House Dems Pass Historic Healthcare Reform Bill!

History has been made tonight as Democrats in the House, along with one Republican, passed historic healthcare legislation in order to provide affordable healthcare to ALL Americans. Even though this is a significant event, it is only one step on the road to true reform. Now, the Senate will take up the bill, so it is of the utmost urgency that we all contact our Democratic Senators of Virginia that they support this bill!!!

WE WILL MISS YOU CHARLIE!!!!

GREEN, Sr., Charles Dallas 63, of Powhatan, died October 2, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Jean M. Green; two sons and their wives, Charles, Jr. and Michele Green, Jason and Tiffany Green; daughter-in-law, Karen Green, mother, Marian S. Green; brother, Larry Green; sister, Darlene Middleton, all of Powhatan; four grandchildren, Chaytor and Ty Green, Jessica and Justin Agcaoili and many other family members. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Green, Jr.; two sons, Joseph Nowlin Green and Robbie E. Green. The family will receive friends Saturday (today) from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm at the Bennett & Barden Funeral Home, 3215 Anderson Hwy. (Rt. 60), Powhatan. Funeral services will be held Sunday 2 pm at Powhatan High School. Interment Red Lane Baptist Church Cemetery, Powhatan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may to be made to Dixie Youth Scholarship Fund or Powhatan Youth Athletic Association.

So, Republicans are Socialists, too????

It's amazing how politics and fear can make normally rational people say and do things they probably wouldn't normally do.

Pres. Obama wants to address school children on Tuesday with a brief speech and the department of education included some lesson plans to go along with the speech.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that the first day of school is the LAST day you want any kind of interruption to keep a teacher from setting the tone of the classroom and taking care of important clerical work, so the president can most definitely be accused of poor timing.

Also, every parent has the right to watch a presidential address with their children, so again the president's timing can be deemed as poor in that parents would not be able to watch with their children.

However, elected politicians and many parents who claim that Obama is simply trying to "indoctrinate" their children in his "socialist" agenda or Marxism, or that he's creating a new Hitler Youth come across as irrational. Do they even know what is in the speech? No. No one does until Monday.

They have also objected to a poor choice of words in the lesson plans where the Pres. Obama asks students how they can help him, but from what I can see, it is how to help him keep kids in school, not convince their parents that a public option is the best way to solve our healthcare problems.

Lastly, if you look close at the lesson plans provided, you can clearly see that "personal responsibility" is one of the main points of the speech. Did you get that? PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. The cornerstone to the REPUBLICAN CREED! See, it's right here off of the Virginia GOP website:

We're rebuilding our Party from the grassroots up, and reestablishing who we are and what we stand for as Virginia Republicans. We are once again becoming a bold GOP. We're getting back to the basics with our common-sense conservative values and principles, fighting for:
Lower taxes;
less and smaller government;
personal responsibility;
creating opportunities for anyone;
protection of life;
empowering families;
and defending freedom and liberty.

See that. So, if telling kids to stay in school, get a good education, be good citizens, and have PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is socialistic, then Republicans must be socialists and should surely want their children to tune in.

Things Are Heating Up (Not Just Because It's August!)

Well, August is definitely HOT, but things are heating up in Virginia and Powhatan as well. First, there is an independent candidate running against Lee Ware for the House of Delegates. His name is Gary Reinhardt. He came and spoke at our last meeting and made a good argument as to why we should vote for him. He will be in Powhatan off and on until the election in November so you should have plenty of opportunity to talk to him. He will be at Bud & Garland Rasmussen's house Sunday, Aug. 16th from 3-5 pm for a picnic/meet & greet. You can call 598-6681 for more information. All are welcome to bring your family and have a hot dog! He will also be at the Powhatan County Fair and the Labor Day Parade, so hopefully you will get a chance to meet him!

Next, we are slowly acquiring campaign materials from the Deeds, Wagner, and Shannon campaigns. We may try to go to the fair one night to hand out materials--if we can, I'll let you know the days and times. We will most definitely be at the Labor Day parade with a booth and a float entry, so if your kids would like to ride on a hay wagon and throw candy, just meet us there before the parade and we'll set them up!

Lastly, there are a few local issues that are heating up also. There seem to be many rumors spreading about the possibility of a Wal-Mart opening in Powhatan or possibly some other big-box retailer. Thanks to the hard work of Debbie Markel and her use of the Freedom of Information Act, she has obtained e-mails from the county concerning this subject. There is going to be a private meeting on Aug. 18th between the county and a big-box retailer. In the email, one supervisor made the point of wanting to meet out of the public eye. Well, we think many people would be interested to know about this meeting and what decisions are being made! There is a group on Facebook with over 250 members created specifically to discuss this topic. If you'd like to check it out, click here.

