadnt understood. Would you want to have dinner sometime? hed said. Oh, you mean the company dinner on Friday? Yeah, Mr. Cryer already said I was welcome to attend, shed replied. Hed made sure to keep a seat next to him open, which shed taken, but between the four courses and Cryers speech, he hadnt gotten a chance to turn their conversation from Ive been an ad exec for seven years to Im good at what I do, if you know what I mean. She probably wouldnt have gotten the hint anyway. After dinner, she had grabbed her purse and made to leave, apparently uncomfortable with making small talk with anyone other than him. It did wonders for his morale and his plan of getting an actual dinner with her, so hed played dumb and kept her there, chatting idly with her and blatantly ignoring her glances toward the door and her attempts to cut their talk short. In retrospect, probably not the best way to get her to warm up to him, but at least hed kept her laughing. So the night hadnt been a complete failure. ***** Your grapes taste funny up here. She was standing next to the window overlooking the city with a bag on the sill, plucking grapes from it one at a time and showing no signs of awkwardness at being in his condo for the first time. No, shed taken a few analytical glances around while hed continued their conversation about the misogyny of beer advertisements (he agreed with her - they were - but seeing as beer was a male-dominated product, both in consumers and producers, it had to be done), then opened and scoured his fridge and made herself comfortable. How so? he asked, handing her a beer and opening his own after returning her raised-eyebrow smirk. I guess its just cause Im not used to eating them from a bag. Or cold. 10 Strait from the Vine | Brandy Vest I keep forgetting youre a Southerner. What is it with you and the fact that Im from the South? You think everyone down there strolls through orchards plucking fruit and grinning gaily all day? Hey, blame Lorraine Peterson. A pause. Am I supposed to know who that is? He chuckled, both at her and at his attempt at making an advertising joke. The original Sun-Maid girl. She was real, you know. She scoffed. Then yeah, I blame her. He set his beer down next to the bag of grapes and glanced over at her. She was wearing her pinstripe pants again, that hung a little loose around her thighs - a downside of being fit. On her top was a maroon shirt he hadnt seen before. It fit her perfectly, the sleeves going just over her shoulders with a tie-string at the end, and the same string at the bottom of the V, which was the perfect length for a necklace without dropping low enough to show him anything if she leaned forward. With her whiterimmed sunglasses pushing up her curls, she looked adorable. Could have been on a poster for sunscreen, if shed wear shorts and grow her hair out a little. It gets cold early up here, she said, stealing a grape and leaning forward on the windowsill. Somehow, her constant analysis of New England never got old. Used to the sun and sand? She rolled her eyes. Virginia, not Florida. And dont start joking about never seeing snow before. He shrugged, turning around to lean his elbows on the sill. It starts earlier then youre used to. Christmas? Sometimes. Ive never had snow on Christmas. And only in a few Decembers. He took a grape. He never really liked green grapes. He preferred the ones the same color as her shirt, with the seeds still inside. More natural. Grapes and beer was a strange combination anyway. You think youll go back eventually? Eventually, yeah. She bit a grape in half, sucking the extra juice off her thumb, 11 Strait from the Vine | Brandy Vest and he smirked at himself for the way he was watching her. But I like it here, too. You have a good job, he pointed out. Exactly. And I like the people there. Lifes pretty good right now. He gave her a sideways look, one he knew she could see, but she kept staring out the window, smiling softly. Why do you have your sunglasses on? Theyre not on. She kept smiling and not turning to him. She did that a lot. Like, I know youre watching me. Im just playing with you. Keep on looking. So he did. Her face, reflected just slightly in the window, was so familiar now, but still as pretty, as attention-grabbing as hed first thought it to be. She had a way of letting her small, knowing smile play into her eyes that made him not want to look away. It was the kind of spark necessary for cosmetics models; makeup commercials were rife with girls who knew how to catch your attention, so all the company had to do was make sure they had enough strategic placings of their name in those thirty seconds to get it through to the viewer. Mostly it was all up to the girl. He nearly laughed to himself when he realized that she was probably watching him watch her because they were both reflected just slightly in the window. When it got colder, in another week or two, hed be able to see her breath on the glass, and a mental video of her drawing faces on it came easily to mind. It was exactly the kind of thing shed do. He leaned over to kiss her and she finally turned to face him, as per usual. ***** So sell me, she said, standing up. She had her hands gripping her hips, staring him down with that simple defiance, smile threatening him. She looked like she did that first week, when he knew her as the awkward girl, new to the office and eager to make an impression, but not necessarily to please. What could she sell? What would make her sell? What was she selling? She was wearing her pink camisole, which hung low with the yellow lacey bit at the top, and his underwear. An odd combination, but she was an odd girl. There was that picture, still there in the back of his mind, of her with the grapes 12 Strait from the Vine | Brandy Vest and the red shirt. She knew grapes, or at least compared to everyone in Boston. Compared to them, she could have made $300 wine. She had a nice enough face; she could sell that. He studied her again. She didnt move as he stared her down. She just watched him, her eyes still maintaining the smile that had faded. She was...innocent. Her posture said tough and feisty, but one look at her normal gait and the faade fell apart. She could try, and sometimes managed, to be a spitfire. She could definitely tell someone what she thought of them with just a flash of her eyes, even if her mouth spewed nothing but niceties. She was just too afraid to get on someones bad side. Even now, if he told her she could sell kitchen appliances because shed make a lovely housewife, she would only be disappointed, not angry. Her face would loosen and her eyes, before she looked away, would lose their spark and go back to being brown. Yucky, plain brown. Not a mesmerizing shade of dark tan. He sat up slowly, her glinting eyes still following him. He took her wrists and pulled her hands off her waist, letting her shoulders fall a little. He put her left arm on her right side, hugging herself, and he pulled her right arm toward him, palm outstretched, where he placed his own hand. Stability. That was it. Even as ditzy and fiery and everything else that she was, she wasnt going to be the one to end anything. She was constant. Could he really see himself with her? Hed had nothing but fun with her as of yet. She was so agreeable, and kind, and cute. Hed never seen himself as the type to settle down. Hed never really wanted a stable life. Or, at least, he hadnt placed insurance very high on his list of importance. So what was it that made her so appealing? She exuded comfort and homeliness, even while she talked about abortion laws and living on the road for a year. It gave off the effect of what hed imagine having a wife would be like. Somebody that you loved, who always wanted to try new things, and you were always right there with her because she offered enough stability for you to grab hold and never want to let go. And even if you did let go, shed probably grab your wrist at the last moment and pull you back up to her. She was pretty strong. Put her in a breast cancer commercial, shed do great. 13 Strait from the Vine | Brandy Vest So maybe...maybe he could afford to take a chance on her. He had a lot in the bank, but hed never before spent it on love. If it was all Hallmark made it out to be, it was certainly worth a shot. Come back, he said softly. He placed a hand on her waist and pulled her into his lap, where she kissed him like hed been talking out loud. ***** Looking ahead, he has no idea whats waiting for him. Was this what motivational posters meant when they talked about a leap of faith? Hey, can we stop in D.C.? He turns to look at her. She has her arm hanging out of the window, maroon shirt blowing a little, looking like she makes the drive all the time. We already lost the moving van when we stopped in that ghost town. Just because its smaller than Boston does not make it a ghost town. And it was Vitisburg. And they have a key. He scoffs, but its hiding a chuckle. Fine. But youre paying for the hotel. He turns back to watch the cars she passes, smiling and waving to the people on their cell phones who glare at them like anybody going faster than they are must be a complete ass. Hotel? We can drive all night! Wheres your sense of adventure? Adventure? Where, exactly...maybe hed left it in Boston with his Common Sense and Logic. And his Job. Then again, maybe a Sense of Adventure is really the only thing he has left. They pass a billboard proclaiming that Maryland is happy to welcome them. He smiles to himself, rolling the window down and deciding he needs to let his hair grow out. Virginia has hippies, right? If not, oh well. The Boston boy is all grown up; he can wear his hair any damn way he pleases. He looks over at her. The highway is packed, theyll need gas soon, and its far too hot to have the windows down, but she turns the radio up and smiles. He smiles back and starts watching the scenery again, keeping an eye out for grapevines. 14  ...

