Decision Virginia

We are very excited about what we have planned for tonight on NBC12. I truly believe that we will have the most comprehensive coverage of this important election, of any media outlet in Virginia.

It started this morning on 12 News Today. Our Call 12 lines were staffed by members of the League of Women Voters. They answered your questions about the voting process, who was on the ballot, if you are registered and where to go to cast your vote.

Today starting on First at 4, we will have a complete look at the election scene. We’ll show you pictures of both candidates voting in their home precints, have updates from polling locations and anaylsis from our political expert Dan Palazzolo.

Then at 7pm, right as the polls close, we will have an Election special, hosted by Curt Autry and Sabrina Squire. We will have live reports from both campaign headquarters. Tara Morgan will be with the Republicans and Bob McDonnell, Andy Jenks with the Democrats and Creigh Deeds. We will also have reporters covering the races for Lt. Governor and Attorney General as well as Rachel DePompa who will keep a close eye on the City Council election in Richmond.

Also at 7, I will moderate an in-depth discussion on what the race means with Dan Palazzolo and two of Virginia’s most influential political bloggers, Ben Tribbett of NotLarrySabato and Norm Leahy of Tertium Quids.

We will also begin a liveblog at 7 on NBC12.com – that I will moderate, and be joined by Ben, Norm and Dan with your comments on the action.

OUR SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE WILL ALSO BE STREAMED LIVE ON NBC12.COM.

From 8pm on we will go back to regular programming, but will break back in, should a winner be declared or a victory/concession speech is about to be made.

Finally at 11pm- We will have a complete wrap of the day’s events and preview what Virginia can expect from it’s new elected leaders.

Plus, I will have frequent updates right here on DecisionVirginia.com

It should be a great day. Go and Vote!

Amidst all the attention given to the statewide candidates for office, I have somewhat neglected a race for an open Council Seat in the City of Richmond.

The seat came open with Del. Delores McQuinn resigned after winning the vacated seat of Mayor Dwight Jones.  There has been quite a bit of controversy over the McQuinn’s replacement and it has left 6 different candidate fighting it out for the opportunity to represent Church Hill.

Thankfully, even though I haven’t given the race it’s proper attention, our crack Richmond reporter Rachel DePompa is all over it. Here is her dispatch from Decision Richmond:

7th District Seat Council Race

By Rachel DePompa

Was there ever any doubt at what I would be covering election day? You know i’ll be chasing down the 7th district council race. There are six candidates vying for the seat originally vacated by Delores McQuinn earlier this year. Tomorrow is a special election to fill the remainder of the term. So, here goes… all you need to know about the 7th District Council Race.

Read her full dispatch here.

Ryan Nobles – bio | email

Republican candidate for Governor, Bob McDonnell will spend part of Monday in Richmond getting a tour of the city jail from the city’s Democratic Sheriff C.T. Woody.  Woody, is also up for re-election, but fended off a primary challenge in June and is running without opposition in November.

A spokesman for the Sheriff informed me that from Woody’s perspective, the McDonnell visit is not political. It is instead an opportunity for the candidate to see first hand the issues the institution is facing. According to Major Jerry Lucas Baldwin, Sheriff Woody has encouraged “all public officials, and anyone running for public office, to visit the Richmond City Jail so they can see first hand how non-violent crimes, mental health and homeless issues affect the overcrowding situation at all jails.”

Baldwin said that the jail has hosted 40 different public officials from a local and national level in the past 9 months. (In fact, his campaign web site shows a picture of him giving a tour of the jail to Sen. Jim Webb.) He also said that Senator Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for Governor has been offered the same opportunity and he could be touring the facility as soon as next week.  Deeds campaign officials have not returned my inquiry asking if the candidate plans to take up the Sheriff’s invitation.

While Woody, may not view the visit as political, it has been offered as such by the McDonnell campaign. The press has been invited to tag along for the tour and take advantage of the photo opportunity with the candidate and the Sheriff.

According to Baldwin though, the Sheriff has already made up his mind who he is supporting in November, sticking with his fellow Democrat, Deeds. “He announced his support of his party when he chose to run as a Democrat,” said Baldwin. “That said, he has a great relationship with both candidates and will continue to work well with whomever the people chooses next month.”

In a move that will have enormous political implications, the private development company Highwoods Properties, has suspend its involvement in plans to build a new mixed-use development in Downtown Richmond that will include the construction of a ballpark in Shockoe Bottom.

Highwoods has been the driving force and muscle behind the plan to build the downtown ballpark that promised to bring activity and excitement to the historic section of Richmond.  However, the project has been stalled over debate over the placement of the city’s ballpark and what team should play there if and when the stadium gets built. A growing chorus of community leaders believed the downtown ballpark combined with shopping and luxury urban living could not be supported by Richmond’s economic engine.

The roadblocks raised by powerful parties, seemed to be too much for Highwoods, and despite their belief that the concept would still work, they are dropping out.

Tara Morgan will have more on this story tonight on NBC12 at 5 and 6, and I will continue our coverage tonight at 11.

You can see the entire statement from Highwoods Properties after the jump: **UPDATED WITH ENTIRE STATEMENT FROM MAYOR JONES**

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In the rough and tumble world of Washington, D.C. beltway politics, Eric Cantor and Bobby Scott couldn’t be further apart. Cantor has become the standard bearer for a new Republican revolution, while Scott has become a respected member of the Democratic majority with growing influence.