On that note, there also seems to be some issues with Powhatan residents holding yard sales and selling produce along Route 60. Powhatan Today Article The board of supervisors may start cracking down and regulating how these are handled.

If you'd like to voice your opinion on any of these topics, click on the "blog" link and weigh in!

GOOD DEEDS!

GAME ON! Congratulations to Creigh Deeds, our Democratic gubernatorial candidate who will beat Bob McDonnell this fall! Also congratulations to Jody Wagner, our next lieutenant governor who will beat Bill Bolling and lastly, congratulations to Steve Shannon, who will be the next attorney general after he beats Ken Cuccinelli!

Now the hard work starts! If you remember the last time Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell ran against each other, McDonnell won by a meager 326 votes. That was four years ago. Since then, we now have two Democratic senators and the state elected a Democratic president for the first time since 1964. Virginia is more purple than red! Still, Bob McDonnell is no Gilmore or Kilgore. He will be a force to be reckoned with and the Republicans will fight tooth and nail to try to regain ground lost in the past four years.

I do believe, however, that on the issues and geographically, Creigh Deeds is the strongest candidate to beat McDonnell and I look forward to working with all three Democratic campaigns and I look forward to working with all of YOU again to show that Powhatan is not just Republican country!!!!!

So I say to you, ask not what your county Democratic party can do for you, ask what you can do for your county Democratic party!!!

Choices, Choices!!!

On June 9th the Democratic Party of Virginia will hold its primary to choose a candidate for governor and lieutenant governor (the candidate for attorney general is uncontested). The candidates for governor are Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran. The candidates for lieutenant governor are Mike Signer and Jody Wagner. Steve Shannon is the candidate for attorney general. All are great candidates, but we will all have to decide who is the best to represent the Democrats in Virginia.

I encourage everyone to visit the candidates' websites and then go vote on Tuesday, June 9th. Then the real work begins!!!

Come Watch History With Us!

It's almost here. A chance for the nation to move in a new direction and a chance for us to work together to make our country great again.

Tuesday, January 20th will be a day to remember for generations. A day when we can all stand together as proud Americans as we watch an African American man being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

How will you celebrate?

If you would like to celebrate and watch the inauguration with others in Powhatan that share a sense of pride, passion, and hope, we invite you to join us at the Village Garden Cafe at 3844 Old Buckingham Rd. in the Village of Powhatan on Tuesday from 9:00-1:00 to watch history unfold. Everyone is welcome to enjoy great food, great coffee, great atmosphere, and great company!

If you would like more information, you can email Greg at gownby@gmail.com or call 598-6681.

We also have t-shirts to commemorate the inauguration for sale if you'd like to show your support that way too!

OBAMA INAUGURATION CELEBRATION

Happy New Year and New President! Let's Celebrate!

The Powhatan Democrats would like to wish everyone a happy new year! We couldn't think of any better way to start off the new year right than to celebrate our new president Barack Obama. So, we'd like to invite you to join us Saturday January 17th at the Village Garden Cafe in the Village of Powhatan to our Inauguration Celebration. Tickets are $20 (which can also be paid at the door). What will your $20 get you? Fantastic hor d'ouevres, drinks, desserts, dancing, and a special inauguration gift to remember the moment. It will start early (4:00 pm to 7:00 pm) so it is family-friendly and it is casual dress. If you would like to sign up to attend, you can click this link and sign up. This is an inexpensive and local way to celebrate all of our hard work and our historical moment!

"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you."

God Bless our President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama!

Thank you to all who worked so very hard to make this happen you deserve the happiness you feel today!

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!

This is it! For some of us, we are coming to the close of about 18 months of hard work and anxiety. We have been through one of the toughest primary battles the Democrats have seen in decades. We have seen attack after attack lobbed at our candidate, only to have Barack Obama continue to stand steady and firm in his message and temperment. We have seen insinuations suggesting that our candidate is not American, is a terrorist, is naive, is an Arab, is a Muslim, is dangerous, and the list goes on and on. Enough! In a week or less, the citizens of America can finally put an end to all of these lies and inuendos. We can once again show America and the world that hope trumps fear when it comes to running an election. We can show that America can once again shine as a true beacon of democracy where all are welcome to participate in the political process and where other countries will look to us "as the power of example, not the example of our power" (thanks Bill Clinton!!)

