State Feed: Virginia

Virginia: Is it time for Initiative & Referendum?

AmandaKathryn — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:44:26 -0400

Last weekend on “The Score” radio show, my colleague Scott Lee interviewed Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge, a group dedicated to “…protecting and expanding the initiative and referendum process.” Paul made an impassioned case for initiative and referendum, but also noted that Virginia, the cradle on American political thought, lacks the process almost entirely. How could this possibly be?

Portsmouth, VA Mayor Ordered to Resign or Face Recall Election

Thu, 27 May 2010 11:02:04 -0400

Portsmouth Mayor James Holley has been given until next Friday to resign his position, finding that a recall petition with nearly 9,000 signatures was sufficient to trigger a recall election.

Corrupt Portsmouth, VA Mayor Fighting Recall After Refusing to Step Down

Thu, 13 May 2010 11:12:41 -0400

A group of citizens have turned in nearly 9,000 signatures - in a city of just over 100,000 residents - for the recall of Mayor James Holley.

Petition signatures made public will have a chilling effect on initiative process

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:25:08 -0500

We’ve previously blogged about the attempts out in Washington state to make public the names and information of citizens who sign petitions. Unfortunately, that may be happening here in Northern Virginia as well. This article in the Sun Gazette newspaper explains how in Arlington, VA the petition signatures are public record if requested.

Norfolk Residents Stand Up to City Council's Move to Double Petition Signature Requirement

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:46:27 -0500

Never short on examples of the many attempts around the country to take away the peoples’ right to initiative and referendum by gutting the process, Norfolk, VA residents narrowly escaped a doubling of the signature requirement to put measures on the city ballot Wednesday. Thanks to the strong opposition shown by tho

It's Good To Be In The Middle

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:15:16 -0400

The streets of Washington, DC are lined with the offices of non-profits, advocacy groups, and other organizations. Most people who live, work, or travel in DC probably don’t even notice when they go past the Heritage Foundation or the Brookings Institution, much less wonder about what those organizations do. With our offices nestled among those of orthodontists, architects and insurance agencies 25 miles outside of the District in Lake Ridge, VA, Citizens in Charge Foundation doesn’t always fall so far under the radar.

Initiative & Referendum Rights for Virginians

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:13:09 -0400

A couple of weeks ago we interviewed Virginia citizens outside a townhall in Reston, VA. There was a lot of support from both sides of the aisle for bringing the process to the state and giving citizens more of a voice. So why don’t Virginia citizens have initiative & referendum rights? Let’s take a look at the history…

Appeal on judge's ruling that struck down referendum

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:07:37 -0400

Proponents of creating a housing and redevelopment authority in Arlington County are planning to appeal a judge’s ruling that struck down their proposal for a ballot referendum in November, prolonging and escalating a battle over affordable housing that dates back several decades.

Read the story from the Washington Post

New grassroots video update

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:17:54 -0400

Grassroots Director Brandon Holmes provides a new update on what local activists are doing to protect and expand the ballot initiative process throughout the nation.

VA Governor Kaine Signs Citizen Protection Bill

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:11:01 -0400

Governor Tim Kaine has finally put his signature on a bill meant to protect citizens petitioning their government from being sanctioned.

Augusta County, VA Residents Mount Recall Effort After Tax Vote

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:40:09 -0400

Augusta County residents have mounted an effort to recall five county supervisors who voted to approve unpopular tax assessments. Virginia does not have a traditional recall process, and signatures will go before a judge who will determine if the supervisors have been derelict in their duties. Recall leaders will have to collect signatures of 10% of the voters who voted in the original supervisors election.

Read the story from the Staunton News Leader

Residents Petition for Property Tax Relief

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:49:16 -0400

Agusta County residents are petition the Board of Supervisors to relieve new tax assesments, some of which have gone up as much as 400 percent. Petition organizers say that if county supervisors ignore their petition they will take the matter to court.

Read the story from WHSV

Virginians take charge! Ask Governor to Protect Petitioners

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:05:44 -0500

Citizens in Charge is calling on Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to sign HB 2465/ SB 1394 into law. HB 2465/SB 1394 would protect citizens who petition for removal of a public official from arbitrary sanctions and technical dismissals. The legislation is a response to the case of several Gloucester citizens who were fined $80,000 in legal fees after their attempt to remove several officials was thrown out on a technicality.

VA Pay-Per-Signature Ban Dies in Senate Committee

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:59:27 -0500

Earlier this month Citizens in Charge sent out an action alert about Virginia HB 2642 which contained a provision that would have banned payment of petition circulators by signature. A similar ban in Ohio was struck down as unconstitutional by the 6th Circuit Court of appeals, and the Supreme Court denied the state’s appeal in this case. Thanks to activists taking charge by standing up and informing legislators of the constitutional problems associated with the ban, the provision was struck from the bill by a Senate committee earlier this week.

Hugo Chávez wins a referendum on changing the constitution

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:14:28 -0500

BY WINNING a clear victory in a referendum on Sunday February 15th the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, has succeeded in removing constitutional limits to his indefinite re-election. The president, who has governed the country since 1999, immediately declared, to a crowd of cheering supporters at the presidential palace, that “this soldier is a pre-candidate for the presidency, for the period 2013-19”.

House panel moves to protect petitioners

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:21:34 -0500

Gloucester County petitioners on the hook for $80,000 worth of fines took their civic battle to Richmond this week and scored key victories in the House of Delegates.

They also picked up the support of what could become a key ally, the American Civil Liberties Union.

Attorney says petition drive off to fast start

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:16:00 -0500

Churchville attorney Francis Chester said Thursday the response to his petition drive to roll back Augusta County’s property values to 2005 and set aside the current reassessment has been strong.

“You would not believe the phone calls and people coming into the office,’’ Chester said.

One person asked for 15 petitions to circulate to county property owners, he said.

Chester plans to present the petitions to the Augusta County Board of Supervisors at the board’s March 11 meeting.

Judge made citizens afraid to exercise rights

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:18:26 -0500

In the next few weeks and if sanity prevails, the General Assembly will teach the judge that here in America, you can’t blast citizens for exercising their constitutional rights — then thwack them with a bill on top of it.

Because of Parker, two local Republican delegates — Tom Gear of Hampton and Harvey B. Morgan of Middlesex — have filed measures in Richmond to protect citizens against being forced to pay removal costs, attorney fees or other sanctions, should those citizens have the audacity to petition to remove an elected official.

Doug Clark: State needs constitutional changes, too

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:08:32 -0500

Larry Sabato has a point.