Here is a weekend update on Virginia politics.
Ballot order for statewide Republicans at the May 8 nomination convention
Governor:
Glenn A. Youngkin
Amanda Freeman Chase
Kirk Cox
Peter Doran
Sergio de la Pena
Pete Snyder
Octavia L. Johnson
Lieutenant Governor:
Lance R. Allen
Tim Hugo
Maeve T. Rigler
Glenn R. Davis Jr.
Puneet Ahluwalia
Winsome E. Sears
Attorney General:
Chuck Smith Jr.
Jason S. Miyares
Jack White
Leslie Haley
Jay Jones is calling for the Norfolk PD officer’s resignation if the Rittenhouse allegations are true
A report from The Guardian shows that a lieutenant in the Norfolk Police Department sent an encouraging message and donated $25 to Kyle Rittenhouse, the man that shot and killed two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“God bless. Thank you for your courage. Keep your head up. You’ve done nothing wrong,” the message reads that accompanied the $25 donation. The donation was anonymous, but The Guardian reports that the email associated with it was the official account for Lt. William K. Kelly III, of the Norfolk PD. His current LinkedIn page lists him as an executive officer in the Internal Affairs division.
Norfolk delegate and candidate for attorney general Jay Jones is calling for Kelly’s resignation if the reports are proven true. “We have to get to the bottom of this reported conduct, which is utterly disgusting,” Jones said in a statement Friday. “If these allegations are true, Officer Kelly must resign from the Norfolk Police Department immediately.”
Rittenhouse’s case has become a unifying cause for the far-right as they rally behind the 18-year-old. The two people that Rittenhouse killed were participating in a Black Lives Matter rally in August — the rally was the result of a Kenosha police officer shooting Jacob Blake four times in the back.
Rittenhouse is facing two charges of intentional homicide on top of felony attempted homicide, possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18, and reckless endangerment. “Every rank and file police officer supports you,” the message accompanying the donation continued. “Don’t be discouraged by actions of the political class of law enforcement leadership.”
Jones said that if the allegations are true and Kelly declines to resign, then action from his superiors must happen. “Should he not resign, he must be terminated,” Jones said Friday. “Kelly’s actions have broken the public’s trust and emboldened the worst elements in our society. If we are ever going to repair and strengthen the already fragile relationship between our communities and law enforcement and have a public that truly feels safe, we must root out bias and hatred in our justice system and have true accountability in policing.”
The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that Kelly has been reassigned and that Police Chief Larry Boone is looking into the situation with “an administrative investigation.”
The mayor of Norfolk called the accusations “alarming.”
Lieutenant governor candidate and Norfolk City Councilor Andria McCellean commented on Lt. Kelly and Rittenhouse
Norfolk City Councilmember Andria McClellan, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, has issued the following statement regarding the allegations that Norfolk Police Sgt. William Kelly supported and contributed to Kyle Rittenhouse:
“The allegations against Sgt. William Kelly are deeply concerning. If they prove to be true, he should be terminated immediately. I support the Norfolk Police Department’s investigation and encourage a swift review of the matter. It is incumbent upon us to ensure no Virginian feels threatened by those who are supposed to protect and serve them.”
Millionaires Leave Their Mark on Virginia Governor's Race - VPM News
by Ben Paviour
Conservative businessmen Pete Snyder and Glenn Youngkin have vowed to bring board-room discipline to the governor’s mansion. The latest round of campaign finance reports show they’re also carrying over another asset from their private sector days: money.
Nearly 80% of the $6.8 million Pete Snyder raised last quarter came from his own loans, in-kind contributions to his own campaign, or donations he’d previously made to his political action committee. Youngkin took in nearly $7.7 million, with over 73% of that total coming from loans to his campaign and in-kind contributions from Youngkin LLC, his investment firm.
McAuliffe far outpaces other Democrats in fundraising; Youngkin and Snyder wield personal wealth - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Mel Leonor
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is running for a second term, raised $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, more than all of his Democratic rivals combined — displaying the kind of influence that makes him the candidate to beat in the Democratic primary.
In the GOP contest — where money has less impact because of the small number of convention delegates candidates have to target — former private equity CEO Glenn Youngkin and entrepreneur Pete Snyder pulled far ahead of their rivals, thanks in large part to money they lent themselves from their personal wealth, $5 million each.
Isle of Wight NAACP Calls For The Immediate Resignation Of The Town Of Windsor's Chief of Police
"After watching the press conference held by Windsor’s officials on April 14, 2021, we were appalled by the statements and subsequent actions by town officials as well as the Chief of Police.
