The most certain thing I can say about the local elections is that they are in a state of flux. Our campaign will support the final decision on the Election Date because the health and safety of Virginia voters is of great importance.
On April 8, Governor Ralph Northam announced that when the General Assembly convenes on April 22nd he will ask them to adopt emergency legislation to move the May local elections to the November national election date.
Under the Governor’s proposal, our current Mayor, City Council incumbents and School Board incumbents - whose terms would have expired on June 30th – will keep their seats until their successors have been elected on November 3rd.
His proposal includes discarding all vote-by-mail ballots that have already been cast, which will be a disappointment to the many people who have already voted in the City. The response to mail-in voting was wonderful. While this is all sorted out, we hope the enthusiasm to vote (by mail or in person) will remain.
Read the Governor’s full statement here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/april/headline-855995-en.html
We will not know for certain what date will be Election Day for Fredericksburg until the General Assembly meets on April 22nd and all stakeholders weigh in on the matter.
I am still a candidate for Fredericksburg City Council.
And while these changes bring some challenges to our campaign and our timelines, our campaign will pivot towards the new date, whatever that date is.
We will re-work our strategy with this new timing and the safety and health of our fellow citizens in mind.
We also want to be certain that everyone who wants to vote can do so, without undue burdens.
We expect a final decision on the new date for elections will be made by April 22nd.
While we wait for that decision, I’m going to keep on doing what I do:
• providing information to you about local issues as they develop
• doing my best to help small businesses, residents, and city leaders get through this crisis.
If you know me, you know that I love our City.
Right now, many of our friends, neighbors, and local businesses are in survival mode as each person deals with the COVID-19 situation in their own way.
I am so proud of the community for the way folks have adjusted their lives, and their businesses, to cope with this unprecedented crisis.
I am in awe of the healthcare workers in our community who are making unfathomable sacrifices to help save lives and protect our community. We will be forever grateful.
All of you who are doing your part by social distancing and practicing good hygiene and sewing masks and contributing to food banks and charities are examples of the goodness that is Fredericksburg.
This crisis affects all of us, binds all of us and together we will get through it.
I believe we will emerge as an even better, more loving, and stronger community.
Be well, and be good to each other,
Jon
