"Agitate, agitate, agitate!" -Frederick Douglass
From an email:
Just got back from the convention at the high school. There are still several more hours to go before the voting is concluded. Unfortunately the Caroline delegation won’t be a part of the voting. They were disqualified at the beginning of the meeting and allowed to stay on as “honored guests.” What I wish I had a camera for was the sight of the Caroline delegation sign with a big black cloth draped over it. Very sad.
UPDATE: Some pictures that were sent to me:
A lot of sadness…
From the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL): Election shenanigans in 1st Cong. Dist!:
VCDL does not normally get involved in Federal elections but the process that appears to be ongoing in selecting the Republican nominee to replace the recently deceased Congress woman in the First Congressional District needs to be addressed.
Delegate Dick Black, who was one of our strongest supporters when he was in the Virginia Legislature, has informed us about the shocking shenanigans that are going on in the First Congressional District.
The problems are coming up in the secretive and often difficult process that is being used in selecting the delegates for the convention.
On November 3rd, Del. Black attended one in Caroline County. It was at an unmarked location down a gravel road in the woods. A steel gate marked with “No Trespassing” signs blocked the road. The meeting was scheduled for 9:00 am, but they secretly held it an hour early and you couldn’t enter the meeting without violating the Virginia Code on criminal trespass.
They elected nine delegates for Del. Rob Whitman, who avoided the meeting even though it was in his own district.
Wittman didn’t need to attend, all the other crooks holding the meeting made up for him not being there!
It gets even stranger: when Paul Jost, another candidate, showed up and asked why the meeting was held early, a woman helping to run the meeting apparently yelled at him using profanities and she had to be restrained!
We need to shine light of Democracy on what is going on and we also need our pro-gun members to attend these rapidly scheduled meetings and sign up as delegates in the convention. It appears that the process currently in place would be more appropriate in Soviet Russia.
Indeed!
As citizens we have a choice – get run over or stand up for our rights.
Preach brother!
Getting run over is NOT an option as it makes a mockery of this great country. Let’s stand up and make sure our voices are heard!
In some locations they are making it difficult, hoping that citizens won’t go through the trouble to become delegates. They aren’t planning on YOU, though.
Amen!
A comment left on Renaissance Ruminations blog:
David Says:
November 9th, 2007 at 10:36 pmFrom the RPV’s “Handbook for Mass Meetings, Conventions and Party Canvasses”:
“All mass meetings must be held in a public place. Frequently, mass meetings are held in public school auditoriums, council chambers, courtrooms, town halls, civic centers, libraries, etc. A private home is not allowed. A commercial space may be appropriate if it is also used for other public functions (such as a bank auditorium).” A private airplane hangar on someone’s private property seems highly suspect. But starting before the time stated in the Call is just plain wrong.
From The Free Lance-Star: Web sites investigated in Orange:
The Virginia State Police is investigating two Web sites that are named for Orange County Board of Supervisors candidates but turn out to criticize them.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler called in state investigators to determine who posted the sites, which appear to be in violation of state laws that require that all campaign advertising disclose who’s paying for it.
Well, take a look at the following sites:
http://www.carolinefirst.org/about1.html
UPDATE: He has since added a disclaimer to this page, here’s a link to a Google Cache of the old version.
http://www.carolinefirst.org/specialevents.html
UPDATE: He has since added a disclaimer to this page, here’s a link to a Google Cache of the old version.
http://voteforjeffsili.carolinefirst.org/
Notice something missing from these sites, like who paid for them?
Well take a look at the WhoIs information for the domain from GoDaddy.com:
Registrant:
Susan Sili
205 Travis Street
Bowling Green, Virginia 22427
United StatesRegistered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CAROLINEFIRST.ORG
Created on: 02-Feb-07
Expires on: 02-Feb-08
Last Updated on: 02-Feb-07
That would Jeff Sili’s wife, Susan, by the way.
Also, Sili’s campaign spent $570.00 for the website according to his campaign finance documents for this election!
So, where’s the disclaimer?
“Rules? What rules?”
You, Governor Kaine!
You decided to stick your nose in local politics and send out letters supporting Harvey Latney to Democrats.
I’m sure that sat well with people in Caroline County! Nothing like someone fifty miles away with no idea of what’s going on in a locale endorsing someone!
If anyone has a copy of the letter they’re willing to supply to me, send me an email at CorranH96@gmail.com or use my contact me page.
Thanks!