... A Sunny Afternoon Stephen Canty Today Tully and I were trying to build shade with a tarp to keep the afternoon sun from baking the small dirt room, formerly a shop, that we lived in. It was one of many abandoned shops in Marjah, Afghanistan in what used to be a small market. The buildings of the market clustered along two narrow, dirt roads separated by a canal and joined by a bridge. Across the street, two Afghan Police talked to a group of kids. Three shots, semi-automatic, well aimed, kicked up dust at their feet. A little boy in white, maybe six fell face first into the dust. The police ran, pushing the other three boys toward a corner of a building nearby. Three more shots, a policeman stumbled, hopped twice, and fell down. His friends dragged him to cover. Tully and I stood in front of our room watching all this. The violence was sudden; the whole thing lasted only a few seconds. Tully said, Oh shit! and we both dashed inside, grabbing our gear and readying our weapons. Roberts sprinted by shouting, One of those fucking dudes got shot! I grabbed my SAW (a light machine gun with a 200-round drum), and, for the first time, my first-aid bag. I stepped out into the blaze of the Afghan sun and paired up with Roberts behind the corner of a building on our street as he peered out, poised to run. Wed go together across the two open streets with a bridge connecting them, a 30 meter distance. There was a lull in the firefight and Roberts seized the opportunity. He turned his head and said to me calmly over his shoulder, Im going before putting everything he had into crossing that distance. I tried to stay close as its better to move in pairs in case one of us got shot. Once we crossed the bridge and reached cover behind a building, Roberts and I briefly caught our breath. He looked annoyed as he said, This shit is getting old, dude. I walked towards the room where the policeman lay. Blood pooled outside in the dirt and inside on the floor. The remaining kids from earlier were there, young, no older than ten, sitting against the wall, their eyes wide with fear. It was easy to tell one was the brother of the boy in the street. He wept silently and repeated his brothers name quietly. The other boy appeared to be in shock and stared at the wall with empty eyes. Nearby the policeman lay on a cot, moaning and bleeding. The smell of blood and sweat was overpowering. Ive always hated blood. I paused to take this all in before remembering the first aid kit in my hand. I was 6 A Sunny Afternoon | Stephen Canty the one with the tourniquets and bandages. Every Marine at our outpost was a combat life saver--they could all keep him alive until the helicopters came, but I had gone to a week long course for this. I had the bag; I had to do something. I dropped my weapon and bag and knelt down to unzip it. I briefly tried putting on latex gloves but the heat had melted them together. Fuck those gloves! I tore open a tourniquet and turned to the guy writhing on the cot. Blood covered his pants and foamed through a shemagh (Afghan scarf) that had been wrapped around the wound by another Afghan policeman. I leaned in slowly, the smell of his body odor and blood overpowering as I clasped the tourniquet to his upper thigh and cinched it tight. I cranked the bar, tightening it until he gasped out in pain and continued well past that. I remembered being told a properly tightened tourniquet should always hurt more than the gunshot wound itself. Until now that had only been a joke among Marines as they practiced a little too realistically with their friends in medical classes. I couldnt see the blood flow because of the crude bandage covering the hole. The guy writhed and moaned and tried to roll over on the cot. I encouraged him to pray and began for him in broken Arabic. He nodded but even that seemed to hurt. The room darkened as a figure stood in the doorway, blocking the light. Smith stepped in and offered another tourniquet. A CASEVAC had been called in, he said. We needed to move the casualty to the landing zone in a nearby poppy field back on our side of the street. I tried to communicate to another policeman nearby that he needed to talk to him to keep him from going into shock. Sweat beaded on the wounded cops face and he looked pale. He begged for water and someone produced it. Outside, the sounds of gunfire still from both Marines and Police. With the casualtys bleeding stopped, I turned to the kids still huddled in the far end of the room. A third boy was now with them, no older than three or four. I guess he had been separated from the other boys during the fighting. I tried to calm them down and say a few words of encouragement. I asked a policeman to get water and handed one of the children a string of prayer beads I kept in my pocket. I smiled a tired smile. I left the room and stepped into the din of the firefight outside. In the next five minutes, the wounded cop on the cot would be carried by other policemen across the open area of the two streets and bridge, while Marines and other Afghan police opened up to suppress whoever was shooting at us. I fired bursts into anything that seemed appropriate, like ominous doorways and bushes hopefully making the shooter 7 A Sunny Afternoon | Stephen Canty find cover. When they crossed, I leaned my SAW against a police Ranger and fished for cigarettes. Only one in the pack and it was broken. I smoked it anyways. Khan, an Afghan policeman, reminded me of the kid still laying face down in the street. I had assumed he was dead but Khan said, Hes breathing. Peering out into the street from around a corner, I saw the boy in a pool of blood, his face caked in mud next to a string of dull grey barbed wire. Khan told me he saw him breathing, but I cant see it. The boy is so still. Khan insisted he was alive and agreed to run and grab him. More shots as we covered him. He lifted the limp child and carried him back to the safety of the building. The boy was shot through the back of the head, his eye blown out. His face was so dirty and bloody. I checked his radial pulse, the hole in his head not registering. His pulse was weak, and for some reason I thought he might have a chance. I pointed across the street and Khan picked up the child. I yelled over for Gilbert to cover us as I crossed the street with Khan carrying the boy behind me. When we got to the Marines side of the road, Gilbert looked down from his spot on the roof and pronounced, That kid is dead, man. I still asked where the landing zone was because in my mind there was a chance we could save the child. Khan laid the boy down nearby, convinced he was dead. Near the Marines post a van was still stopped in the street, its driver and passengers seeking cover in a nearby building. Khan had laid the boy at the drivers feet. The driver, an old man dressed in white, began sobbing when he recognized the mangled face of his son. I knelt and found a weak pulse in the boys neck. For some reason, I thought this kid with a hole where his eye should be would live. I insisted on taking him to the landing zone but by the time we got there he was dead. The helicopters came and went, taking the wounded policeman with them. The firefight was over as dusk settled in. The father left in the golden haze of the late afternoon, collecting both of his sons: one living, one dead. I remember collapsing beside Roberts on an old wooden bed he had sitting outside his room that we used as a bench. I took off my helmet and ran a hand through my matted, sweaty hair. Someone gave me a cigarette. We were mostly quiet, the comedown from the adrenaline hitting us and exhaustion setting in. We had seen truly innocent people, even kids, get hurt before, but it is a hard callous to form. I still remember the smell of that stale tobacco and the coppery, almost metallic, tang of blood. 8  ...

... To Live Well Patience L. Ray We were born cracking, called from the womb egg brittle, bloody limbed, the place we knew gone, awaking to breaking, hard hands and light. Nothing remains. We only hear the gorgeous choke as the merry-go-round starts, musical engine serenading; we rise, fall, turn too fast to see the surrounding moment, a blurred rim. To forget is good. We move on, closing doors, windows, sweeping the path, any proof we passed that way or scraped our black heels across the tiled floor. There is no shame in killing. At times memory, home, knowing, are too strangled to live well inside the brittle shell of skull; we must pull them out with pliers, hold this or that instant between forefinger and thumbthe rest will bury themselves. 5  ...

... 2021 PVCC Non-Partisan Voter Guide 1 City of Charlottesville 2 Sample Ballot 3 Voting Guidelines Voter Guidelines Register before Oct. 12 Turn 18 by election day If you are 17 but will turn 18 before election day, you can preregister Be a U.S. citizen Be a Virginia resident If you have a prior felony conviction, make sure your rights have been restored Election Day Requirements Election day -Tuesday Nov. 2 ID requirements Bring a valid form of identification (Drivers license, U.S. Military ID, U.S. Passport, Valid Student ID) If you forget your ID you can sign an ID statement affirming your identity, you will be able to vote a regular ballot. If you do not sign an ID statement to affirm your identity you may vote a provisional ballot. You will be provided instructions to ensure your vote will count. Early voting Early voting began Friday, Sept. 17 and continues until Saturday, Oct. 30. Absentee Ballots Absentee voting is available, and no excuse is required The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Oct. 22 Marked ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by noon three days after the election in order to be counted You can return your absentee ballot request form through mail, in person at your local elections office, or online (https:// vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation) Locate your polling location Polling Place Locator The candidates in this guide are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. 4 Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) Health care Anti-abortion with exceptions in extreme cases Supports improving Virginia's mental health system Opposes further expansion of Medicaid Jobs/Economy Supports efforts to train and develop future trade workers in Virginia Supports Virginia's right to work law Supports implementing a small business tax holiday and cutting taxes on PPP Loans Candidate's Website Education Supports keeping schools open in person five days a week Supports raising teacher pay and investing in special education programs Seeks to create up to 20 new charter schools across the K-12 spectrum 5 Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) Health care Supports expanding Medicaid Supports abortion rights Supports expanding access to maternal care Jobs/Economy Supports investing in job training for future renewable energy Supports paid sick days, hazard pay Supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour Education Supports raising teacher pay above the national average Supports giving every 3 and 4-year-old access to pre-k Supports increased broadband access for Virginia students 6 Candidate's Website Governor Princess Blanding (LP) Healthcare: Supports affordable, high -quality, universal healthcare for all Virginians. Supports abortion-right legislation. Supports increased pay for front line workers, free COVID-19 testing and public access to PPE. Jobs/Economy: Supports tying and adjusting minimum wage to inflation. Supports strengthening and facilitating the formation of labor unions. Supports banning police unions, and ending qualified immunity. Education: Supports increased funding for public schools. Supports reallocating funds from private education subsidies and investing it into public schools. Supports increased pay for public school educators. 7 Candidate's Website Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears (R) Health care Anti-abortion Supports expanding access to veteran care centers across Virginia Jobs/Economy Supports reduced regulation Supports a 12-month small business tax holiday Supports Virginias rightto-work law Education Supports keeping our schools open in person five days a week Supports increasing teacher pay and school choice Supports implementing higher standards for school accreditation 8 Candidate's Website Lieutenant Governor Hala Ayala (D) Health care Supports prescription drug price transparency Supports lowering the price of prescription drugs Jobs/Economy Supports mandated hazard pay for essential workers Supports increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour Supports increased investment in affordable housing Candidate's Website Education Supports increased funding for special education students Supports salary increases for teachers 9 Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) Social Issues Anti-abortion Supports reforming the Virginia parole board Supports increased funding for local police Jobs/Economy Supports Virginias "right-to-work" law Supports giving small businesses the tools they need to grow Supports limiting regulation on business in the commonwealth Candidate's Website Education Supports fully in-person schooling Opposed legislation providing access to financial aid and in-state tuition for undocumented residents Supports increased access to resources for disabled students 10 Attorney General Mark Herring (D) Social Issues Supports abortion rights Filed suit against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic Supports commonsense firearm laws Jobs/Economy Created Virginia's Worker Protection Unit, which focuses on investigating individuals and businesses who unlawfully engage in worker exploitation Supports immigration reform to expand access to jobs in Virginia for migrant workers Education Supports expanding access to migrant students working towards a college degree Worked to ensure Virginia public schools could protect LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and employees from discrimination and harassment Ended policies that barred Virginia colleges and universities from establishing LGBTQ+-inclusive nondiscrimination policies 11 Candidate's Website Find Candidates and Other Ballots Ballot information by county: Albemarle County https://www.albemarle.org/government/elections/sample-ballots Fluvanna County https://www.fluvannacounty.org/registrar/page/sample-ballots-0 Greene County https://www.greenecountyva.gov/government/depts/voter-registration Louisa County https://www.louisacounty.com/1030/Sample-Ballots Nelson County http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/residents/voter-registration/upcoming-elections/ Find your candidates in this guide by district VA House District 59 ...pages 13-15 District 20....pages 16-17 District 25 ...pages 18-19 District 56 ...pages 20-21 District 57 ...pages 22-23 Candidates appear in this guide in the order they will appear on the ballot. District 58....pages 24-25 District 65 ...pages 26-27 12 House District 59 Matt Fariss (R) Health care Anti-abortion Jobs/Economy Supports cutting taxes Supports decreased regulations for small businesses Education Supports increased funding for education Candidate's Website 13 House District 59 Benjamin Moses (D) Health care Supports increased access to quality healthcare and information Jobs/Economy Supports investing in Virginia's future workforce Supports increased broadband access Education Supports equitable funding for rural Virginia schools Candidate's Website 14 House District 59 Louis Scicli (I) Health care No information available Jobs/Economy Supports working with small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic Education Supports employment training for students Candidate's Website 15 House District 20 John Avoli (R) Health care Anti-abortion Supports increased access to mental health resources Job/Economy Opposes tax increases Opposes increased regulation on small businesses Supports increasing rural access to broadband Education Supports increasing workforce development training in public schools and community colleges Supports limiting standardized testing 16 Candidate's Website House District 20 Randall Wolf (D) Health care Supports increased access to mental health resources Supports expanded access to drug abuse support Jobs/Economy Supports the legal growth and sale of marijuana and hemp Supports expanding access to rural solar energy Supports livable wages and reduced state taxes for working families Candidate's Website Education Supports increased access to broadband for rural students in the commonwealth 17 House District 25 Chris Runion (R) Health care Anti-abortion Jobs/Economy Opposes raising taxes Social Issues Supports the second amendment Candidate's Website 18 House District 25 Jennifer Kitchen (D) Health care Supports universal access to health insurance Supports expanding Medicaid Jobs/Economy Supports One Fair Wage, which is full minimum wage with tips Opposes Virginia's "right -to-work" law Education Supports increased funding for rural public schools Candidate's Website Supports increasing teacher pay Supports expanded access to broadband in rural areas 19 House District 56 John McGuire (R) Health care Anti-abortion Supports cutting regulations that inflate health care costs and reduce access to health care providers Jobs/Economy Supports tax cuts Supports decreased regulation for businesses Education Supports school choice Supports preparing students for future jobs 20 Candidate's Website House District 56 Blakely Lockhart (D) Health care Supports access to quality health care for all Virginians Supports higher wages for frontline workers Jobs/economy Supports the use of tax funded renewable energy Supports growing the clean energy job market Education Supports increased funding for public schools Candidate's Website Supports salary increases for teachers 21 House District 57 Phillip Andrew Hamilton (R) Jobs/Economy Opposes COVID-19 lockdowns and curfews Supports term limits for all politicians and judiciary members Supports marijuana legalization Education Supports keeping inperson classes open in Virginia Social Issues Opposes mask mandates Candidate's Website 22 House District 57 Sally Hudson (D) Jobs/Economy Supports a progressive income tax overhaul Supports changing the corporate tax code Education Supports salary increases for teachers Supports increased state support for public colleges Social Issues Supports abortion rights Candidate's Website 23 House District 58 Rob Bell (R) Health care Supports expanding access to mental health care Supports ensuring that public schools have access to inhalers Supported legislation expanding access to domestic violence resources Jobs/Economy Opposes tax increases Supports expanding broadband access in Virginia Supports Virginia's rightto-work law Education Supports in-person choice for all Virginia students Supports requiring schools to establish bullying prevention programs Supports school choice 24 Candidate's Website House District 58 Sarah Ratcliffe (D) Health care Supports access to affordable health care Supports lowering drug prices Jobs/Economy Supports small business growth Seeks to create more clean energy jobs Supports enacting paid family leave and paid medical leave Education Supports increased funding from K-12 Supports salary increases for teachers Supports making community college more affordable 25 Candidate's Website House District 65 Lee Ware (R) Health care Anti-abortion Opposes Medicaid expansion Jobs/ Economy Supports tax cuts for small businesses Supports balancing tax spending with economic conditions Supports investing in infrastructure Education Supports merit-based raises for teachers Supports more rigorous academic standards 26 Candidate's Website House District 65 Caitlin Coakley (D) Health care Supports reducing health care costs Supports access to health care Jobs/Economy Supports raising the minimum wage Supports expanding small business entrepreneurship Supports expanding job training Education Candidate's Website Supports increasing broadband access Supports increased funding to the public school system 27 Acknowledgements Written By: Faculty Advisers: Alex Flowers Connie Jorgensen Natalie Karstetter Crystal Newell Liam Kelly Tamara Whyte Editing and Design By: Katie Austin Jaume Plumb-Planas Chloe Boutin Lamont Robinson Laurel Molloy Maxwell Walpole Yasser Perez 28  ...

