Author: SeanTubbs

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Former Governor Jim Gilmore on his campaign for the U.S. Senate

Former Governor Jim Gilmore joined Coy Barefoot on the May 5 edition of WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now to talk about his campaign for the Senate. Gilmore is competing with Delegate Bob Marshall for the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by Senator John Warner. The GOP will decide at a convention later this month.

“We’ve been working hard to win this race,” said Gilmore, who was elected in 1997 and served for a brief time as the head of the Republican National Committee after leaving the Governor’s mansion. Now, he’s campaigning against the man replaced him, Mark Warner.

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Brian Wheeler on the Meadowcreek Parkway

Brian Wheeler of Charlottesville Tomorrow joins Coy Barefoot on WINA’s “Charlottesville–Right Now!” on Tuesday afternoons to talk about land-use, growth and transportation issues in our community. This week on the show:

  • Council postpones vote on the Meadowcreek Parkway
  • How the Meadowcreek Parkway fits into the Three-Party Agreement
  • North Downtown Business Council invites Danville and Lynchburg business officials to discuss a bypass for US 29
  • Planning Commission reviews cell-tower policy



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Senator Deeds addresses Charlottesville Democrats

On Saturday, April 19th, Senator Creigh Deeds addressed a small crowd at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Democratic Breakfast, and reviewed the recent General Assembly, the one-day veto session scheduled for April 23rd, as well as a possible special session on transportation. Deeds is in his 17th year in the legislature, and has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination in next year’s race to succeed Tim Kaine as Virginia’s Governor. Deeds began his talk by saying that the legislative process can be frustrating.

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Interview with transportation activist Zachary Shahan

Environmental groups in Charlottesville and Albemarle County will celebrate Earth Week with a series of events designed to create awareness of sustainability initiatives in our community. One of those is Discover Transportation Freedom, a program of the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation (ACCT), an area non-profit that seeks to help the community learn to take advantage of other ways to get around. In my capacity as Program Officer of Charlottesville Tomorrow, I interviewed ACCT Executive Director Zachary Shahan on board the Route 7 bus to find out more.

More information at Charlottesville Tomorrow.



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Delegates Bell and Toscano address Senior Statesmen of Virginia

On April 9th, 2008, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosted Charlottesville-area Delegates David Toscano and Rob Bell. The two reviewed this year’s General Assembly session, and gave a preview of the upcoming veto session. Mike Ludgate serves as the moderator for the event, which was recorded by Dan Daniels with help from Jim Peterson.

  • 00:00 – Introduction from Mike Ludgate
  • 03:36 – Delegate David Toscano (D-57)
  • 09:14 – Delegate Rob Bell (R-58)
  • 18:21 – Question on legislation requiring Virginia medical students to take at least one course on geriatric medicine
  • 20:47 – Question on transportation funding
  • 23:44 – Question on whether the Delegates would support in the gas tax
  • 29:34 – The Delegates are asked about their support for mass transit
  • 33:40 – Question about regional transportation authorities
  • 36:36 – Question about bipartisan redistricting
  • 39:20 – “What is the process used to provide support for the schools?”
  • 46:00 – Toscano discusses the revenue-sharing agreement between Charlottesville and Albemarle
  • 47:32 – Delegate Bell is asked a question about the role of the teacher in cases of bullying
  • 50:10 – Question about the state reimbursing dentists who accept patients on Medicaid
  • 51:57 – Question about how state lottery funds go to education
  • 53:20 – Question about pay-day loans
  • 58:50 – Question about using private funding to build roads
  • 1:00:20 – “How can we get more support for enlarging and improving rail service in Virginia?”
  • 1:02:23 – “Why can’t there be stiffer laws to get the mentally ill into treatment?” (Delegate Toscano had to leave, so the remaining questions are answered only by Delegate Bell)
  • 1:08:18 – “What is re-benchmarking?”
  • 1:09:38 – “What aren’t Charlottesville and Albemarle County consolidated into one authority?”
  • 1:11:52 – A question about prioritizing transportation spending



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VABook: Larry Sabato calls for a More Perfect Constitution

University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato says it is time to revisit the U.S. Constitution in order to improve our system of government. On March 29, 2008, he spoke in City Council Chambers as part of a Virginia Festival of the Book program sponsored the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. Over the course of the hour long lecture, Sabato discussed 23 proposals to revitalize the Constitution and make America a fairer country. That’s the subject of Sabato’s new book, “A More Perfect Constitution.” He’s introduced by Robert O’Neill, President of the Thomas Jefferson Center.