Endorsements for McAuliffe, a new coalition for Youngkin, a cannabis attorney for Virginia, and more from Virginia politics
The latest in Virginia politics
(The newsletters this week will be less frequent because I am at the beach!)
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NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Virginia Governor
“NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia knows that we can count on Terry McAuliffe to fight for reproductive freedom on all fronts. The battle ahead to protect our reproductive rights in this country is facing an unprecedented challenge that could upend our most fundamental freedoms in the next year. However, Virginia has an amazing opportunity to create a safe haven no matter what the Supreme Court does to Roe v. Wade but it won't be easy. That's why it is so important to elect Terry McAuliffe as our next governor and hold our pro-choice majority across the statewide offices and the House of Delegates this November. We know Terry McAuliffe will again stand as a brick wall to attacks on abortion and will fight to increase access to reproductive healthcare for every Virginian," says NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Executive Director Tarina Keene. "Terry McAuliffe has been here before and he knows how to get the job done. Virginians can rest assured that Governor McAuliffe has their back when it comes to standing up for their right to make personal medical decisions that are best for themselves and their families. We are excited to fight alongside Terry McAuliffe and help send him back to the Governor's mansion in November."
Youngkin Launches ‘Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Youngkin’ Coalition
Republican nominee for governor Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of the “Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Youngkin” coalition, chaired by Fairfax businessman Puneet Ahluwalia.
“Glenn Youngkin is a successful businessman and job creator who wants to see every Virginian have the opportunity to achieve their dreams,” said Ahluwalia. “Glenn knows our families need a stronger, more inclusive economy and good-paying jobs. He knows our children need better schools. Glenn’s character, integrity, and expertise is exactly what we need in Richmond, and it’s an honor to support his campaign as Chair of the AAPI for Youngkin Coalition.”
“Virginia should be a safe, welcoming place for everyone to get a good education and have an equal opportunity to succeed,” said Youngkin. “I’m excited to listen and work with Puneet and other APPI leaders in Virginia to build a rip-roaring economy, restore excellence in our schools, and prioritize public safety. Our Commonwealth should be the best place in America to start a small business, and it will be when I’m governor.”
To join the Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Youngkin Coalition, sign up here.
More than 150 Veterans and Military Family Members from Across Virginia Endorse Terry McAuliffe For Governor
More than 150 veterans and military family members from across Virginia today endorsed Terry McAuliffe for governor, citing his strong record of support for veterans and military families.
“As a Navy veteran and the Chair of the Virginia Military and Veterans Caucus, I have been incredibly proud to endorse and support Terry McAuliffe for governor. Terry did incredible work as Virginia’s 72nd Governor to improve the health and welfare of our veterans,” said Delegate David Reid. “Terry has worked tirelessly to support Virginia’s veterans and under Terry’s leadership, Virginia will continue to strengthen and champion our service members, our veterans, and their families.”
“I am honored and humbled to have the support of so many veterans who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country and this Commonwealth. The empowerment and quality of life for veterans and their families is personal to me as the proud son of U.S. Army Captain Jack McAuliffe and proud father of U.S. Marine Captain Jack McAuliffe,” said Terry McAuliffe. “While Glenn Youngkin opposed the American Rescue Plan, which included billions of dollars to help veterans, I firmly believe we need to provide more resources and help for our veterans. As governor, my administration will continue to address the underlying causes of housing instability and homelessness for our veterans, and to provide support for Virginia veterans who are facing even tougher times as a result of this pandemic.”
Christie to co-chair fundraising program for Republican governors - The Hill
BY TAL AXELROD
Chris Christie will co-chair a fundraising program to help boost GOP candidates in gubernatorial races next year, a high-profile role for the former New Jersey governor as he eyes a return to national politics.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill that Christie and Michelle Malek Olson, the finance chairwoman for Glenn Youngkin’s Virginia gubernatorial campaign, will co-chair the Republican Governors Association’s (RGA) Victory 2022 Board. The group is charged with boosting the RGA’s donor network ahead of the midterms.
If Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin beats Terry McAuliffe, Democrats may lose their zeal for ‘big, significant’ spending plans. - National Review
by John Fund
Democrats are running out of time to pass their plan for $5 trillion in new social spending. It includes expansions of Medicare, Medicaid, child care, and green energy that would be the biggest expansion of government since the Great Society.
But they are up against the clock as Congress approaches the August recess. The U.S. will hit another debt ceiling in the next few weeks, sparking a bitter political battle. Before the end of September, Congress also needs to vote on must-pass spending bills to fund the government. “Time is running out for the administration to get big, significant things done,” Obama Housing and Urban Development secretary Julián Castro told the Washington Post.
Herring is hiring Virginia’s first cannabis attorney
Attorney General Mark R. Herring is currently seeking applications for an attorney to serve as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first full-time, dedicated cannabis attorney. The attorney will serve as general counsel to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority while also assisting other Virginia state agencies regarding regulations and laws regarding cannabis.