From The Journal Press: Government Officials and Republican Leaders Endorse Rob Wittman for Congress:
Twenty-six local elected officials from counties in the First Congressional District have endorsed Delegate Rob Wittman of Westmoreland County in his bid for the Republican nomination for Congress. Every Republican county chairman in Delegate Wittman’s 99th Legislative District has also endorsed Wittman. The Republican Party will nominate its congressional candidate on Nov. 10 at a Party Convention in Caroline County. The special election is Dec. 11.
[…]
They are: Admiral Robert Fountain, Westmoreland County, Larry Kile, King George County, Jeff Sili, Caroline County, Joan Blackstone, Lancaster County, Allen Webb, Northumberland County, and Deborah Harper, Richmond County.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: 13 seek nods for open seat in House:
The GOP contest already is mired in controversy. The Republican Party of Virginia is looking into complaints that the Caroline County Republican committee held an improper mass meeting Saturday.
The hastily called meeting was held in a private aircraft hangar near Sparta in rural Caroline and started before its scheduled starting time. Signs along the road leading to the landing field said “No Trespassing.” Representatives of two candidates complained it was over before they got there.
J.M. Sili, Caroline County GOP chairman who won election to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, said the hangar was one of the few places in the area large enough to accommodate a mass meeting. He said the no-trespassing signs were aimed at keeping hunters from parking on the landing field. Candidates were not allowed to speak, because there are too many, he said.
Sili acknowledged the meeting may have started before its scheduled time. Fifty-one people attended and elected nine delegates to tomorrow’s convention. The delegates are not pledged to any of the candidates, he said.
What about the top-tier Presidential candidate’s campaign that wasn’t able to find out what the time the meeting was supposed to happen due to your oh-so-great leadership Mr. Sili? Maybe if you had bothered updating the Caroline County GOP website since September 2006…
Charles E. Judd, executive director of the state GOP, said party officials were trying to determine when the meeting was called to order and adjourned.
If the rules were not followed, the mass meeting could be voided, he said. But there is not time to hold another meeting and elect other delegates, Judd said.
Shaun Kenney, a spokesman for the state party, said the Caroline delegates’ credentials may be challenged at the convention.
A comment left on Renaissance Ruminations blog:
David Says:
November 9th, 2007 at 10:36 pmFrom the RPV’s “Handbook for Mass Meetings, Conventions and Party Canvasses”:
“All mass meetings must be held in a public place. Frequently, mass meetings are held in public school auditoriums, council chambers, courtrooms, town halls, civic centers, libraries, etc. A private home is not allowed. A commercial space may be appropriate if it is also used for other public functions (such as a bank auditorium).” A private airplane hangar on someone’s private property seems highly suspect. But starting before the time stated in the Call is just plain wrong.
§ 24.2-310. Requirements for polling places:
E. It shall be permissible to distribute campaign materials on the election day on the property on which a polling place is located and outside of the building containing the polling place except as specifically prohibited by law including, without limitation, the prohibitions of § 24.2-604 and the establishment of the “Prohibited Area” within 40 feet of the entrance to a polling place.
§ 24.2-604. Prohibited activities at polls; notice of prohibited area; presence of representatives of parties or candidates; simulated elections; penalties; neutral observers; news media.
A. During the times the polls are open and ballots are being counted, it shall be unlawful for any person (i) to loiter or congregate within 40 feet of any entrance of any polling place; (ii) within such distance to give, tender, or exhibit any ballot, ticket, or other campaign material to any person or to solicit or in any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote; or (iii) to hinder or delay a qualified voter in entering or leaving a polling place.
[…]
E. The officers of election may require any person who is found by a majority of the officers present to be in violation of this section to remain outside of the prohibited area. Any person violating subsection A or D of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Apparently, the Harvey Latney supporters don’t seem to understand that. Mrs. Calvin Taylor and as identified to me, Latney’s uncle and aunt:
I guess the rules don’t apply to them.
They were told to move the sign once it was brought to the attention of the election officials (by the way, the sign on the right is one advertising the fire department as the polling place and not a sign for a candidate).
In other news, Robert Wittman (or one of his helpers) doesn’t know how to drive. A Jeep Cherokee with House of Delegates tag 99 (as in the 99th House of Delegates district) was seen flying through Port Royal at what appeared to be around 40 MPH (the speed limit once you turn off of Route 301 is 25 MPH). He was seen swerving around on the road as well.
And in closing, I would just like to say thanks to you Maxie Rozell and Pamela Mastropaolo!
U2 – “Beautiful Day”:
Steam – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”:
Goodbye Calvin Taylor, Harvey Latney, and Homer Johnson (again)!