... 2020 PVCC Non-Partisan Voter Guide Voting Guidelines To be eligible to register to vote a person must: Be a resident of Virginia (a person who has come to Virginia for temporary purposes and intends to return to another state is not considered a resident for voting purposes). Be a U.S. Citizen. Be 18 years old (any person who is 17 years old and will be 18 years old at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election). Not be registered and plan to vote in another state. Not currently declared mentally incompetent by a court of law. If convicted of a felony, your right to vote must have been restored. In-person ID Requirements: Voter confirmation documents you received after you registered to vote. Virginia DMV-issued Drivers License or Identification Card. Valid United States Passport. Any ID card issued by the US, Virginia, or a local Virginia government. Any student ID card issued by a US university or community college. Valid student ID issued by a public school or private school in Virginia. Employer-issued photo ID card. Any current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with your name and address. An ID Confirmation Statement. For a more detailed list of acceptable IDs. Can I vote if I forget my ID? Yes. You can sign an ID statement affirming your identity, you will be able to vote a regular ballot. If you do not sign an ID statement to affirm your identity you may vote a provisional ballot. You will be provided instructions to ensure your vote will count. Registration Deadline: To register to vote: Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Update an existing registration: Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Online voter registration status can be found here: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation. Absentee Ballot Deadlines: Requests for mail-in absentee ballots begins: Friday, September 18, 2020. Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot to be mailed to you: Friday, October 23, 2020. Requests must be received by your local Registrars Office no later than 5:00 pm on Election Day. Early Voting: Starts: Friday, September 18, 2020. Ends: Saturday, October 31, 2020. Commonwealth of Virginia Sample Election Ballot Proposed Amendments to the Constitution Proposed Constitutional Amendment #1 Ballot Question Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistricting commission, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor's involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing districts to the Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting commission fails to draw districts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines? Current Law Under the current Constitution, the General Assembly and the Governor are responsible for drawing new election districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates. These districts are required to be compact and contiguous, and to have populations that are equal to each other. What the New Amendment Proposes The proposed amendment would shift the responsibility of drawing these election districts from the General Assembly and the Governor to a bipartisan commission, made up of 16 persons, half being members of the General Assembly and half being citizens of the Commonwealth. This commission would draw the election districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates and then submit the maps to the General Assembly for approval. If the commissioners are unable to agree on proposals for maps by a certain date, or if the General Assembly does not approve the submitted maps by a certain date, the commission is allotted additional time to draw new districts, but if maps are not then submitted or approved, the Supreme Court of Virginia becomes responsible for drawing these election districts. The eight legislative commissioners are appointed by the political party leadership in the state Senate and the House of Delegates, with an equal number from each house and from each major political party. The eight citizen commissioners are picked by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. Four of the retired judges are selected by party leaders in the Senate and the House from a list compiled by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. These four judges pick the fifth judge from the same list. This selection committee then chooses citizen commissioners from lists created by party leaders in the Senate and the House. Members and employees of Congress or the General Assembly cannot be citizen Commissioners. For a plan to be submitted for the General Assemblys approval, at least six of the eight citizen commissioners and at least six of the eight legislative commissioners must agree to it. Additionally, for plans for General Assembly districts to be submitted, at least three of the four Senators on the commission have to agree to the Senate districts plan and at least three of the four Delegates on the commission have to agree to the House of Delegates districts plan. The General Assembly cannot make any changes to these plans, and the Governor cannot veto any plan approved by the General Assembly. A yes vote will make a bipartisan commission responsible for the initial drawing of election Districts. A no vote will leave the sole responsibility for drawing the districts with the General Assembly and the Governor. For the full text of the amendment: www.elections.virginia.gov/proposed-constitutional-amendment-2020/ Proposed Amendments to the Constitution Proposed Constitutional Amendment #2 Ballot Question Should an automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation? Current law Generally, the Constitution of Virginia requires all property be taxed. However, there are certain types of property that the Constitution specifically says is not subject to taxation. (Explanation from Virginia Dept. of Elections) Proposed amendment This amendment would add to the list of property that is not subject to state or local taxation one motor vehicle owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability. The amendment says that motor vehicle means an automobile or pickup truck. The motor vehicle would be exempt from taxation beginning on the date the veteran gets the motor vehicle or January 1, 2021, whichever is later. Under this amendment, a motor vehicle that is owned by the spouse of a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard with a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability could also be free from taxation. The General Assembly is allowed to pass a law that places conditions or restrictions on this exemption. A "yes" vote will mean the Constitution of Virginia will be amended to exempt one automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability from state and local taxation. A "no" vote will leave the Constitution of Virginia unchanged and automobiles and pickup trucks owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability will continue to be subject to state and local taxes. For full text of the amendment: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/proposed-constitutional-amendment-2020/ U.S. Presidential Election Democratic Candidate Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Candidates Website: joebiden.com Biography: Born on November 20, 1946 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joe Biden graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in history and political science followed by a law degree from the University of Syracuse School of Law. Biden returned to Delaware and worked as a lawyer and part -time public defender. In 1970, he was elected to the New Castle County Council and, in 1973, he was elected to the U.S. Senate to represent the state of Delaware. In 2009, he was elected as vice-president of the United States as part of the Obama Administration and in 2012 he was re-elected to his second term as vice-president. Biden is married to Dr. Jill Biden and has three children (two deceased). Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Opposes the death penalty. Favors eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing. Favors community-oriented policing to facilitate trust between law enforcement and communities. Systemic Racism Favors ending the school-to-prison pipeline through prevention. Favors ending crack and cocaine sentencing disparities. LGBTQ+ Rights Opposes ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. Favors expanded access for health care to LGBTQ+ individuals. Favors enactment of the Equality Act. Gun Control Favors universal background checks. Favors ending the online sale of firearms and ammunition. Immigration Opposes construction of the wall along the U.S. southern border. Favors ending the separation of children from their parents at the border. Favors protecting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). Climate Change Favors the Biden Plan: that the U.S. reach a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions by 2050. Favors the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. Economy Favors the creation of jobs through the building and updating of Americas infrastructure such as transportation systems, communication networks, and electrical systems. Favors issuing microloans to new farmers. Favors the federal minimum wage being increased to $15 per hour. Education Favors expansion of the public service loan forgiveness plan. Favors two free years of community college or technical school education. Health Care Favors nationwide mask mandates and increased testing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Favors womens choice in abortion. U.S. Presidential Election Republican Candidate Donald J. Trump Candidates Website: donaldjtrump.com Biography: Born in Queens, New York on June 14, 1946, Donald J. Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Finance & Commerce. Prior to entering politics, he was founder and president of the Trump Organization, a private real estate development firm. He is also an author of such books as The Art of the Deal and television presenter in The Celebrity Apprentice. On January 20, 2017, he was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Trump is married to Melania Trump and has five children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors the death penalty. Favors the use of mandatory minimum sentencing. Favors the hiring of more police officers. Systemic Racism Opposes the belief that systemic racism exists. Restricted diversity training in federal agencies. LGBTQ+ Rights Banned transgender people from serving in the military. Dismissed civil rights protection for transgender people regarding sexual discrimination in health care. Favors the use of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act against defendants for crimes committed against others due to their gender identity. Gun Control Favors certain background checks; signed the 2018 Fix NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) Act. Favors prosecution of illegal firearm possession. Immigration Favors the construction of a border wall along the U.S. southern border. Favors the elimination of the Family Reunification Program (also referred to as chain migration). Favors the removal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. Climate Change Favors deregulation of climate-related policies as outlined in Executive Order 13771. Favors oil and gas exploration within the U.S. Economy Favors the expansion of Opportunity Zones. Favors private investments in the rural community. Opposes federal legislation raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Education Favors elimination of the public service loan forgiveness plan. Favors temporary relief for student loans due to COVID-19. Health Care Opposes nationwide mask mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Opposes abortion except in rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother. U.S. Presidential Election Libertarian Candidate Jo Jorgensen Candidates Website: Jo20.com Biography: Born on May 1, 1957 in Libertyville, Illinois, Dr. Jo Jorgensen graduated from Baylor University in 1979 with a degree in psychology and Southern Methodist University in 1980 with a masters in business