So, it is up to you, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers to go out and vote for Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and Andrea Miller on November 4th. Polls are open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, but you should expect to have to wait to vote. The best times to vote are between 10:00 am and 12:00 and 1:00 and 3:00. If you are denied the right to vote for some reason, DO NOT vote by provisional ballot. Demand to talk to Inez Poe the county registrar (she is very helpful and wants everything to go smoothly too!). However, if you are still not satisfied, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to get information on what to do. The Democratic Party of Virginia and the Obama campaign will also have legal teams in place to make sure all of our votes are counted!

If you have some time to spare on election day, we are still looking for people to stand outside of the polls and hand out sample ballots, answer questions, or just show that Powhatan is not just "McCain Country"!!!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

NOW IS OUR TIME!!!!

As the election winds down, tension is running high. People are angry, scared, frustrated, and looking for a new direction from our leaders. This election, there could be no more clear a choice in who that leader should be--Barack Obama. One simply needs only to look at how the campaigns of John McCain and Barrack Obama have been run. One has changed message monthly, weekly, and sometimes even daily, where the other has stayed with the same consistent message since the beginning of the primaries. One has stayed positive most of the time, while one has gone negative in the past weeks 100% of the time. One has questioned the patriotism and religion of his opponent, while the other has quetioned the judgement and policies of his opponent. One campaign has gone through major staff changes and has been unorganized while the other has had the same staff and has had the most organized campaign in history. So, which one would you want to run the country??

In order for us to get the leader the country needs and deserves, we must do everything we can to ensure that Barack Obama wins on November 4th. So, what does that mean? Right now, we need volunteers to call people in Powhatan in order to identify Obama supporters and those leaning Obama and undecided. Also, we will need people to work the polls on election day and to drive people to the polls if they need a ride. If you would like to help, click on the e-mail address on the upper-right hand corner and let us know how you would like to help.

We are also having an organizational meeting at the Powhatan County Public Library this Sunday Oct. 26th from 3 pm to 5 pm. Our representative from the Obama campaign will be there to let you know what the campaign needs, so come out and add your support.

Also, we have about 100 yard signs and about 30 bumper stickers left, so if you need one, again, you can e-mail us. We need for all of the Obama supporters in Powhatan to show their support these last few weeks by putting signs out and putting bumper stickers on your vehicles. POWHATAN IS NOT JUST MCCAIN COUNTRY!!!!! Then on election day, you should take your sign to your polling place and stick it in the ground so everyone who goes to vote that day will see how much support Obama has in Powhatan.

Again, this is our time. We have the power to show America and the world that America can be a better place with better leaders in Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and Andrea Miller!!!

McCain/Palin Supporters Reminiscent of Lynch Mobs

I have always tried to use the front page of our website for informational purposes and less for my opinion on the campaign, but tonight, I'm sad and angered to say I can no longer remain silent on what I've seen this past week from the McCain/Palin campaign. In the words of abolitionist publisher of The Liberator William Lloyd Garrison:

Tell a man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD.

It is one thing to attack your opponent on issues and judgment, but it is another thing altogether to attack a man's patriotism, faith, background, and love of his country simply to score political points. It's also another thing to incite such anger, hate, and threats of violence against another candidate at your political rallies. There are so many evil figures throughout history that have used hate and prejudice to instill fear and mistrust in people I can compare McCain and Palin to, but I will not. Frankly, I expected more from the honorable John McCain I used to know. Why? Why must John McCain take his hard-earned honor that he gained through his service to his country and throw it all away to try to score political points and stop the freefall of his polling numbers? Why must Sarah Palin risk what little credibility she had as a "reformer" and "Washington outsider" just to try to get her negative poll numbers from falling also? Mavericks? Does being a maverick mean that you can fire someone simply because you do not like them? Does being a Washington outsider mean that you can choose to not answer questions during a debate and then use the worst kind of hate to smear an opponent falsely accusing him of "palling around with terrorists" while the country is in the worst economic crisis we've seen in decades? As Americans, we deserve better.

John McCain tonight had to calm the crowds down at one of his rallies because of the hate, ignorance, and fear that was being generated--a noble course of action? Perhaps. Perhaps it would 've been if it weren't the fact that John McCain himself and his sidekick Sarah Palin were the very ones planting those seeds of hate, fear, and ignorance. Being a maverick is not letting this type of venom spread. Being a maverick is going against your base and supporters and rising above the hate speech. But alas. There are no mavericks to be found in the McCain/Palin campaign.

