March 17, 2021 at 3:00pm
For the first time in over two decades, Del. Ken Plum, the state delegate for district 36, has a primary challenger.
Mary Barthelson, 27, is set to challenge incumbent Plum, 79, in the Democratic primary election. Plum, who has been in this office since 1982 and also held the seat from 1978-80, has run unopposed for the seat since 2011 when he faced Republican Hugh Cannon in the general election. The primary winner of the Barthelson-Plum race will face Republican Matthew Lang in the general election.
Barthelson officially announced her candidacy today.
Previously a data analyst, the Northern Virginia native currently works as a security engineer. Barthelson aims to use her engineering background to meet “a growing challenge” that is being presented by emerging technologies.
CHARLESTON – National and statewide tort reform groups are praising West Virginia lawmakers for work on the COVID-19 immunity legislation that could be on the governor’s desk soon.
“It is as critical as ever for West Virginia to pass a legislative solution to support health care providers, small businesses, and their employees who have been on the frontlines, responding to the pandemic, as they’re targeted with lawsuits” American Tort Reform Association President Tiger Joyce said.
Joyce said from March through December last year, plaintiffs’ lawyers spent more than $260,000 to air more than 3,300 legal services television ads mentioning COVID-19 or coronavirus in West Virginia.
March 11, 2021 at 10:45am
This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.
Inevitably someone is going to refer to the nominating contests for candidates for the Virginia statewide offices and the House of Delegates as horse races–not because of the characteristics of any of the candidates but because of the crowded field of persons who are offering themselves for public office. Space limitations on this column will not permit me to list all the candidates for they are numerous. For whatever the reason, Virginia voters have more choices than ever. That is a good thing. Democracy has broken out in the Commonwealth.
1 Mar 2021
A bill to rename “Jefferson Davis Highway” on U.S. Route 1 to “Emancipation Highway” passed the Virginia Senate Thursday in a 30-9 vote.
The bill, which Del. Josh Cole (D-Fredericksburg) introduced, was approved by the Virginia House of Delegates by a 70-28 vote this month.
The legislation will be headed to Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D) desk for his signature, after which it will become law effective January 1, 2022.
But even after the Senate vote, it remains unclear if the affected localities of Fredericksburg will rename U.S. 1 within their borders.
The bill only applies to areas in the state where U.S. 1 is still named after former Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Census delay could freeze House districts, raises prospect of elections for three straight years
Gregory S. Schneider, The Washington Post
Feb. 16, 2021
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RICHMOND, Va. - Delays in U.S. census data have disrupted plans to draw new districts for this year s elections of all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, raising the possibility that the races will be run under the old political map.
On top of that uncertainty, the General Assembly has passed legislation to move all local and municipal elections to November, which could force more than a dozen cities and more than 100 towns in the state to reschedule council and school board elections that usually take place in May.