administration. She went on to start multiple software and technology companies before running as the Libertarian Partys South Carolina 4th Congressional District candidate in 1992 and Libertarian candidate for vice president of the United States in 1996. In 2002, she started a business consulting company and earned her Ph.D. from Clemson University in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2002. In 2006, she became a full-time lecturer in psychology at Clemson University. Dr. Jorgensen is married to her husband and has two children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Opposes the death penalty. Opposes federal civil asset forfeiture and qualified immunity. Favors defunding the police. Systemic Racism Favors the decriminalization of drug use. Opposes mandatory minimum sentencing. LGBTQ+ Rights Favors same sex marriage. Favors the inclusion of gender identity into anti-discrimination laws. Favors equal adoption rights for same sex couples. Gun Control Opposes allowing victims of gun violence to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers. Opposes additional restrictions. Immigration Favors deporting illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes. Opposes deporting illegal immigrants before they are eligible for citizenship. Opposes construction of a wall along the U.S. Southern border. Climate Change Opposes the Green New Deal. Favors the use of nuclear power plants and off-grid solar power to replace fossil fuel use. Economy Favors the elimination of the federal income tax. Favors the decrease in government spending and taxes. Favors the reduction or elimination of government departments or programs that are deemed superfluous. Education Favors elimination of the Department of Education. Opposes federal government paying for student tuition to 4-year colleges. Health Care Favors the removal of federal government involvement from health care, including subsidies and regulations regarding abortion. Favors elimination of the FDA efficacy requirements to streamline the approval process for new treatments. Virginia Senatorial Election Democratic Candidate Mark Warner Candidates Website: markwarnerva.com Biography: Born December 15, 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Mark Warner graduated from George Washington University in 1977 and Harvard University School of Law in 1980. Prior to entering politics, he worked in technology and business for 20 years, during which time he co-founded the cellular company later known as Nextel. In 2002, he was elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2006, he was elected to represent the Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate, where he has served for two terms. Warner currently serves on the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committee as well as the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Warner is married to Lisa Collis, and they have three children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors the death penalty. Favors eliminating minimum mandatory sentencing. LGBTQ+ Rights Banned sexual orientation discrimination as Governor. Gun Control Favors stronger background checks. Immigration Supports a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are already living, working and paying taxes in the United States. Economy Favors the federal minimum wage being increased to $15 per hour. Opposes scaled-back COVID-19 stimulus; supports larger-scale COVID-19 stimulus package. Education Favors decreasing student debt through refinancing and income-based repayment. Health Care Favors womens choice in abortion. Virginia Senatorial Election Republican Candidate Daniel Gade Candidates Website: gadeforvirginia.com Biography: Born on February 12, 1975 in Minot, North Dakota, Daniel Gade enlisted in the U.S Army in 1992 and went on to graduate from the U.S. Army Military Academy in 1997. After serving two tours in Iraq and being injured, he earned both his Masters Degree and his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in public administration and policy. Later on, he went on to serve as an associate professor at the U.S. Military Academy. Gade retired from the U.S. Army after more than 20 years of service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his military career, he worked in both the George W. Bush and Donald Trump administrations and currently works as an associate professor at American University. Gade is married to Wendy Gade, and they have three children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors the death penalty. Favors reform of police immunity. LGBTQ+ Rights With Opposes government involvement in marriage on the grounds that it is a religious ceremony. Gun Control Favors certain background checks to identify those with criminal backgrounds and mental illness. Immigration Favors blocking the deportations of Central Americans who have been in the country legally for decades with temporary protected status. Economy Favors a flat-tax. Favors scaled-back COVID-19 stimulus package. Education Opposes decreasing student loan debt. Health Care Opposes womens choice in abortion. 5th Congressional District Election Democratic Candidate Dr. Cameron Webb Candidates Website: drcameronwebb.com Biography: Born in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Dr. Cameron Webb graduated from UVA with a degree in Law and a degree in medicine before being recruited into the White House Medical Unit. During his tenure at the White House, Webb participated in President Obamas My Brothers Keeper initiative, helping young men and women of color to overcome inequality gaps and achieve their goals. He currently resides in Charlottesville with his wife, Leigh-Ann Webb, and two children, where he serves as the Director of Health Policy and Equity at the UVA School of Medicine. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors decriminalizing mental health crises and legalizing marijuana. Favors diverting excess funds from the police force to fund healthcare and schools. LGBTQ+ Rights Favors updating the Violence Against Women Act to ensure protections for LGBTQ+ victims of domestic abuse. Gun Control Favors red flag laws and universal background checks. Immigration Favors increased protections for the DACA program, Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure. Climate Change Favors transitioning Virginias electric grid to clean energy from renewable sources. Opposes the Green New Deal. Economy Favors the federal minimum wage being increased to $15 per hour. Supports raising the capital gains tax on corporations. Advocates for increased funding of broadband internet access. Education Favors tuition free colleges. Health care Favors protecting people suffering from COVID-19 who cannot work from eviction, mortgage, and student loan debt. Favors increasing funding to reproductive healthcare services such as Planned Parenthood. 5th Congressional District Election Republican Candidate Bob Good Candidates Website: bobgoodforcongress.com Biography: Bob Good graduated from Liberty University with an undergraduate finance degree. He went on to serve as a district manager for CitiFinancial until 2005, when he became a senior staff member of Liberty Universities Athletics department. Entering the field of politics in 2016, he served on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, where he reduced unnecessary spending and advocated for conservative principles. Good lives in Lynchburg with his wife, Tracey Good, and three children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors providing police departments with additional funding. LGBTQ+ Rights: Opposes same-sex marriage. Gun Control Opposes placing restrictions on second amendment gun rights. Immigration Favors stopping illegal immigration. Climate Change Favors relying on American sources for energy instead of foreign sources. Favors the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Economy Favors reducing taxes and limiting government spending. Opposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Favors reversal of economic regulations on businesses. Favors safely reopening businesses to jumpstart the economy. Education Unknown stance. Health care Opposes abortion under any circumstances. 7th Congressional District Election Democratic Candidate Abigail A. Spanberger Candidates website: abigailspanberger.com Biography: Abigail A. Spanberger was born in Red Bank, New Jersey and grew up in Henrico County. She earned her B.A. at the University of Virginia and her MBA at a dual degree program between Purdue Universitys Krannert School and the GISMA Business School in Hanover, Germany. Her career in public service began serving as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and she later served as a case officer with the CIA. Spanberger serves on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture as Chair of the Conservation & Forestry Subcommittee and as a member of the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, & Credit Subcommittee, and the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs as ViceChair of the Europe, Eurasia, Energy, & the Environment Subcommittee and as a member of the Asia, the Pacific, & Nonproliferation Subcommittee. Spanberger is married to her husband, Adam Spanberger, and has three children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors legislation to reduce mass incarceration. Favors treating drug addiction as a public health issue and not a crime. LGBTQ+ Rights Favors expanding rights for LGBTQ+ people to protect against discrimination or harassment. Gun Control Favors measures that would improve background checks for all firearm purchases, and fund nonpartisan federal research of gun-related violence and deaths by suicide. Immigration Favors creating an earned pathway to legal status for tax-paying, law-abiding undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. Climate Change Supports a transition from fossil fuel dependence to increased reliance on clean energy sources. Economy Favors the federal minimum wage being increased to $15 per hour. Education Favors lowering the cost of education to address the growing student loan debt crisis. Health care Favors the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Supports maintaining federal funding to Planned Parenthood. 7th Congressional District Election Republican Candidate Nick Freitas Candidates website: nickforva.com Biography: Nick Freitas was born in Chico, California. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Division and 25th Light Infantry Division as an Infantryman. He has also served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and served 2 tours in Iraq as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant. He was elected to be the Culpeper County Republican Committee Chairman in 2014. In 2015, Freitas ran for the Virginia House of Delegates for the 30th district and ran unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general election, and took office in January 2016. As a member of the House of Delegates, Freitas serves on the Transportation Committee and the Communications, Technology and Innovation Committee. Freitas is married to his wife, Tina Freitas, and has three children. Policy Positions Criminal Justice Reform Favors a restorative justice approach that categorizes different types of crimes into violent, non-violent, and victimless. Favors decriminalization of marijuana. LGBTQ+ Rights Opposes legislation requiring the state to reissue birth certificates to conform with a persons self-identity. Gun Control Opposes placing restrictions on second amendment gun rights. Immigration Favors stronger border security and merit based system of immigration. Climate Change Opposes climate change research being used to inform public policy. Economy Favors lowering taxes and free market economy. Education Favors school voucher system. Health care Favors repealing the Affordable Care Act. Supports defunding Planned Parenthood. Acknowledgements Written By: Editing and Design By: Daniel Brown Jude Bolick Shelomith Gonzalez Ginger Hood Jessica Hladky Sterling Hull Faculty Advisors: Liam Norris Connie Jorgensen Tave Slangerup Crystal Newell Max Walpole Tamara Whyte  ...