Damn fine job there Maxie!
| Race | Candidate | Vote | Vote% |
| Clerk of Court | |||
|
Ray Smith Campbell, Jr. |
3,978 |
65.57% |
|
|
Terry M. Southworth |
2,088 |
34.42% |
|
| Commonwealth’s Attorney |
|
||
|
Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer |
4,038 |
60.10% |
|
|
Harvey Latney, Jr. |
2,680 |
39.89% |
|
| Sheriff | |||
|
A. A. “Tony” Lippa, Jr. |
4,748 |
69.74% |
|
|
Homer G. Johnson |
1,487 |
21.84% |
|
|
Jack E. Braxton, Jr. |
573 |
8.41% |
|
|
Board of Supervisors – Bowling Green |
|||
|
Damon L. Gray, Sr. |
312 |
20.29% |
|
|
George L. Spaulding, Jr. |
522 |
33.96% |
|
|
Jeffery M. “Jeff” Sili |
703 |
45.73% |
|
| Board of Supervisors – Madison | |||
|
John C. Green |
664 |
43.77% |
|
|
Wayne A. Acors |
853 |
56.22% |
|
| Board of Supervisors – Mattaponi | |||
|
Floyd W. Thomas |
711 |
59.94% |
|
|
William O. “Bill” Pickett |
475 |
40.05% |
|
| Board of Supervisors – Port Royal | |||
|
Bobby J. Popowicz, Jr. |
597 |
52.46% |
|
|
Calvin B. Taylor, Sr. |
541 |
47.53% |
|
| School Board – Bowling Green | |||
|
Kerry L. Bischoff |
697 |
47.12% |
|
|
Tamara Lyn “Tami” Redding |
782 |
52.87% |
|
| School Board – Madison | |||
|
Bruce J. Levy |
534 |
36.87% |
|
|
William A. “Bill” Anderson |
914 |
63.12% |
Here are some quotes to consider going into election day:
Sheriff’s race:
“I’m going to stand for loyalty, integrity, pride, professionalism and accountability,” said Lippa, a 24-year veteran of the state police. “I think the citizens of this county deserve that.”
Lippa, 49, said he wants to see Caroline sheriff’s deputies taking advantage of the same training and education as the troopers he supervises at the state police field office in Bowling Green.
“They need to be a step above the crime and the criminals,” Lippa said. “The more education they can have, the better they will be.”
[…]
“I don’t know what Tony’s talking about, I’ve never been arrested,” Johnson said.
The former state police sergeant has already moved into his new office, appointed a command staff, promoted from within and hired experienced law enforcement officers from around the region to join him when he officially becomes Sheriff Lippa tomorrow morning.
The 24-year veteran of the Virginia State Police trampled 12-year incumbent Sheriff Homer Johnson in the November election, winning by 66 percent of the vote.
Now, Lippa, 48, wants to make sure he doesn’t let voters down.
“Obviously, the people of Caroline thought it was time for drastic changes, and that’s what I’m here to do,” he said.
One of his first moves was to hire two new female deputies–and he hopes to add a third.
“The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t had a female deputy on patrol in 12 years,” he said.
He’s also beefing up the school resource program by adding a third deputy to work high school hallways when the other two are off duty or called away for court.
Lippa has already moved the Sheriff’s Office administrative staff out of their tiny cramped quarters and into the former county prosecutor’s office.
He’s been talking with county officials about moving the entire Sheriff’s Office to the old courthouse building now that the new courthouse complex is finished.
Just weeks after the election, he asked for resumes from all 41 Sheriff’s Office employees and has reappointed each of them, in some cases promoting officers or moving them into specialized areas to utilize their expertise.
He’s also ordered new shirts, with colorful county-seal patches emblazoned on the sleeves, for everyone in the department.
“There was concern about morale with a new sheriff taking over, but morale has been tremendous,” Lippa said.
Lippa hired an old friend as his second-in-command at the Sheriff’s Office. Former state police Special Agent Mike Hall will take over as major on Friday.
Hall headed up the regional drug task force in recent years, and tackling drug problems is one of Lippa’s first priorities.
Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Moser, formerly Johnson’s second-in-command, will take over the department’s investigative unit.
Spotsylvania sheriff’s Detective Bobby Jones has also moved to Lippa’s team as an investigator, bringing 21 years’ experience.
“I’m trying to branch out and put good people in the areas they know best,” he said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s race:
Shelia Mae Boone pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of federal bank fraud for writing one $1,000 check to herself on the account of the lawyer for whom she worked.
That lawyer is Harvey Latney Jr., who works part time as the commonwealth’s attorney in Caroline County in addition to his private law practice. Boone was his only employee.