When John McCain himself said we need someone with "a steady hand on the tiller" to get us through this rough patch we are going through, was it not lost on him that his hand has been the one that has been the most unsteady for the past two weeks and Barack Obama has been the only candidate with a calm, reassuring manner that speaks volumes as to how he would lead as president? If McCain's actions over the past few weeks are any indication of his presidency, I pray that if he gets elected we face no national crisis. Would he suspend his presidency to handle it while not achieving any positive outcome whatsoever? Would he distract the country with lies and fear so we wouldn't be so concerned about his failures? This is what we have bitterly swallowed for the past eight years. ENOUGH! Enough of lies and fear! Enough of using prejudice and hate to further your political campaign! Enough of poor judgement and shooting from the hip! America deserves an honest, intelligent leader who is not afraid to think before he acts and listens instead of ordering. Enough.

If you have had enough and are fed up, then you must help Barack Obama become our next president. If you can spare a few hours out of your week, you can help change the course of our country for the next four years. You can help walk the neighborhoods of Powhatan to let people know the TRUTH about who the real presidential candidate is. You can call your neighbors and let them know how important it is that they vote this year to bring hope and change to our country. Let's prove to Americans once and for all that hate and ignorance will not scare or influence intelligent voters!

If you are interested, call Greg at 598-6681 or e-mail at gownby@gmail.com and help us bring pride and dignity back to American politics.

Flash! Powhatan No Longer McCain Country!!!!!

After the huge turnout at the Unite for Change Rally for Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and Andrea Miller at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds on Sunday, the Republicans may have to start taking down their "Powhatan is McCain Country"!

So, how big was it? Over 125 people stopped by, with about 75 or more filling the main building to hear Andrea Miller, the Congressional candidate running against Randy Forbes, speak. Miller spoke for over an hour and took questions for another half an hour, after Powhatan Democrat's Chairman Greg Ownby had to finally close the session in order to give people a chance to speak to her one on one. Miller spoke plainly and intelligently, making her case against sending Forbes, who has voted with George Bush 98% of the time, back to Washington to continue the same failed policies of the Bush administration. Miller also showed she could handle tough questions from informed voters, something Sarah Palin has yet to do. If you haven't met Andrea Miller or heard her speak, you are truly missing out on a strong, dynamic, sensible woman who can help put the 4th congressional district and the country back on the right track. To find out more about Andrea Miller click here.

If there is any question that Powhatan residents are fed up with the past eight years and are ready for change, the fact that the Obama-Biden yard signs were gone within the first two hours says it all! If you would like an Obama-Biden yard sign or any other campaign materials (bumperstickers, buttons, including Warner and Miller stuff) email Greg Ownby from the link at the top-right corner of this page.

It was truly amazing to look across the crowd to see old and young, male and female, black and white come together to rally for a change from the failures of the last eight years. Many came straight from church to participate and volunteer to spread the word about Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and Andrea Miller.

If you were not able to attend, don't worry. You can still sign up to volunteer and help turn Virginia BLUE! Again, just email Greg Ownby and we will let you know how you can help elect Barack Obama, Mark Warner, and Andrea Miller on November 6th.

And as you drive past the "Powhatan is McCain Country" signs think about this: in 2004 there were signs that read "Powhatan is Bush Country"--we know what that got us!!!!!!!

VOTE OBAMA/WARNER/MILLER '08!!!!!!

UPDATE: WE WILL BE HAVING AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WITH THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN THIS SUNDAY AT THE POWHATAN PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM 3:00-5:00. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN WILL BE THERE TO ORGANIZE AND TRAIN PEOPLE IN POWHATAN WHO WISH TO TURN VIRGINIA BLUE AND BRING TRUE CHANGE TO OUR COUNTRY!

LABOR DAY PARADE

Just wanted to remind everyone to come to the Labor Day Parade in Powhatan and stop by the Powhatan Democrats booth. We will have a tractor and hay wagon in the parade so, if you and your children would like to ride, show up early (9:00) and you can hitch a ride!

The parade starts officially at 11:00 am but many people get there earlier to walk around.

Hope to see you there!!!

SEE YOU AT THE PARADE!!!

Hey everybody! Come see me and the rest of the Powhatan Democrats at the annual Labor Day Parade! We will have a float and a booth and a special surprise for everyone. We will have lots of good stuff for you, like Obama and Mark Warner signs, buttons, and stickers. We'll also have literature for Andrea Miller who is running against Randy Forbes. If you haven't registered to vote yet, we can do that too! In case you didn't know, Labor Day is on the 1st of September and the parade is held in the Village of Powhatan. Our booth will be set up on the Courthouse Lawn. Hope to see you there....I hear they throw candy to all of the kids!!!!

Come See Us At the Fair!!!