... PVCC Non-Partisan Voter Guide 2020 Primary Voting Information Candidates appear in this guide in the same order they appear on the ballot unless they have withdrawn from the race. Some Democratic candidates are still on the ballot, despite having dropped out of the race. This means they cannot win representatives. The presidential primary will be on March 3 in Virginia. Virginia is an open primary state, which means that any registered voter can vote in the Democratic Primary. The Virginia Republicans party will not hold a primary on March 3. They will officially select a candidate at the party convention. Voting Requirements: Be registered to vote in Virginia Be a U.S. citizen Be at least 18 by Election Day, Nov. 3 Reside at a Virginia address Not be convicted of a felony, unless your civil rights have been restored Have not been adjudicated mentally incompetent (i.e., legally incapacitated) or, if so, have had their competency (legal capacity) restored ID requirements: Virginia drivers license or photo ID Veterans ID from Virginia DMV U.S. Military ID U.S. Passport Student ID issued by a Virginia college or private school How to Find a Polling Location You can look up your polling place information by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections website at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/ VoterInformation/PollingPlaceLookup Sample Ballots Democratic Candidate Bernie Sanders Candidate Website: https:// berniesanders.com Bio: Bernie Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the University of Chicago. In 198, he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont. He was Vermonts junior Senator from 1991 - 2007 in the House of Representatives. He has been in the Senate since 2007. Social Issues: Supports Housing for All Supports the Green New Deal and rejoining the Paris Agreement Education Issues: Supports guaranteed tuition and debt-free college Supports the cancelation of all student loan debt Health Care Issues: Supports Medicare for All a public health insurance plan Supports elimination of Americans medical debt Democratic Candidate Elizabeth Warren Candidate Website: https:// elizabethwarren.com Bio: Elizabeth Warren grew up in Oklahoma and became a teacher, a Harvard Law School professor, and a US Senator. She was Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel She served as an assistant to President Barack Obama and as a special adviser to the for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Social Issues: Supports protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Supports expanding social security Education Issues: Supports the cancelation of student loan debts Supports free college for both two-year and four-year colleges Health Care Issues: Supports Medicare for All a public health insurance plan Supports abortion rights Democratic Candidate Joe Biden Candidate Website: https:// joebiden.com Bio: Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was the Senator of Delaware from 1973 to 2009. Before he was vice president, alongside Obama (2009-2017), he was the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2007 to 2009. Social Issues: Supports a clean energy revolution and environmental justice Opposes the death penalty and capital punishment Education Issues: Supports greater accessibility of education Supports increasing teachers pay Health Care Issues: Supports a public option for health insurance Supports affordable health care for all Americans Democratic Candidate Amy Klobuchar Candidate Website: https:// amyklobuchar.com Bio: Amy Klobuchar was born in Plymouth, Minnesota. She graduated valedictorian of her high school and went on to study political science at Yale University. She was elected Minnesota's first female Senator in 2006 and was reelected in 2012 and 2018. She was Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee in 2017. Social Issues: Supports making climate change Americas number 1 priority Supports rejoining the Paris agreement Education Issues: Supports rebuilding K-12 schools for better learning conditions Supports establishing an ongoing role for the government to invest in school infrastructure Health Care Issues: Supports a public option for health insurance Supports adding support for people who struggle with addiction and mental health to Medicare/Medicaid Democratic Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Candidate Website: https:// www.tulsi2020.com Bio: Tulsi Gabbard grew up in Hawaii. She served in the Hawaii State Legislature, followed by two deployments to Kuwait and Iraq as part of Hawaii Army National Guard, and then she returned to serve on the Honolulu City Council. Gabbard has served for seven years on the House Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Homeland Security Committees. Social Issues: Supports renewable energy Supports the second amendment and gun safety reform Education Issues: Supports equal access to education Supports elimination of tuition and fees Health Care Issues: Supports a public option for health insurance Supports lowering prescription drug costs Democratic Candidate Pete Buttigieg Candidate Website: https:// peteforamerica.com Bio: Pete Buttigieg graduated from Harvard and the University of Oxford. In Sept. 2009, he entered the Navy Reserves through the direct commission officer program. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 he would resigned from his officers commission in 2017. He was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 2012-2019. Social Issues: Supports LGBTQ+ Americans having federal nondiscrimination protection Supports a Green New Deal that will reduce Americas emissions to zero by 2050 Education Issues: Supports increasing federal resources for students in low-income schools districts Supports increasing teachers salaries Health Care Issues: Supports Medicare for All Who Want It a public option for health insurance Supports lowering prescription drug prices Democratic Candidate Tom Steyer Candidate Website: https:// www.tomsteyer.com Bio: Tom Steyer was born in New York City. He started and grew a successful investment firm but stepped down in 2012 to focus on philanthropy. In 2013 he founded NextGen America, an environmental advocacy nonprofit and political action committee. Social Issues: Supports criminal justice system reform Supports gun safety reform Education Issues: Supports free education for kindergarten through higher education Supports forgiving certain types of student loan debt Health Care Issues: Supports a public option for health insurance Supports reduction of prescription drug costs Democratic Candidate Michael R. Bloomberg Candidate Website: https:// www.mikebloomberg.com Bio: Michael (Mike) Bloomberg grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He started his own company, beginning in a one-room office with a groundbreaking idea far ahead of its time: a desktop computer that connected investors to a vast network of information and data. In 2001, just weeks after the 9/11 attacks, Bloomberg was elected mayor of New York City in his first run for public office. Social Issues: Supports 100% renewable energy by 2050 and investment in clean building Supports gun safety laws Education Issues: Supports making two-year and fouryear public college free for students with the lowest incomes Supports making student loans easier to pay back Health Care Issues: Supports a public option for health insurance Supports lowering prescription drug prices Democratic Candidates That Have Dropped Out Julin Castro Website: https://www.julianforthefuture.com/ Suspended campaign on January 2, 2020 Michael Bennet Website: https://michaelbennet.com/ Suspended campaign February 11th 2020 Cory Booker Website: https://corybooker.com/ Suspended campaign on January 13, 2020 Deval Patrick Website: https://devalpatrick2020.com Suspended campaign on January 2, 2020 Marianne Williamson Website: https://www.marianne2020.com/ Suspended campaign on January 10, 2020 Andrew Yang Website: https://www.yang2020.com/ Suspended campaign on February 11th 2020 Republican Candidate Donald Trump Candidate Website: https:// www.donaldjtrump.com Bio: Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, was born and raised in Queens, New York. Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an economics degree. He first entered into politics in 2016 when he ran for the presidency. Social Issues: Supports abortion restrictions Supports increasing border security Education Issues: Supported 20 states and the Virgin Islands to assist the costs of education in areas that experienced hurricanes and other natural disasters Supports reforming the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to make the program more accessible to all students Health Care Issues: Supports improving access to affordable healthcare Supports ending the opioid crisis Republican Candidate Roque De La Fuente Candidate Website: https:// rocky101.com Bio: Roque De La Fuente was born in San Diego, California. He earned a bachelors degree in Physics and Mathematics from Instituto Patria and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then studied Business Administration and Accounting at Anhuac University and the University of San Diego. At the age of 28, Fuente was elected Chairman of the National Dealer Council for the third largest Automotive Company in the world at the time. Social Issues: Supports preserving the environment Supports bringing back small to medium businesses Education Issues: Supported a free education system Supports reform of government funding to colleges and trade schools to make them more accessible Health Care Issues: Supports health care reform to make it more accessible Supports lowering health care costs Republican Candidate Bill Weld Candidate Website: https:// weld2020.org Bio: Bill Weld first stepped into law as a junior counsel on the U.S. House Judiciary Committees impeachment inquiry staff during the impeachment process against Richard Nixon. Weld later became U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, and then was promoted to Reagans Justice Department. Since then, Bill Weld has been the governor of Massachusetts. Social Issues: Supports decriminalization of marijuana and exonerating those with possessory offences Supports the Paris Agreement Education Issues: Supported free tuition to technical skills programs for workers displaced by automation Supports a student loan forgiveness program and repealing legislation so that student debt may be renegotiated Health Care Issues: Supports expanding the Affordable Care Act Supports lowering prescription drug prices Acknowledgements Written By: Editing and Design By: Daniela Tepiz Romero Ari Oxford Emily Sprouse Cody Clark Jack Hinson Jessica Adkins Justin Cary Lisa Skipper Faculty Advisors: MyKaela Morris Connie Jorgensen Richard Flowers Crystal Newell Steven Barker Tamara Whyte Victoria Luevano  ...

... 2019 PVCC Non-Partisan Voter Guide - - City of Charlottesville Sample Ballot -2- Find Candidates and Other Ballots Ballot information by county: Albemarle County https://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=registrar&relpage=2937 Fluvanna County https://www.fluvannacounty.org/registrar/page/sample-ballot Greene County https://www.greenecountyva.gov/government/depts/voter-registration Louisa County https://www.louisacounty.com/1030/Sample-Ballots Nelson County http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/residents/voter-registration/upcoming-elections/ Find your candidates in this guide by district VA House VA Senate District 20 ...pages 4-5 District 17 ...pages 18-19 District 25 ...pages 6-8 District 22 ...pages 20-21 District 57 ...page 9 District 24 ...pages 22-23 District 56 ...pages 10-11 District 25 ...pages 24-25 District 58 ...pages 12-13 District 59 ...pages 14-15 District 65 ...pages 16-17 Candidates appear in this guide in the order they will appear on the ballot. -3- VA House District 20 John Avoli (R) Candidate website: johnavoli.com Education: Supports the limiting of standardized testing Supports public education Healthcare: Supports enforcement of regulations for the mental health and drug crisis Supports making health insurance affordable for all Jobs and Economy: Supports small businesses Supports limiting tax increases Supports agriculture Supports improving Interstate 81 Social Issues: Supports the Second Amendment Supports independent, fair redistricting Supports internet service in rural areas -4- VA House District 20 Jennifer Lewis (D) Candidate website: jenniferlewisfordelegate.com Education: Supports public schools being funded regardless of residents Supports rebuilding schools Healthcare: Supports an increase in funding for domestic violence shelters Supports protection of funding for womens health centers Jobs and Economy: Opposes Atlantic coast and mountain valley pipelines Supports enforcement of antitrust laws in the farming industry Social Issues: Supports the legalization of hemp and marijuana for medical/recreational use Opposes toll for Interstate 81 Supports increase in fuel taxes to eliminate toll Supports gun safety measures Supports the Equal Rights Amendment -5- VA House District 25 Chris Runion (R) Candidate website: chrisrunion.com Education: Supports addressing and improving public education Healthcare: Supports addressing healthcare and mental health issues Jobs and Economy: Supports a focus on transportation issues and the future of Interstate-81 Social Issues: Supports the right to life; anti-abortion Supports Second Amendment rights Supports conservative leadership -6- VA House District 25 Jennifer Kitchen (D) Candidate website: electjenniferkitchen.com Education: Supports fully funding schools to pre-recession levels Supports education programs accessible