U.S. District Court documents on Boone describe a period of at least two years when she was forging checks on bank accounts set up by Latney for money he was holding for clients and estates he was handling.
[…]
A statement filed with her guilty plea yesterday states that she stole a total of $92,930.42, including the $1,000. That leaves at least $178,000 not accounted for by Boone’s plea agreement or statement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Gill declined to comment on the case.
Boone’s lawyer, Arnold Henderson, said he agreed with federal prosecutors that the single bank-fraud count “was the appropriate charge to bring” against his client.
“I don’t know what’s truly missing from Mr. Latney’s accounts,” Henderson said. “My investigation does not reveal that Ms. Boone had any involvement above [the $92,930.82].”
George Chabalewski, counsel for the Virginia State Bar, confirmed last month that the bar has opened an investigation of Latney because of the missing money. Chabalewski would not say who initiated the bar complaint or provide other details.
[…]
Members of the Williams family had been complaining at least since last year about how long Latney was taking to settle the estate. One of the city’s commissioners of accounts started looking into the complaints and eventually discovered money was missing.
Board of Supervisors:
Caroline County’s future is unfolding as construction begins on the new Pendleton subdivision.
The 3,500-home neighborhood is going up on nearly 1,200 acres in Ladysmith on U.S. 1 and State Route 639 between two other subdivisions, Lake Caroline and Lake Land’Or.
[…]
“I don’t think it will bring citizens who will be a burden to the county,” he said. “The houses are nice houses. They are probably middle and upper-income houses, and will probably bring citizens who will enhance the county.”
As opposed to us lowly serfs in the Port Royal district I guess…
Hawaii may be famous for its sand and surf, but Stafford County Supervisor Bob Gibbons says he’s more interested in the island state’s roads.
Gibbons is one of three supervisors in the Fredericksburg area who plan to fly to Honolulu next month to attend the National Association of Counties’ five-day annual conference.
But Gibbons and Caroline County Supervisors Wayne Acors and Calvin Taylor say the July 15-19 session will be a working trip.
“Hawaii is one of the leading states on the program they have done for their rural roads,” Gibbons said. “We are going to look at them and try to understand how they did it.”
[…]
Most supervisors in the Fredericksburg area opted out of the trip for varying reasons. Spotsylvania County, for instance, discontinued its NACO membership last year.
[…]
Stafford and Caroline counties will pay $415 for the conference registration for their supervisors, plus costs for meals and transportation. Caroline’s supervisors will fly on economy seats for $740 each. Stafford officials were still unsure about travel costs yesterday.
[…]
Officials in both counties said they could not verify hotel costs, which range from $179 to $295, according to an online hotel reservation form for attendees.
Advertisements for one of the hotels, The Royal Hawaiian, state that “the beach is at the guest’s disposal.” But supervisors say they’ll spend most of the day in conferences, soaking up information instead of rays.
[…]
Still, Caroline’s decision to fund the trip could pose political risks. Some residents have criticized supervisors for considering a 2 percent gas tax to fund transportation improvements.
Supervisors said the county’s road needs cost much more than a trip to Hawaii.
“You’re not going to pave roads for $3,500,” Taylor said.
Really? Then why does your own budget say that $12,703 was spent on travel expenses, along with $1,411 for the NACO membership, and $2,943 for “meals and food supplies”? Can you pave roads with $17,057?
Caroline supervisors voted 4-1 last night to rezone a 377-acre farm to allow the State Fair to move to the county by 2007.
[…]
Jayne Massie, who lives in the Reedy Church District, said she is worried about traffic backups on State Route 30. Fair officials say most traffic will come from Interstate 95, but Massie disagreed.
[…]
“The worksheet indicated that the State Fair’s move to Meadow Farm may not be a direct revenue generator for the county, but it should not be a source significant cost either,” Sieg said.
But Sieg’s numbers don’t include Sheriff Tony Lippa’s projected financial impact on his department. Lippa urged the board to delay a vote on the fair.
“If we should have an event that includes mutual aid, who’s gonna reimburse us?” he asked.
Lippa also thought he and Fire and Rescue Director Ed Fuzy should have power to sign off on security plans for all fair events.
“You’re going to give up control if you don’t have that condition in there,” he said.
From Richmond Times-Dispatch: Law enforcement gets attention in Caroline:
Law and order are generating a lot of talk on the campaign trail in Caroline County.
Two candidates hope to unseat Sheriff A.A. “Tony” Lippa Jr. on Tuesday, while Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney Jr. faces his first opponent in nearly 30 years.