Braving the heat and humidity, the Powhatan Democrats faithfully set up at the Powhatan County Fair Tuesday to provide a chance for the people of Powhatan to get information and campaign materials for all of the great Democratic candidates running this year. John McMurry from the Obama campaign walked aroung and registered voters and also signed up many volunteers for the campaign. David Martin from the Andrea Miller for Congress campaign was there also promoting his candidate. If you would like to meet the dynamic Andrea Miller in person, she will be at the fair Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday! If you would like an Obama yard sign, button, or bumper sticker, we are accepting small donations for them. Unfortunately, we do not have tons of Obama material, so come early to get what you want--after Tuesday's response, we have a feeling that we will run out soon!! We have plenty of Mark Warner for Senate yard signs for FREE some come by and get one to put in your yard to annoy your neighbors!!!

If you can't make it to the fair, we will be at the Labor Day Parade in the village on Labor Day too!

Join the Powhatan Democrats at the Powhatan County Fair!

If you are interested in supporting the Obama campaign in Powhatan, you can join the Powhatan Democrats at the Powhatan County Fair. We will have a booth at the fair all week starting Tuesday, July 29th through Sunday Aug. 3rd. We will be selling/handing out Obama campaign supplies such as yard signs, rally signs, buttons, stickers, and bumper stickers. We will also be registering people to vote. If you want to see Obama as our next president and want to help us turn Virginia BLUE in '08, then we welcome your support! Please e-mail or call Greg Ownby (info at the top right of this page--just click on the e-mail link to send me a message)

You can also come to our next meeting this Sunday, July 27th at the Powhatan County Public Library from 2:00 to 4:00. We will have a representative from the Obama campaign there to help us organize even more in Powhatan. We will also be organizing for the Mark Warner for Senate campaign as well as the Andrea Miller for Congress campaign.

Andrea Miller will also be at the fair a few days for you to come and meet our next Congressman for the Fourth Congressional District!!

Prayers for the Taliaferro Family

I just came from the funeral at PHS for Talhiek Taliaferro and just wanted to say that although it was tough to be there it was uplifting to see so many in the community come out to pay respects and support the Taliaferro family. The crowd overflowed from the auditorium into the student commons area and consisted of different ages, different colors, and different denominations. I hope that this senseless tragedy will help bring our community together and heal the wounds and anger that could grow from this event. Standing there watching all of the students crying and hugging each other, white and African-American, gives me hope that we will overcome this trying time in Powhatan. Please pray for the family and friends of Talhiek.


If you would like to make a donation, a fund has been set up to assist the family with funeral expenses and to establish a scholarship in Tahliek's name.
Contributions may be mailed to Central Virginia Bank, P.O. Box 39, Powhatan, VA 23139. Checks may be made to Tahliek's Fund.

Andrea Miller Kickoff Event

Andrea Miller For Congress

On Sunday afternoon, Andrea Miller held her official kickoff event at her home in Chesterfield County. She is running against Republican Randy Forbes for the 4th Congressional House seat. Sen. Henry Marsh spoke about the "dream ticket" consisting of Barack Obama for President, Mark Warner for Senator, and Andrea Miller for Representative. There was much enthusiasm and many great pies! I even bought one in the auction, but had to leave it because I was afraid it wouldn't make the trip back to Powhatan on my motorcycle!

Andrea Miller is an energetic, intelligent, and principled leader. She is well-spoken, yet down-to-earth (she makes a great apple pie!) and she is eager to talk to as many people in the 4th Congressional District as possible. She has addressed the Powhatan Democrats twice and attended the Obama Unite for Change rally held this past Saturday. I must say, it is nice for a candidate in the 4th District to spend so much time in Powhatan, being that Powhatan is at the very top of the district and seems to be often forgotten about. Randy Forbes spends most of his time in the Chesapeake area where he lives--although he does have people in Powhatan on a regular basis, he just doesn't seem to get up to Powhatan very often.

Are people happy with Forbes? That is a good questions. If Forbes votes with President Bush 99% of the time and Bush's approval ratings are in the mid-twenties, then it is time for a change! Andrea Miller is committed to bringing our troops home from Iraq and getting our economy back on track. She wants to create more green jobs and do more to protect our environment.

If you would like to learn more about where Andrea Miller stands on the issues, just click on the link. http://www.andreamiller.us/

And don't worry. If you haven't met her yet, you will. She plans on spending much more time in Powhatan!

Fired Up! Ready To Go!

On Saturday evening there was a small congregation of cars parked along side the road in Red Lane. As drivers rode past, they may have wondered why all of the cars were there, until, perhaps, they noticed all of the cars had Obama '08 stickers on them!