“By decriminalizing and now legalizing simple possession we’ve taken the most important and urgent steps to stop the harm caused by cannabis prohibition,” said Attorney General Herring. “Now comes the hard work of building a safe, stable regulatory system that protects public health and the environment and ensures a safe, fair, and equitable marketplace that encourages opportunity amongst the communities who have been most harmed by the War on Drugs approach of the past. I’m hiring a dedicated attorney to help guide the Commonwealth’s efforts because I am committed to getting this right, and to making sure that we keep Virginia at the forefront of national efforts to craft a more just, fair, and sensible system for dealing with cannabis.”
Attorney General Herring’s new cannabis attorney will serve as the Commonwealth’s subject matter expert on the legal and regulatory environment surrounding cannabis. The legalization of cannabis in Virginia will affect a wide range of state agencies and implicate numerous topics of law including criminal justice, healthcare and pharmacy, agriculture and land use, taxation, licensing, affirmative and defensive litigation, risk assessment, and more.
Potential applicants to serve as Virginia’s cannabis attorney must be admitted to the Virginia State Bar or eligible for admission, and should possess experience in business law, litigation experience in both state and federal court, representation of government agencies, and a strong knowledge of state and federal regulation of controlled substances.
Interested candidates should apply online at https://jobs.virginia.gov/ and can locate the position here or by searching for keyword “cannabis” or selecting “Attorney General” in the list of state agencies.
Virginia parents gather enough signatures for petition to recall school board member over school closures - Washington Post
by Hannah Natanson
Parents in Virginia’s largest school district say they have collected enough signatures to file a recall petition against a Fairfax County School Board member over her handling of school reopening during the pandemic.
Members of the Fairfax County Parents Association — an advocacy group that formed during the pandemic to push for reopening schools — have gathered more than 5,000 signatures on a petition to recall board member Elaine Tholen (Dranesville), according to Rory Cooper, a signatory and parent who helped with the recall effort. That crosses a threshold and means the recall petition will now go before a circuit court, where a Virginia judge will decide if a trial is warranted, according to Cooper.
With Monday Vote, SW Virginia Stays Unrepresented on Redistricting Commission - WVTF
By JAHD KHALIL
Virginia’s Redistricting Commission chose a new member Monday, leaving the commission without a member from Southwest Virginia.
Virginia Trost-Thornton was approved 13-1. She is a lawyer from Forest, west of Lynchburg.
Richmond City to begin salvage of former Coliseum site
The City of Richmond released the following announcement through the mayor’s office.
In anticipation of the passage of the City Center Small Area Plan, the city is beginning the salvage process at the Coliseum site. The building has been functionally obsolete since its closing in December 2018, costing Richmond taxpayers roughly $800,000 in annual maintenance of an inoperable venue.
The City Center Small Area Plan recommends that the Coliseum be demolished, replaced with the original street network, private development and open space for public gatherings and recreation.
The salvage process will defray operating costs and prepare the site for the plan’s proposed demolition. Demolition will begin only once the small area plan passes Richmond City Council.
Pre-demolition salvage is a standard cost-saving and safety measure. The city will take the appropriate steps to keep the work site safe and secure during the salvage process by installing construction fencing around the site, posting signage, and requiring hard hats and safety shoes on the site during active operations.
Governor Northam Announces Specialty Snack Company to Expand in Henrico County
Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Red River Foods, Inc., a U.S. supplier of premium specialty snacks headquartered in Richmond, will invest $16.5 million to establish a warehouse and processing facility for tree nuts, seeds, and dried fruits at 2840 Sprouse Drive in Henrico County. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania for the project, which will create 60 new jobs.
“Red River Foods’ significant expansion speaks volumes about the business climate and top-notch talent in Central Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “Food and beverage processing is Virginia’s second-largest manufacturing sector and one of our fastest-growing industries. Red River Foods has been based in Richmond for 30 years, and the company’s continued success here is another important testament to the Commonwealth’s status as the best place to do business.”
Headquartered in the City of Richmond, Red River Foods has established a global reach serving more than 350 companies with over 40 products sourced from 30 countries. With offices on five continents and more than 1,000 employees, the company has supplied quality tree nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to the bakery, dairy, confectionary, cereal, and snack food industries for more than 40 years. A vertically integrated company, Red River takes control of the supply chain from harvest to the hands of customers, maintaining strong relationships with farmers, processors, and customers to ensure a quality product that is ethically and sustainably grown.
“The Commonwealth’s food and beverage processing industry employs more than 42,000 Virginians and is a powerhouse for our economy thanks to investments by corporate partners like Red River Foods,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “The company’s commitment to quality and sustainability is commendable, and we are excited to welcome this new warehouse and processing facility to Henrico County.”
“We have called the Richmond region home since my father, Jim Phipps, moved the company from New York City to Virginia in 1991,” said Dan Phipps, CEO of Red River Foods. “Although we have experienced tremendous growth since that time, a majority of our personnel expansion has been concentrated in cashew-growing countries within Africa and Asia. Investing in Henrico County is further investment in our value chain. Creating valuable jobs here in our local community is one step further in connecting our farmers to our customers.”