But when it comes to their home districts, Scott and Cantor share a common interest and it just so happens that common interest is Richmond. Both Congressman represent a portion of the city and as a result their work in Washington sometimes must intermingle. By in large that work is behind the scenes, but for one signature issue, the kind of issue that could make a legislative legacy, the two have joined very public forces.

Cantor and Scott have agreed to work together to attempt to leverage federal funds to build a high speed rail-line from Richmond to Washington, D.C.  The idea of a train that one could get on in Shockoe Bottom and end up at Union Station in 45 minutes is mythical to Richmonders. It is almost like Ahab’s search for the great white whale.

But ironically, it is this difficult economy that is offering Scott and Cantor to opportunity land their big fish. The American Investment and Recovery Act (simply known as the stimulus) has pumped millions of dollars in federal funds to build the kind of infrastructure that could lead to a project like a high speed rail line.

Today the unlikely duo held a tele-conference with Richmond officials and Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator of Federal Railroad Administration to explain the process to submit proposals for competitive grant funding to get the project off the ground. It was their second major public appearance on the subject. A few months ago the two held a press event at Main Street Station to announce their partnership. (Rachel DePompa covered that event NBC12)

Expect this to just be the beginning, because if and when this project happens it will require the slashing through of plenty of red tape. Tape thick enough to require the muscle of two powerful Congressman to cut.

Wednesday was a very fruitful day for Democratic candidate for Governor Brian Moran. Moran picked up more endorsements from Democratic officials in both Richmond and Petersburg.

Moran has already won the support of Richmond’s Mayor Dwight Jones and earlier this week announced that he is also being endorsed by the popular city Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring. Herring was at one time rumored to be a candidate for Richmond Mayor, but never got into the race. In a release from the Moran campaign Herring says that Moran “Has been fighting for Virginia for over 20 years, and I know he’ll fight for us as Governor. His experience as a prosecutor and his work to strengthen local law enforcement make it clear that he will lead this Commonwealth forward.”

In addition to the nod from Herring, the former Democratic leader of the House of Delegates earned the support of a bevy of Petersburg elected officials, including the City’s Mayor, Annie Mickens.

You can see the full press releases from both announcements after the jump.

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The drama over the replacement of Del. Delores McQuinn in the Richmond City Council has taken another interesting turn. Cynthia Newbille, who recently moved into the district and was asking council leaders to be appointed to the position has withdrawn her request and now plans to run for the seat in November.

Newbille was endorsed by McQuinn for the seat and is widely considered to be the choice of City Council leadership. However, her potential appointment was derailed when a group of citizens in Church Hill (including a number of people interested in becoming candidates) voiced concern that she was not a traditional Church Hill resident and the position was being bequeathed to her unfairly.

This speculation only mounted after Council Leaders discussed suspending their unwritten rule that prevented appointees from running for re-election to the position.

No word on where Council Leaders will go now in their choice to replace McQuinn and if that choice will made in a way to help Newbille’s campaign in the fall.

The transcript of Newbille’s letter to Council President Kathy Graziano is after the jump.
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Ryan Nobles - bio | email

Despite today being the last day of a long vacation for most, there were several politicos who made some noise, getting 2009 off to a running start.

L. Douglas Wilder is back to being a Distinguished Professor at VCU, but he is not done giving his opinion on the political world. Today he launched a new blog called ‘Wilder Visions” where he promises to continue to contribute. The former Mayor and Governor is still rumored to be up for a post somewhere in the Obama Administration.

Add another name to the lengthy list of Democrats hoping to run for statewide office. Richmond political strategist Rick Savage has decided to seek the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. Savage has been behind the scenes working for people like Viola Baskerville. He feels he has a shot because the race is wide open.

Mayor Dwight Jones adds some important pieces to his newly forming administration.

And for the first time in history, The Richmond City Council will have a female President and Vice President. To see our Richmond Reporter Rachel DePompa’s story on the new, and very different council, click here.

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Dwight Jones is now officially the Mayor of Richmond. The former member of the House of Delegates outlasted four other candidates to win the competitive race for Mayor. He now has the responsibility of guiding the city through a difficult fiscal environment and taking over in the wake of the Doug Wilder legacy.

Andy Jenks filed a report on Jones taking the oath of office. You can watch his report by clicking here.

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Ryan Nobles - bio | email

Despite all of the noise Doug Wilder has made during his time as Richmond’s Mayor, the charismatic, groundbreaking politician appears to be going out quietly.

Wilder will serve one more day on the job as Richmond’s Mayor. Dwight Jones is scheduled to be sworn in to the position tomorrow in a low key ceremony.

Tonight on NBC12, we will take a look back at the 4 year roller coaster that was the Wilder Term.

Among the highlights we will feature:

*Wilder’s dramatic electoral victory

*His shake-up of city administration

*The appointment of Rodney Monroe and the subsequent controversy surrounding his degree from VCU.

*His role in the Obama campaign.

*The controversy surrounding his high level administrative aides.

*The attempt to evict the school administration from city hall.

*His constant battle for power with City Council.

We also speculate as to where Mr. Wilder could land in his post-mayoral life. (I welcome your comments as to where you think he will go next. )

After this evening’s broadcast, I’ll post the video of our story.

To see video from our 11pm story click here. Read the rest of this entry »