through public education system Healthcare: Supports increasing access to healthcare providers, specifically mental health services Jobs and Economy: Supports a living wage Supports the rights of workers Social Issues: Supports legalization of marijuana Supports ratification of Equal Rights Amendment -7- VA House District 25 Janice Allen (I) Candidate has no website. Education: Supports erasing all college debt Healthcare: Candidate has not given stance on healthcare Jobs and Economy: Candidate has not given stance on jobs and economy Social Issues: Supports ratification of Equal Rights Amendment Supports nonpartisan redistricting Supports cutting taxes; believes farmers should not pay taxes -8- VA House District 57 Sally Hudson (D) Candidate website: sallyforvirginia.com Education: Supports establishing a universal preschool Supports investments in technical schools and apprenticeships Supports reducing tuition costs Supports investments in arts and afterschool programs Healthcare: Supports statewide affordable public option for insurance Supports primary medical care in underserved regions Jobs and Economy: Supports raising teacher salaries Supports tax reform Supports adopting tax consolidation in Virginia for businesses Social Issues: Supports clean energy Opposes gas pipeline construction Supports legalizing marijuana -9- VA House District 56 John McGuire (R) Candidate website: mcguire56.com Education: Supports fixing one-size -fits-all education system Supports helping students and parents choose an education system that fits their needs Healthcare: Supports cutting regulations that inflate health care costs and reduces access to healthcare providers Supports programs to battle the opioid crisis Jobs and Economy: Supports law enforcement and first responders Supports helping businesses grow and creating jobs Social Issues: Supports tax policies that are favorable to citizens and businesses Supports lower taxes for veterans Supports public safety Supports broadband expansion - 10 - VA House District 56 Juanita Matkins (D) Candidate website: matkinsfordelegate.com Education: Supports fully funding public education from pre-k through college and raising teacher pay Supports strengthening STEM curriculum Healthcare: Supports Medicaid expansion Supports quality, affordable healthcare services Jobs and Economy: Supports expanding career and technical training Supports expanding green energy Social Issues: Supports automatic voter registration, no excuse absentee voting, and repealing the voter ID law Supports ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment Supports legalization of marijuana Supports broadband infrastructure in rural areas Supports sensible justice reforms - 11 - VA House District 58 Rob Bell (R) Candidate website: delegaterobbell.com Education: Supports laws to force schools to establish bullying prevention programs Supports laws requiring additional background checks for teachers Supports scholarships for disadvantaged children in underperforming schools Supports public charter schools Healthcare: Supports mental health care reform Jobs and Economy: Supports deregulation of businesses Supports veteran services Social Issues: Supports bill requiring life sentences for child-rapists Supports bill increasing penalties for those who place children in prostitution Opposes gun restrictions Supports anti-abortion legislation - 12 - VA House District 58 Elizabeth Alcorn (D) Candidate website: alcornfor58th.com Education: Supports increasing state funding to public schools Supports establishing universal preschool Supports trade-job training in high school and community college Healthcare: Supports holding State Corporation Commission accountable for insurance monopolies Supports lower prescription drug costs Supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions seeking healthcare Jobs and Economy: Supports a renewable energy-based economy Social Issues: Supports clean energy Supports legalizing marijuana Supports establishing broadband internet in rural areas Supports improving commuter routes and fixing roads and bridges - 13 - VA House District 59 Matt Fariss (R) Candidate website: mattfariss.com Education: Supports education funds going to the classrooms Supports reserving decision-making for local level Healthcare: Opposes the Affordable Healthcare Act Supports insurance coverage for autism treatment/diagnosis Jobs and Economy: Supports reduced taxes Supports reduced budgets Social Issues: Supports anti-abortion legislation Opposes gun ownership restrictions Supports pro-hunting legislation Supports free use of property - 14 - VA House District 59 Tim Hickey (D) Candidate website: timhickeyfordelegate.com Education: Supports removing standardization Supports reserving decision-making for local level Supports increasing teacher salaries Healthcare: Supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions seeking healthcare Opposes Medicaid work requirements Jobs and Economy: Supports pro-small business legislation Social Issues: Supports background checks when purchasing guns Supports renewable energy Supports broadband internet in rural areas Supports abortion rights legislation - 15 - VA House District 65 Lee Ware (R) Candidate website: lee-ware.com Education: Supports increasing funding Supports high academic standards for students Supports merit-pay for teachers Supports reserving decision-making for local level Healthcare: Supports access to healthcare for everyone Jobs and Economy: Supports tax reform Supports tax incentives to businesses Supports reducing government spending Social Issues: Supports public transportation improvements Supports rail improvements Supports addressing road construction, development and growth - 16 - VA House District 65 Mike Asip (D) Candidate website: mikeasipfordelegate.org Education: Supports increasing teacher salaries Supports reducing tuition costs Healthcare: Supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions seeking healthcare Supports affordable healthcare options Supports mental health care reform Jobs and Economy: Supports tax incentives for small businesses Supports enhancing infrastructure to promote economic diversity Social Issues: Supports renewable energy Supports abortion rights Supports establishing broadband internet in rural areas Supports the Equal Rights Amendment - 17 - VA Senate District 17 Bryce Reeves (R) Candidate website: brycereeves.com Education: Supports equal education opportunities for all children Supports raising teacher salary Health Care: Supports affordable healthcare Supports protections for people with pre-existing conditions seeking healthcare Jobs and Economy Supports lower tax rates in the Commonwealth Supports our veterans and law enforcement officers Social Issues: Supports background checks Supports Second Amendment Rights Supports anti-abortion legislation - 18 - VA Senate District 17 Amy Laufer (D) Candidate website: lauferforvirginia.com Education: Supports rights for all children to attend schools Supports raising the pay and salary of teachers Supports having more advanced technology in all classrooms Health Care: Supports affordable healthcare Supports all Virginian public medical schools having the same technology and tools as the local hospitals Opposes the work mandate to get Medicare Jobs and Economy: Candidate has not given stance on jobs and economy Social Issues: Supports universal background checks before buying firearms Supports the teaching of responsible gun ownership - 19 - VA Senate District 22 Mark Peake (R) Candidate website: peakeforsenate.com Education: Supports the belief that all children have the right to education no matter where they come from Healthcare: Supports anti-abortion legislation Jobs and Economy Supports removing government regulations Supports removing individual state income tax Social Issues: Supports the right to bear arms Supports fair re-districting - 20 - VA Senate District 22 Dakota Claytor (D) Candidate website: dakotaclaytorforsenate.com Education: Supports improving the conditions in public schools Supports giving rural school areas the same resources as other schools Healthcare: Supports healthcare for all Virginians Supports expanding Medicaid Jobs and Economy Supports trade-job training in high school and community college Social Issues: Supports legalizing marijuana - 21 - VA Senate District 24 Emmett Hanger (R) Candidate website: emmetthanger.com Education: Supports public education and that all children should attend K-12 Supports less testing and more flexibility when it comes to schedules Supports the raise in teachers salaries Healthcare: Supports everyone having equal access to affordable healthcare Jobs and Economy: Supports a balanced budget Social Issues: Supports the Second Amendment Supports idea that guns should be allowed to be carried whenever, as long as they do not violate certain rules Supports the idea that people should have a permit to own a gun and at least some training - 22 - VA Senate District 24 Annette Hyde (D) Candidate website: annetteservesva.com Education: Supports increasing teacher salaries Supports affordable higher education Healthcare: Supports public option to buy into Medicaid Opposes high costs of healthcare Jobs and Economy: Supports investing in trade-job training Social Issues: Supports the Second Amendment Supports background checks and proper gun training Supports marijuana legalization - 23 - VA Senate District 25 Creigh Deeds (D) Candidate website: senatordeeds.com Education: Supports public schools, colleges, and universities Supports smaller class sizes Supports increasing teacher salaries Healthcare: Supports access to affordable healthcare Jobs and Economy: Supports trade-job training in high school and community college Social Issues: Supports protecting children from predators and strongly supports the Amber Alert Supports increased funding to first responders Supports abortion rights - 24 - VA Senate District 25 Elliott Harding (I) Candidate website: hardingforva.com Education: Supports the idea that parents and children should be able to decide where they go to school Supports equal education opportunities for all children Healthcare: Supports gun and mental health reform Opposes government intervention in healthcare Jobs and Economy: Opposes overregulation Opposes state subsidizing of private corporations Opposes preferential tax treatment to certain businesses Social Issues: Supports the reforming of the criminal justice system - 25 - Voting Guidelines Voting Requirements: Be registered to vote in Virginia Be a U.S. citizen Be 18 by Election Day, Nov. 5 Reside at a Virginia address Not be convicted of a felony, unless your voting rights have been restored Not currently judged incompetent by a court In-person ID requirements: A Virginia drivers license or Photo ID A Veterans ID from Virginia DMV A U.S. Military ID A U.S. Passport A student ID issued by a Virginia college or private school Voting in Person: Early Voting: Sept. 21 to Nov. 2 Vote on Election Day: Nov. 5 Absentee Ballots: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 Deadline to request an absentee ballot in-person is 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 - 26 - Know Your Legislators Who Represents Me? Whos My Legislator provides information about current districts and members of the Virginia Senate, Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia delegation to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. What Are They Doing? The Virginia General Assembly Website provides information about bills, committees, and voting records for Virginia State legislators. Govtrack.us helps everyone learn about and track the activities of the United States Congress including bill and resolution tracking, voting records, and committee assignments. VoteSmart.org provides free, factual, and unbiased information on candidates and elected officials including their voting records and positions on issues, speeches, and who they are receiving funding from. Ballotpedia.org connects people with politics by changing the way they access the information they need to be informed about federal, state, and local politics. Our content includes neutral, accurate, and verifiable information on government officials and the offices they hold, political issues and public policy, elections, candidates, and the influencers of politics. Ballotpedia currently has over 288,000 encyclopedic articles and offers daily, weekly, and monthly email newsletters on a variety of specialized topics. Check Their Claims and Facts FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocate for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Their goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding. Politifact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact checks claims by elected officials, candidates, leaders of political parties and political activists. They examine officials at all levels of government, from county commissioners to U.S. senators, from city council members to the president. Snopes is an independent publication owned by Snopes Media Group and got its start in 1994, investigating urban legends, hoaxes, and folklore. Founder David Mikkelson, later joined by his wife, was publishing online before most people were connected to the internet. As demand for reliable fact checks grew, so did Snopes. Now its the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion. - 27 - Whats on My Ballot? Where do I Vote? https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/ citizen-portal/index.html Acknowledgements Written By: Editing and Faculty Advisors: Olivia Hall Design By: Connie Jorgensen Acadia Banis Jessica Adkins Crystal Newell Rachel Gatling Cody Clark Tamara Whyte Jacob Floyd Deadra Miller  ...