Powhatan County had its first Unite for Change gathering in order to bring Obama supporters together and to brainstorm and organize future events. One of the Obama fellows, Beth, came all the way down from Charlottesville to help out and provide information about the Obama campaign. It was a nice crowd and a diverse one at that: young, old, white, African-American, male, female, Christian, and Jewish. As Beth left, she said Powhatan was the most organized and eager of the groups she had met with. We are most definitely FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

We will be holding more events in Powhatan, so stay tuned for more updates!

Obama Unite for Change Party in Powhatan

Adrienne and Greg Ownby are having an Obama Unite for Change Party at their house this Saturday the 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Many neighbors are coming and along with some representatives from the Obama campaign. It will take all of our collected efforts to turn Virginia blue this year and it starts NOW! Please join us this Saturday for celebration, discussion, and unity!

You can RSVP at this link here. http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_results?type=simple&orderby=zip_radius&zip_radius%5b0%5d=23139&zip_radius%5b1%5d=100&radius_unit=miles

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

IT'S OFFICIAL!! BARACK OBAMA IS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!!

COME JOIN THE POWHATAN DEMOCRATS TO HELP TURN VIRGINIA BLUE!

"This is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past and bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love."

Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get Powhatan behind Barack Obama. Come to our next meeting this month on Sunday the 22nd from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Powhatan Public Library to learn about the new neighborhood outreach program and help to register new voters.

Come Meet House Democratic Candidate Andrea Miller This Sunday!

This Sunday at the Powhatan Public Library you can meet Andrea Miller, the Democratic candidate for the Fourth District House seat. She will be running against Republican Randy Forbes and if other House races are any indication of how this election will go, Andrea Miller has a really good chance of defeating Randy Forbes.

The Powhatan Democrats will hold their monthly meeting from 3:00 to 3:30 and then Andrea Miller will speak and answer questions. We will have a dessert reception afterwards.

As the Democratic nominating process draws to a close, we will begin organizing voter registration drives and campaign events for the candidates, including Mark Warner, our next U.S. Senator.

Get ready to help TURN VIRGINIA BLUE IN NOVEMBER!!!

Powhatan Democrats Call To Caucus For Presidential Election Delegates

The Powhatan Democratic Committee will hold an assembled caucus to select delegates to the 2008 State Convention. The Powhatan caucus will select 5 delegates to the State Convention. They are as follows:

2 Clinton delegates
3 Obama delegates
1 Clinton alternate
1 Obama alternates

Call to Caucus:

Whereas, it is the duty of the Powhatan Democratic Committee to issue the Call to Caucus for the purpose of electing 5 delegates and 2 alternates to the 4th Congressional District Democratic Convention and the Virginia Democratic State Convention.

Now therefore be it resolved that the Powhatan Democratic Committee hereby issues the Call to Caucus to convene an assembled caucus at 7:30pm, Monday, April 21, 2008 at the Powhatan County Library, Powhatan, Virginia for the sole purpose of electing 5 delegates and 2 alternates to the 4th Congressional District Convention and the Virginia Democratic State Convention, and the following provisions shall govern the convention, to wit:

1. Pre filing: Those wishing their names to be placed on the ballot at the Caucus shall pre file their candidacy by 5:00 p.m. April 16, 2008, with the Powhatan Democratic Committee Chair or his/her designee. Mail pre-filing forms to:

Greg Ownby
2233 Mountainview Rd
Powhatan, VA 23139

2. Voluntary Administrative Fee: There shall be a voluntary administrative fee of fifteen dollars $ 15.00 for each person filing for delegate, payable to the Powhatan Democratic Committee. Payment of this fee is completely voluntary. No statement is required in order to waive payment.

3. Notice Requirements: The Powhatan Democratic Committee shall cause to be published the time, date, and location of the Caucus at least 7 days prior to the Caucus, but not more than 2 weeks before the Caucus. All notices shall be published on the Powhatan Democratic Committee website and released as a press release to all local newspapers of general circulation.

Notice of the pre filing deadline for delegate and alternate positions shall be published on the Powhatan Committee website and released as a press release to all local papers of general circulation at least 7 days before the pre filing deadline but not more than 2 weeks before the deadline.

4. Conduct the Caucus: The doors to the Caucus will be opened at 6:30pm. Check-in will occur between 6:30pm. and 7:30pm. The doors to the caucus will be closed 7:30 pm and no further persons will be permitted to enter. Those in line at 7:30pm will be permitted to complete the check-in process and will be permitted to participate.

