If you know me or have heard me speak, you know that I see the potential for Fredericksburg to be an even more dynamic, welcoming, and diverse community in which to live, visit, work, learn, and play. I’ve been saying for months that to strengthen and ensure Fredericksburg’s future, we need to start now. I have spoken frequently about the need for 21st Century Solutions for the issues our City is facing. The COVID-19 situation is an immediate threat to the public’s health, safety and welfare that we must take seriously, without delay.
The novel Coronavirus (aka COVID-19) has made its appearance in our community. Local governments, educations institutions, and organizations are taking aggressive steps to lessen its spread and protect all members of our community.
My campaign has been in contact with medical professionals, City leaders, the Voter Registrar, and other candidates in this election regarding the best practices to follow when campaigning.
We have thought long and hard about how to campaign responsibly given the threat COVID-19 poses to vulnerable residents in our City, especially the elderly and persons with pre-existing medical issues.
One approach that we know is effective is to practice “social distancing”, as recommended the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) .
One study concludes that a delay of just one day in practicing social distancing can create 40% more cases of Coronavirus in the community.
Clearly, we cannot delay and immediate action is the responsible, prudent thing to do.
The health and well-being of our volunteers and the community at large, including YOUR safety, is far more important to me than campaigning for a seat on City Council.
With that in mind:
We are following the CDC guidelines as well as the advice of the Virginia Department of Health. We will be re-evaluating as more information and direction becomes available.
This decision is consistent with recent actions to encourage “social distancing” that have been taken by the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, the City of Fredericksburg, and a number of other local organizations, which are intended to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and potentially save lives.
However, we may leave campaign literature at your front door. We’re monitoring the precautions that the US Postal Service is taking and will adjust our procedures for leaving campaign literature at your door, as more information becomes available. We will be extremely careful about hand washing and other methods of protection and will adjust our procedures as necessary, always with an eye to protecting you and your family.
Our campaign will reach out to voters but in new and perhaps unexpected ways. We are planning virtual events on Facebook and other Social Media platforms so that you can follow the campaign and ask questions in real time, while at home.
Visit our website – JonForCityCouncil.com – for more on these options and to read regular news and opinion pieces about the City.
We encourage you to sign up for our weekly email update .
We hope you will also follow Jon For City Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can always send a question or concern via email and can expect a prompt personal response.
Thank you for your understanding, and by working together we will get through this difficult period.
To “our” community’s good health,
Jon