... 2018 PVCC Non-Partisan Voter Guide Candidates in this guide appear in the same order as they do on this sample ballot. Page 2 Voter Regulations Photo ID Requirements You will need to show one acceptable photo identification card (photo ID) whenever you vote in person. This is Virginia law for all voters. Many types of photo ID are acceptable for voting in Virginia. You only need to show ONE acceptable photo ID to vote. Photo IDs can be used to vote up to one year after the ID has expired. Acceptable forms of Valid Identification: Virginia drivers license Virginia DMV-issued photo ID United States passport Employer-issued photo ID Student photo ID issued by a school, college, or university located in Virginia Other U.S. or Virginia government-issued photo ID Tribal enrollment or other tribal photo ID Virginia Voter Photo ID card NEED A PHOTO ID? If you dont have an ID, go to your nearest voter registration office to get a free Voter Photo ID, even on Election Day. You will be required to complete a photo ID application, have your photo taken, and sign a digital signature pad. The Virginia Voter Photo ID card is valid for voting purposes only. Forgot your photo ID on Election Day? If you arrive without an acceptable photo ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. You will be given instructions on what to do so your vote can count. How to Find a Polling Location Your polling place is based on your home address. In order for your vote to count, you need to be at the correct polling place. You can look up your polling place information by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections website at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/ PollingPlaceLookup. Polling places are set up in government facilities, such as town halls, schools, fire stations, community centers, or other public buildings. Getting a Ride to the Polls If you are unable to drive or dont have a ride to the polls, there are services that will take you for free. In Charlottesville, CAR2Vote is one of these services. You can request a ride by either filling out a form, which can be found car2vote.weebly.com, or calling 434-260-1547. On election day, November 6, 2018, Uber will be offering free rides to polling places through their ride sharing service. There will be an option on the app to find your polling place and call for a ride there, for free. Page 3 U.S. Senate Corey A. Stewart (R) Opposes amnesty for people who entered the country illegally and wants to ban sanctuary cities. Believes that people who entered the country illegally should be arrested and deported. Supports building the border wall proposed by the president. Anti-abortion. Supports defunding Planned Parenthood. Wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Supports lowering taxes for all. Wants to develop Americas natural resources including renewable alternatives. Wants to gain independence from foreign oil. Supports improving Virginia infrastructure. Supports National Concealed Carry legislation. Supports school vouchers. Supports parents being in charge of their childrens education. Wants to raise salary for law enforcement and provide more training. Page 4 U.S. Senate Timothy M. Kaine (D) Supports DACA and amnesty for people who entered the country illegally. Supports the Dream Act. Supports the redesignating of Temporary Protection Status to include more countries. Supports abortion rights. Supports funding Planned Parenthood. Wants to keep and protect the Affordable Care Act. Wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and large corporations. Wants to transition towards renewable energy. Opposes opening Virginias coast to offshore drilling. Supports improving Virginia infrastructure. Supports ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Wants to raise funding for Title 1 schools. Wants to reduce the cost of college. Supports universal background checks. Page 5 U.S. Senate Matt J. Waters (L) Supports tighter border security. Supports changing the law on chain migration. Opposes building the border wall proposed by the president. Anti-abortion. Supports defunding Planned Parenthood. Wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Supports repealing federal minimum wage. Wants to enact spending freeze at Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland of Security, and Department of State. Supports strengthening Social Security through private accounts. Wants to privatize Energy, HUD, Commerce, Interior, and Education Departments, as well as the Postal Service and Amtrak. Supports concealed carry and is a member of the National Rifle Association. Wants to eliminate the Drug Enforcement Agency. Believes that education should be privatized and put into the marketplace to compete with non-profits and for-profits. Wants to reduce standing army and military budget. Page 6 Proposed Amendments and Meals Tax Proposed Constitutional Amendment Question 1 Ballot Question, Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if flooding resiliency improvements have been made on the property? The proposed amendments would permit the General Assembly to allow localities to provide a partial tax exemption for real property subject to recurrent flooding, if improvements have been made on the property to address flooding. The General Assembly and participating localities would have the ability to place restrictions or conditions on qualification for the exemption. Full Text of the Amendment: (k) The General Assembly may by general law authorize the governing body of any county, city, or town to provide for a partial exemption from local real property taxation, within such restrictions and upon such conditions as may be prescribed, of improved real estate subject to recurrent flooding upon which flooding abatement, mitigation, or resiliency efforts have been undertaken. Proposed Constitutional Amendment Question 2 Ballot Question, Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who had a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be amended to allow the surviving spouse to move to a different primary residence and still claim the exemption? The Constitution of Virginia currently requires the General Assembly to provide a tax exemption of the principle, permanent residence of any veteran who has a 100 percent service -connected, permanent, and total disability. It also requires a text exemption be granted to the surviving spouse of such veteran, as long as said property is their principle residence. The proposed amendment would allow the surviving spouse of a veteran meeting qualifications to claim the exemption even if they move to a new principle residence. Full text of the Amendment (the amendment would remove the crossed out portion and add the underlined portion): The General Assembly shall also provide this exemption from taxation for real property owned by the surviving spouse of a veteran who was eligible for the exemption provided in this subdivision, so long as the surviving spouse does not remarry and continues to occupy the real property as his or her principal place of residence. This exemption applies to the surviving spouse's principal place of residence without any restriction on the spouse's moving to a different principal place of residence. Meals Tax (on Fluvanna Ballot Only) Should Fluvanna County enact an ordinance to levy a tax on food and beverages sold, for human consumption, by a restaurant, in an amount not to exceed 4% of the amount charged for such food and beverages as provided in Virginia Code Section 58.1-3833? If this food and beverage tax is adopted and a maximum tax rate of four percent is imposed, then the total tax imposed on all prepared food and beverage shall be 9.3%, the total, expressed as a precentage, of all existing ad valorem taxes applicable to the transaction (5.3% sales tax), added to the four percent county food and beverage tax to be approved by the referendum. Page 7 5th Congressional District Denver Riggleman (R) Supports the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Supports strengthening Health Savings Accounts. Supports school choice. Wants to reform standardized testing. Wants to reform government limitations on vocational schools and community colleges for job training programs. Wants to address issues of student debt and rising costs of college. Supports 2nd amendment as is. Opposes banning bump stocks, large capacity magazines, or assault rifles. Believes people found guilty of domestic abuse should not be allowed to own firearms. Supports defunding Planned Parenthood. Supports a 20-week abortion ban. and migrant visa reform. Supports the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and wants to make individual tax cuts permanent and supports more tax reform. Supports building a border wall where it is practical and supports technological barriers, like sensors, to help secure the southern border. Opposes pipelines in Virginia. Opposes raising the federal minimum wage. Supports a mandatory E-Verify program Opposes net neutrality. Page 8 5th Congressional District Leslie Cockburn (D) Wants to Protect Affordable Care Act. Supports single-payer Medicare for all. Opposes funding school vouchers. Wants to reform standardized testing. Wants to reduce interest rates on student loans. Supports free community college. Wants to regulate gun show loopholes and internet firearm purchases. Supports banning bump stocks, large capacity magazines, and assault weapons. Believes people found guilty of domestic abuse should not be allowed to own firearms. Supports funding Planned Parenthood. Supports abortion rights. Opposes building a physical wall on the southern border. Supports reforming the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and supports comprehensive immigration reform. Opposes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and would like to reverse the bill. Opposes pipelines in Virginia. Supports raising the federal minimum wage. Supports net neutrality. Page 9 7th Congressional District Dave A. Brat (R) Supports defunding the Affordable Care Act. Opposes funding for Planned Parenthood. Anti-abortion. Supporter of gun rights and opposes any attempts to confiscate guns or create a national gun registry. Wants to prevent cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Wants to address asylum reform to ensure that families stay together at the borders. Supports ending reliance on foreign oil through the private sector. Wants to reduce the national debt through a reduction in federal spending. Supports securing the borders. Opposes top-down education initiatives such as Common Core and No Child Left Behind. Supports a full audit of the Federal Reserve System. Abigail A. Spanberger (D) Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP and wants to reinstate the individual mandate for the ACA. Supports federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Supports abortion rights. Supports background checks on all firearms purchases. Wants to protect Social Security and Medicare and opposes attempts to privatize the systems. Supports better border security through officer training and physical infrastructure. Supports investing in renewable energy. Wants to pursue universal coverage, specifically through Medicare-X. Supports pathways to legal status for people who entered the country illegally and contribute to society. Supports organized labor unions and union apprenticeship programs. Supports greater transparency and accountability in Congress. Page 10 7th Congressional District Joseph B. Walton (L) Wants to improve the Affordable Care Act. Wants to detach healthcare from employers. Supports abortion rights. Wants responsible gun ownership, supports a strong background check system. Wants to adjust Medicare and Social Security for the younger generations. Wants states to legislate immigration. Supports a transition to solar energy. Wants to lower taxes and does not support the 2017 tax plan. Opposes the recent tariffs proposed on imports. Wants to lower college tuition. Wants to reduce federal government spending. Also on the Ballot Buckingham County: Greene County: Clerk of Court Mayor of Standardsville Diane B. Blackburn C. T. "Nicci" Edmondston Justin D. Midkiff Samuel G. "Sam" Davis David Wade Ball Charlottesville: Member of School Board (special election) Gary E. Lowe Member Town Council (Standardsville) Jon P. Newton Doris Rorrer Swenson Richard N. Early, Jr. Jennifer A. Ziros James Edward Bryant Page 11 Whats on My Ballot? https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/ Where do I Vote? https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ citizen-portal/index.html Acknowledgements Written By: Travis Collier Victoria Garcia Jake Greenberg Chad Mitchell Edited By: Bryn Dotson Madison Weikle Faculty Advisors: Connie Jorgensen Tamara Whyte Layout and Design By: Bryn Dotson Madison Weikle Special thanks to the staff at Betty Sue Jessup Library and Director of Library Services Crystal Newell  ...