The Chair of the Powhatan Committee or his/her designee, shall be the Temporary Chair of the Caucus and shall appoint a Temporary Secretary and such other Temporary Officers of the Caucus as is deemed appropriate. Until the adoption of the Rules, the order of the Caucus shall be determined by the Chair of the Caucus, subject to the approval of the Caucus participants, Robert’s Rules of Order, and the Virginia Democratic Party Plan.

5. Affirmative Action: It shall be the duty of each local precinct Democratic chair and the members of each local Democratic Committee to take all feasible steps to encourage broad participation in the delegate selection process. Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, ethnic identity or economic status in the delegate selection process is prohibited. The Powhatan Democratic Committee shall make every effort to ensure that the Powhatan delegation is half-male and half-female.

6. Call Distribution: It shall be the duty of the Powhatan Democratic Committee Chair to distribute a copy of the Call to Caucus.

It shall further be the duty of the Powhatan Democratic Committee Chair to cause this Call to Caucus to be publicized through the news media of everywhere as is feasible.

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To download the 2008 Powhatan County Delegate Pre-filing Form, please click here.

Come Meet Democratic Candidate Andrea Miller for Dist. 4 House Seat!

This Thursday, March 13th at 7:00 Andrea Miller, Democratic candidate for the District 4 House seat, will be speaking at the Powhatan Public Library. She is gearing up to run against our current Republican representative, Randy Forbes. She is looking for volunteers to help gather signatures to appear on the ballot and to also help with the campaign in any way that they can.

The Powhatan Democrats will also discuss our upcoming caucus on April 21st to select delegates to eventually go on to the Democratic convention in Denver in late August.

Anyone interested in coming is welcome to attend. Hope to see you there!

Hot Topic of Next Townhall Social: Tax Assessments & Tax Relief

Jamie Timberlake, Commissioner of the Revenue, to Speak at Powhatan Library

Jamie Timberlake, Powhatan's Commissioner of the Revenue, will be the featured speaker at the next Powhatan Democrats Town Hall Social on Sunday, Febrary 24 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Powhatan Library meeting room. The topic will be "Tax Assessment and Tax Relief." The program is free and open to all members of the public. A Q&A session will follow. For more information, call 598-6681.

Remember--EVERYONE is welcome! Hope to see you there!

DEMOCRATS TURN OUT BIG IN POWHATAN!!!

Well, the results are in and the winner is.....

Powhatan Democrats!!!

When you compare voter turnout between Democrats and Republicans in Powhatan, the numbers are VERY close. Democratic turnout was 2,413 and Republican turnout was 2,559--a difference of 146!

As far as candidates go, Barack Obama won big in Powhatan, too. Obama got 63% of the vote compared to Hillary Clinton's 36%.

What's VERY encouraging is the vote count between Obama and John McCain. Obama received 1,532 votes compared to McCain's 1,228. Of course, Mike Huckabee pulled 1,089, but are the Huckabee supporters really going to vote for McCain? That's a good question!

Obama seems to have had another sweep winning the Potomac Primary states of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Early results have Obama at 63% in Virginia to Hillary's 36%--oddly enough the same as Powhatan! In D.C. Obama has 76% to Hillary's 24% and early in Maryland, we have Obama at 72% and Hillary at 26%.

I think it's safe to say Hillary got walloped!

Overall, Democrats turned out big this time and Republicans did not--let's hope this trend remains in the general election on Novemeber 4th!

Historic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

This year's Jefferson-Jackson dinner was historic on so many levels.

First, no other JJ Dinner had such a huge attendance.

Second, we had L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American governor, speaking.

Third, we had our fantastic former governor and future US Senator Mark Warner speak.

Fourth, we had our energetic current governor, Tim Kaine also speak.

Then there were the headliners.

Hillary Clinton spoke first, bringing the crowd to their feet many times. Hillary signs were everywhere and every once in a while a chant broke out.

Fianlly, Barack Obama came out later, but the crowd did not seem to mind. In fact, even before he took the stage, throughout the night the Siegel Center would erupt into chants of "Yes We Can!", "Obama!", and "We Want Change!". Hard to believe this is politics and democracy in action.

Of course, when Obama did take the stage, the crowd went wild.

No wonder he draws so many young people. But it wasn't just the young people who were energized. There were many older people (okay--my wife and I are just about 40, so we're not so young anymore!) middle-age and beyond that became emotional when they heard Obama speak. Experiencing this first-hand, it is easy to say that this is not just a political campaign, IT IS A MOVEMENT!

No matter who you support, the Democrats will make history in November! We have two great candidates to choose from and if you were at the JJ Dinner last night, you got to see the future president of the United States.