In the sheriff’s race, Homer G. Johnson wants to reclaim the position he lost to Lippa four years ago. Johnson, running as a Democrat, was sheriff for 12 years. Also in the race is Jack E. Braxton Jr., a career law-enforcement officer who, like Lippa, is running as an independent.
Johnson, who started his career as a Caroline deputy in 1971, said that if elected again, he would focus his efforts more on criminal investigations than traffic enforcement.
“The sheriff’s office needs to be more than just a traffic commission,” he said.
Then why did your platform summary in 2003 include the following: “to expand traffic control programs”?
Johnson also said he wants to get ahead of illegal immigration in the county before it becomes a problem, and that deputies should be county residents.
And you’ll tell your deputies they better stop their schooling!
Lippa, a longtime Caroline resident who was a Henrico County police officer before serving 24 years with Virginia State Police, says he has markedly increased the professionalism of the department. He cites his efforts to win accreditation and certification for the department, as well as starting programs such as Project Livesaver, which helps the department track memory-impaired individuals who might wander from home.
Lippa takes issue with Johnson’s contention that crime has increased in Caroline during the past four years. Lippa says deputies in his administration have arrested more people than did deputies under Johnson.
“Our men and women have gone out and been proactive,” Lippa said.
Braxton, who served with the Washington police and U.S. Marshals Service, said he wants to seek funding to increase hiring, buy equipment and improve training.
Braxton, who moved back to Caroline in 2006, also wants to start a Crime Solvers reward fund — he has pledged $10,000 from his salary if elected — and says he would form a community advisory commission and meet with it regularly.
Lippa says he already has civilian and business advisory teams, to which Braxton replies, “If he does, he must be keeping it a good secret.”
How the hell would you know? You only moved back to the county in 2006! And you still stay in Maryland half the time!
. . .
In the race for commonwealth’s attorney, challenger Anthony G. “Tony” Spencer pledges to be a full-time prosecutor. A former deputy prosecutor in Richmond, he accuses Latney, who holds the position on a part-time basis, of agreeing to dismiss or reduce too many cases.
Spencer, who grew up in Caroline and recently moved back to the county, also notes that several defense attorneys, some of whom oppose Latney in court, have contributed to Latney’s re-election campaign.
“Follow the money, you’ll see” who wants whom to be elected, said Spencer, who is running as an independent.
Latney, a Democrat, says the charges are without merit. He says Spencer does not know the reasons behind case dismissals. And Latney says he is able to handle Caroline’s criminal docket while he maintains his private law practice in Richmond.
How’s that Virginia State Bar investigation going? How about that lawsuit against you from the family of Florence Williams?
As for defense attorneys contributing to his campaign, Latney says, “My friends are people in the legal profession. They have contributed to me because they believe I do a good job for the community. That’s all it is. Period.”
“And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their [Commonwealth’s Attorney]’s a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.” -Paraphrase of Richard Nixon.
Famous last words…
. . .
The election also features a contest for Circuit Court clerk between Republican incumbent Ray S. Campbell Jr., who says he would like to improve technology use by electronically recording deeds and scanning case files, and General District Court Clerk Terry Southworth, an independent who says she would like to improve customer service and organization of the Circuit Court clerk’s office.
Figured out how to comply with state law about the issuing of concealed handgun permits yet Ray?
In contests for the Board of Supervisors, recruiting businesses and keeping watch over residential growth are big issues, and two challengers are trying again to unseat incumbents to whom they lost in 2003.
John C. Green, a paramedic, is again taking on Wayne A. Acors, who has held the Madison District seat for 20 years. Republican Bobby J. Popowicz Jr., a bank loan officer, is again trying to unseat Calvin B. Taylor Sr., the Port Royal District supervisor since 1992.
Three candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by longtime Bowling Green District Supervisor Robert W. Farmer. Republican Jeff Sili, who has served on the School Board, will try again — he lost a bid in 2003. He faces George L. Spaulding Jr., a longtime School Board member, coach and educator, as well as Damon L. Gray Sr., a building contractor.
Democrat Floyd W. Thomas, who has held the Mattaponi District seat since 1992, faces challenger William O. “Bill” Pickett, operations manager at a local lumber company. Current Chairman David M. “Maxie” Rozell Jr. is unopposed in the Reedy Church District.
Yes, I know, it’s unfortunate, isn’t it?
Two of five School Board seats are challenged: Kerry L. Bischoff faces Tamara Lyn “Tami” Redding for the open Bowling Green District seat, while Chairman William A. “Bill” Anderson faces challenger Bruce J. Levy.