... PVCC NON-PARTISAN VOTER GUIDE Candidates in this guide appear in the same order as they do on this sample ballot Page 2 Voting Guidelines Voting Requirements: Be registered to vote in Virginia Be a US citizen Be 18 by Election Day, Nov. 7 Reside at a Virginia address Not be convicted of a felony, unless your voting rights have been restored Not currently judged incompetent by a court In-person ID requirements: A Virginia drivers license or Photo ID A Veterans ID from Virginia DMV US Military ID A US Passport A student ID issued by a Virginia college or private school Voting in Person: Early Voting: Sept. 22 to Nov. 4 Vote on Election Day, Nov. 7 Absentee Ballots: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 Deadline to request an absentee ballot in-person is 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 Page 3 Governor Candidate Ralph S. Northam (D) Education: Supports increasing state funding for charter schools on the condition public schools do not loose funding as a result. Supports decreased reliance of standardized testing and reevaluation of testing standards for elementary schoolers Supports increased STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) education. Supports introduction of Get skilled - Get a job - Give back program. Supports apprenticeships and job training in last two years of high school for noncollege bound students. Healthcare: Opposes measures barring abortion from being covered by healthcare plans sold in the state exchange. Supports expansion of Medicaid. Supports calling for VA reform at the federal level. Supports expanding access to new substance abuse treatments and drug courts. Supports increased access to contraceptives and continued access to abortions. Jobs and Economy: Supports two year merchant's capital; Business, Professional, and occupational Licensing tax exemption for small businesses in rural areas. Supports complete audit of state spending. Supports raising the minimum wage. Supports thorough vetting of Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Supports extending legislation which helps veterans find civilian employment. Social Issues: Supports decriminalization of marijuana. Opposes measures that would limit entry to the state based on race, religion or country of origin. Supports creating non-partisan commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. Supports expansion of firearms regulations. Called for removal of statues honoring leaders of the confederate states of America. Page 4 Governor Candidate Edward Gillespie (R) Education: Supports expansion of charter schools. Supports establishment of Education Savings Accounts. Supports reevaluation of testing standards for public school students. Supports increased STEMH (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health) education. Supports standards of learning that account for both growth and achievement. Healthcare: Opposes expansion of Medicaid. Supports construction of two additional veterans care facilities. Supports appointment of Virginia Women Veterans Coordinator. Supports increased funding for drug abuse programs in schools. Supports reevaluation of opioid prescription standards and expansion of state's prescription monitoring program. Jobs and Economy: Supports 10 percent cut to individual income tax over three year period. Supports three year phase out of Business and Professional Occupancy License tax, Machinery and tools tax, and Merchants Capital tax. Supports implementation of zero-based budgeting, which requires all spending to be justified at least once every ten years. Supports construction of Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Supports passing of legislation allowing veterans qualified for specialized jobs to more easily receive the corresponding civilian qualification. Social Issues: Opposes decriminalization of marijuana. Supports measures that would require local governments to comply with federal immigration law. Opposes expansion of firearms regulations. Supports reintroduction of Project Exile, which increased rate of prosecution under federal rather than state firearms laws. Supports confederate statues remaining, but with historical context Page 5 Governor Candidate Clifford Hyra (L) Education: Supports expansion of Virginia's charter school program. Proposes repealing Standards of Quality funding formula and replacing SOQs and SOLs (Standards of Learning) with growth measure testing. Wants to invest in expansion of successful career and technical schools. Proposes a program to find budget savings by improving energy efficiency of schools in disrepair. Wants to make schools more adaptable and competitive. Healthcare: Proposes reformation of Virginia's Medicaid waiver system with family means testing. Proposes repealing Certificate of Public Need regulations. Supports allowing purchase of insurance across state lines to increase competition, reduce costs, and facilitate innovation. Supports price transparency to facilitate a more market based healthcare system in Virginia. Supports using best practices from other states to achieve better outcomes and efficiency. exemption of $30,000 for individuals, and income above this to be taxed at a flat 5.75 percent. Proposes a two year freeze on new state spending. Proposes ending the Business, Professional and Occupational Licensing tax, Merchant Capital tax, Machine and Tool tax, and Business Personal Property tax. Opposes statewide increase to minimum wage. Opposes construction of Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Social Issues: Supports decriminalization of marijuana. Supports prohibiting discrimination in public employment on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Opposes partisan based redistricting. Opposes expansion of Firearms regulation. Supports local government making decisions in regards to Confederate Monuments. Jobs and Economy: Supports exemption of first $60,000 of household income from state tax, Page 6 Lt. Governor Candidate Justin Fairfax (D) Education: Supports state funded pre-kindergarten education for all Virginians. Supports restructuring and lowering student loan debt. Supports continued efforts to reforming SOL (Standards of Learning) to a less testbased model. Healthcare: Supports expanding Medicaid to all Virginians. Supports protection for people with preexisting conditions. Supports treatment over incarceration for users of opioids in VA. Supports increasing access to contraception and abortions. Jobs and Economy: Supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour. Supports equal pay for equal work and plans to minimize the wage gap. Supports government restructuring of student loan debt. Social Issues: Supports open discussion about resolutions to climate change. Supports increasing clean energy. Supports same-sex marriage. Supports restrictions on gun ownership through background checks and assault weapon bans. Lt. Governor Candidate Jill Vogel (R) Education: Supports reform to make college more affordable. Supports ban on instate tuition for illegal immigrants. Supports charter schools. Healthcare: Supports "evidencebased prevention, treatment, and innovative diversion programs" to combat opioid epidemic. Opposes Obamacares individual mandate. Anti-abortion. Jobs and Economy: Supports reducing regulations and tax burden. Social Issues: Opposes sanctuary cities. Supports stronger ethical standards for politicians. Supports the Second Amendment and has A+ rating from NRA. Introduced bills to allow state law enforcement to initiate deportation proceedings. Supports Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Supports ban on "Bump Stocks" for semi automatic weapons. Supports treatment for non-violent drug offenders over jail time. Page 7 Attorney Gen. Candidate Mark Herring (D) Education: Supports increasing public school funding. Healthcare: Pro-abortion rights Publicly opposed Trump's Contraception coverage rollback. Supports increasing government funded healthcare coverage. Jobs and Economy: Supports Virginia's conservation easement tax program. Opposes cuts to EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Program. Supports pay equity. Social Issues: Believes in a "comprehensive strategy that emphasizes education, prevention, and treatment alongside enforcement" when tackling opioid epidemic. Has helped officers train in implicit bias control, de-escalation, and crisis intervention. Supports universal background checks to purchase any firearm. Supports Virginias one handgun a month law. Supports developing clean energy and addressing climate change. Opposes President Trump's seven nation travel ban and supports DREAM Act and DACA. Page 8 Attorney Gen. Candidate John Adams (R) Education: Supports school choice. Healthcare: Anti-abortion. Supported Trump's contraceptive coverage rollback. Supports combating drug abuse. Jobs and Economy: Supports right-to-work laws. Opposes Obama administrations power plant regulations. Opposes federal restrictions on small businesses. Social Issues: Believes in prevention and education, treatment, and enforcement when it comes to tackling the opioid epidemic. Supports a tough on crime approach when it comes to drug dealing, human trafficking, and violence. Believes in enforcing existing gun laws. Supports the Second Amendment. Opposes same-sex marriage. Opposes discrimination based on religious faith. Page 9 25th Dis. House of Delegates Candidates Angela Lynn (D) and Steven Landes (R) Education: Supports increased funding for the public school system and pre-kindergarten education. Healthcare: Supports expansion of Medicaid. Jobs and Economy: Supports expansion of Medicaid as a chance for economic growth in Virginia. Social issues: Supports environmental protection and public parks. Supports non-partisan redistricting. Education: Supports reforms to improve and reduce SOL (Standards of Learning) tests. Healthcare: Supports reforming Medicaid and Welfare without expanding them. Jobs and Economy: Has supported small businesses by lobbying legislators to pass bills protecting them. Social Issues: Sponsored the creation of the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. Supports non-partisan redistricting. Page 10 57th Dis. House of Delegate Candidate David Toscano (D) Education: Advocates for preschool education to low income families and reformation of K-12 education by allocating more resources into creating better public schools. Healthcare: Supports expansion of Medicaid. Jobs and Economy: Supports places of workforce education and bettering working wages. Social issues: Supports criminal justice reform, non-partisan redistricting, and renewable-based energy. Page 11 59th Dis. House of Delegates Candidates Tracy Carver (D) and Matt Fariss (R) Education: Supports increased funding for education and equity across all school districts. Healthcare: Supports expansion of Medicaid and women's reproductive freedom. Jobs and Economy: Advocates local agriculture growth and hemp farming. Social Issues: Opposes Atlantic Coast, Mountain Valley, and Marcus Shale pipelines. Supports legalization of marijuana. Education: Opposes excessive government influence in education spending. Healthcare: Anti-abortion. Jobs and Economy: Opposes tax increases. Social Issues: Requested an extension of the scoping period from Federal Energy Regulation Commission, and an increase in meetings with counties affected by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Page 10 59th Dis. House of Delegates Candidates Marcus Sutphin (G) and David Ball (I) Education: Supports increased funding for higher education and better teacher pay. Education: Candidate has not given stance on education. Healthcare: Supports a single payer healthcare system. Healthcare: Supports access to affordable healthcare for everyone. Anti-abortion. Jobs and Economy: Supports hemp farming and increasing the minimum wage. Social issues: Supports Anti-Corruption Act, gun rights, and marijuana legalization. Opposes Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Jobs and Economy: Supports strategic tax credits aimed at creating jobs. Social Issues: Supports providing more policing in the evenings in rural areas. Opposes the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Page 11 58th Dis. House of Delegates Candidates Kellen Squire (D) and Robert Bell III (R) Education: Supports public school STEAM programs and affordability of colleges and universities. Healthcare: Supports Medicaid expansion. Jobs and Economy: Opposes tax loopholes that benefit the wealthiest 1 percent and large corporations. Social Issues: Supports no-excuse absentee voting and expanding gun regulations. Education: Supports public charter schools and bullying prevention programs. Healthcare: Supports expanded care for people with mental illness. Jobs and Economy: Supports small businesses and right-towork laws. Social Issues: Supports concealed and open carry laws, but not one gun a month law. Page 10 Other Races Member Board of Supervisors Albemarle (Samuel Miller District) Liz A. Palmer (D) John C. Lowry (R) Member of School Board Fluvanna County (Rivanna District) Shirley S. Stewart (I) Tyler M. Pieron (I) Member of School Board Albemarle County (Rio District) Mary G. McIntyre (I) Katrina E. Callsen (I) Member Board of Supervisors Greene (Midway District) Marie C. Durrer (I) Jim F. Frydl (I) Member of School Board Albemarle County (Samuel Miller District) Graham T. Paige (I) Julian D. Waters (I) Member Board of Supervisors Greene (Stanardsville) J. Frank Morris (R) Bill B. Martin (I) Commonwealths Attorney Charlottesville Joseph D. Platania (D) Commonwealths Attorney Greene County Matthew D. Hardin (R) Andrew L. Wilder (I) Sheriff Charlottesville City James E. Brown III (D) Commissioner of Revenue Charlottesville Todd D. Divers (D) Treasurer Charlottesville James A. Vandever (D) Member City Council Charlottesville Heather D. Hill (D) Amy J. Laufer (D) Paul Edward Long (I) Nikuyah R. Walker (I) Kenneth Wayne Jackson (I) John Edward Hall (I) Member Town Council - Special Greene County (Stanardsville) Robert M. Bongers II (I) Jennifer A. Ziros (I) Member Board of Supervisors Louisa (Mineral District) Duane A. Adams (R) Stephanie L. Koren (I) Member Board of Supervisors Nelson (East District) Allen M. Hale (D) Jesse Rutherford (R) Member School Board Charlottesville Lisa D. Larson-Torres (I) Juandiego R. Wade (I) Leah W. Puryear (I) Member Board of Supervisors Nelson (Central District) Ernie Q. Reed, Jr. (D) Shelby R. Bruguiere (I) Member Board of Supervisors Fluvanna (Rivanna District) Darrell R. Byers (R) Tony P. O'Brien (I) Member Board of Supervisors Nelson (North District) Justin M. Shimp (D) Ray H. Miles (R) T. D. "Tommy" Harvey (I) Page 11 Whats on My Ballot? Where do I Vote? Acknowledgements Written By: Daniel Markmann Amanda Wibberly Alec Soltes Edited By: Skye Scott Charles Stish Faculty Advisors: Connie Jorgensen Tamara Whyte Layout and Design By: Skye Scott Charles Stish Special thanks to the staff at Betty Sue Jessup Library and Allison Kretlow.  ...