Please see the attached letter to local and state officials outlining the Isle of Wight NAACP's reasons demanding the resignation of Chief Rodney Riddle and Officer Daniel Crocker as well as the community’s first set of requests to the Town of Windsor’s officials."
-Valerie Butler President of the Isle of Wight Chapter of the NAACP
Spanberger and Hinson introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Equity Act
Central Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Equity Act Friday. This legislation would help ensure that farmers, ranchers, and self-employed small businesses can receive their full PPP forgivable loan amount.
According to Spanberger’s office, previous modifications made by Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration to the PPP program allowed farmers, ranchers, and certain small businesses to re-calculate their loans based on gross income rather than net profits but had limitations on retroactivity. The PPP Equity Act would fix this disparity, allowing these groups to retroactively recalculate to receive the full loan amount available, regardless of their previous loan status.
“I know firsthand how PPP has been a lifeline for many businesses in Central Virginia. As we work together to rebuild our economy, I’m committed to finding new ways to cut red tape and ensure small businesses, sole proprietors, and farms have access to the PPP funds they deserve,” said Spanberger. “This bipartisan legislation makes a commonsense fix to the program that would allow eligible, local businesses to recalculate their loan amount and receive the funds to which they’re entitled. I’m glad to introduce the PPP Equity Act with Congresswoman Hinson and to address an ongoing disparity in our communities.”
The PPP Equity Act has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Virginia House Democrats see record number of challenges in primary elections - Washington Post
by Antonio Olivo
A record number of Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates are facing primary election opponents in June — part of the state’s spreading blue wave that, political analysts say, could leave some of those districts vulnerable to Republicans in the fall.
After a historic General Assembly session this year where Virginia abolished the death penalty and made possessing small amounts of marijuana legal for adults, 13 House Democrats — mostly in Northern Virginia — are in nomination battles for their seats.
FOIA bill allows some access to criminal investigation records - VCU CNS
By Anya Sczerzenie
Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. — A bill allowing the public access to limited criminal investigation records will go into effect in July, along with a handful of other bills related to government transparency.
Del. Chris Hurst, D-Blacksburg, a former television reporter, introduced House Bill 2004. The bill requires files related to non-ongoing criminal investigations be released under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act law.
“I’d been a journalist for 10 years, and I frequently saw that access to police records was very difficult,” Hurst said. “In denying those records, accountability and transparency were lost.”
Hurst said he hopes the bill will give the public reasonable access to criminal investigation files. “It’s good governance once a case is closed to let the public see it,” Hurst said.
The bill will allow requesters access to files including descriptions of the crime, where and when the crime was committed, the identity of the investigating officer, and a description of any injuries suffered or property stolen.
Law enforcement officials and prosecutors opposed the bill, Hurst said. Journalists and victim advocates generally supported it, and many crime victims want to see their case files, Hurst said.
Liberty sues Jerry Falwell Jr., seeking millions in damages - Associated Press
by Sarah Rankin
Liberty University has filed a civil lawsuit against its former leader, Jerry Falwell Jr., seeking tens of millions in damages after the two parted ways acrimoniously last year.
The complaint, filed Thursday in Lynchburg Circuit Court, alleges Falwell crafted a “well-resourced exit strategy” from his role as president and chancellor in the form of a lucrative 2019 employment agreement while withholding damaging information from the evangelical school about a personal scandal that would explode into public view the following year.
Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Opens for All Adults on Sunday
As Governor Ralph Northam announced earlier this month, all Virginians age 16 and older will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting Sunday, April 18. This expansion of eligibility comes as Virginia reaches a new milestone in its vaccination program— approximately half of all adults in the Commonwealth have received at least one dose, according to Northam’s announcement Friday.
“Over the past few months, we have made tremendous progress vaccinating Virginians as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible, and we need to keep up the good work,” said Governor Northam. “With COVID-19 cases on the rise in many parts of Virginia and across the country, it is important that everyone has an opportunity to make a vaccination appointment. If you are over 16 and want to get the safe, effective, and free vaccine, please make a plan to get your shot. The more people who get vaccinated, the faster we can end this pandemic and get back to our normal lives.”
With this move into Phase 2, appointments will still be required for most vaccinations. Starting Sunday, Virginians will be able to find and schedule appointments directly through the Vaccinate Virginia vaccine system by visiting vaccinate.virginia.govor by calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). The vaccinate.virginia.gov site will link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s VaccineFinder website, which has a searchable map-based tool to find appointments at Community Vaccination Centers, local health departments, pharmacies, and hospitals.