Remember--


THIS TUESAY THE 12TH IS THE PRIMARY. POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 6:00 AM TO 7:00 PM. TURN OUT WILL BE HIGHER THAN IN THE PAST. PLEASE GO OUT AND PICK THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT!

Barrack Obama & Hillary Clinton to Speak Sat. @ JJ Dinner!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2008
CONTACT:
Danae Jones 804-433-0071

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Scheduled to Speak at Democratic Party of Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner & Celebration
Richmond- The Democratic Party of Virginia is pleased to announce that both Presidential candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, will speak at the annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner and Celebration on Saturday, February 9, 2008.
The event will be held at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond.
Dinner tickets are all sold out, but program-only tickets are still available at a variety of price levels. The public can still purchase tickets by going to http://www.vademocrats.org/.
Guests should NOT bring bags in order to expedite check-in and seating.

New Townhall Socials Bring the Government to the People of Powhatan

As a takeaway from the local elections, we realized that many residents of Powhatan feel that there is a certain disconnect between the government and the people. We also heard candidates expressing the desire to get more citizens involved in the process. So, the Powhatan Democrats are pleased to announce the launch of their monthly Townhall Socials.

Each month will feature a different topic and a different guest speaker (someone from our local government) and will be OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE.

There is no fee and no reservations are necessary. Also, even though the Powhatan Democrats are holding the Townhall Socials, we are merely the facilitators in the attempt to bridge the gap between the residents of the county and our leaders.

Each meeting will be held at the Powhatan Public Library on the last Sunday of the month from 3 pm to 5 pm unless otherwise noted.

We are kicking the Townhall Socials off this month on Sunday the 27th with a preresention by County Administrator Carolyn Cios on the ins and outs of Powhatan government--sort of a Powhatan Government 101. She makes it easy to understand and actually enjoyable--she also has great handouts which is a plus! If we all want to become more involved, we need to understand how the process works and there is no one better to explain the process than Carolyn Cios! If you have any questions, I'm sure she'd more than happy to answer them.

This is our chance to get involved and work with our leaders to make sure Powhatan is the county we all can be proud to live in. Hope you will join us!

Greg Ownby
Chairman Powhatan Democrats

JEFFERSON-JACKSON DINNER TICKETS ON SALE!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 8, 2008

CONTACT: Danae Jones 804-433-0071

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA JEFFERSON-JACKSON TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW

Richmond- Tickets for the Democratic Party of Virginia's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Celebration go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, January 9. This year's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and Celebration is set for February 9, 2008 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center's Alltel Pavilion in Richmond. The annual dinner is the premier fundraiser for the DPVA and brings together voters from across the Commonwealth. Tickets will be available for purchase at http://www.vademocrats.org/.

This year, there are a variety of tickets available:
$175.00- individual dinner ticket w/ floor seating and pre-dinner reception
$100.00- theater seat: center w/ reception
$50.00- theater seat: corner
$35.00- theater seat: wing

Please contact Danae Jones for media/press credentials.

Happy Holidays!

The Powhatan Democrats want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and hope you get to spend good, quality time with your friends and family.

As we look back at this year, we believe it has been very good for us. Marsell Bustos, the Democratic candidate running for the District 2 seat for the Board of Supervisors pulled 28% of the vote and came in ahead of the incumbent, something that caught everyone off guard. We have a new website (as you can see) and have been working hard to organize our party in Powhatan. We just held a reorganization meeting and elected new officers. The out-going chair Adrienne Ownby conveniently passed the batan to her husband Greg to take the position of new chair. Other officers were elected and appointees were made.

Now, we are looking FORWARD to the new year and are preparing to work even harder to make Powhatan the best place to grow up, live, and retire in. We are currently planning monthly meetings that will address specific topics and will include guest speakers. Most will address issues citizens of Powhatan are concerned with and will provide not only a public forum in which these issues will be discussed, but also helpful information from community leaders to ensure that we as residents of Powhatan are as well-informed as possible on these matters!

Our first meeting is on Thursday, Jan. 17th at the Powhatan Public Library from 7 pm to 9 pm in the large conference room. We are in the process of contacting some the the Democratic presidential campaigns to have representatives speak on behalf of their candidates to provide information to Powhatan residents in preparation of the upcoming primary in February.

We also want to encourage EVERYONE to participate in the process for updating the Comprehensive Plan. It is the one tool we have to guide our new Board of Supervisors in their decision making process for the next four years.

The next meeting dates are January 15th, 16th, and 17th at different locations. They are from 7 pm to 9 pm and citizens need only to attend one of the times.

For more information click here: http://www.powhatancompplan.us/

We look forward to working with the new Board of Supervisors and look forward to working on some great presidential campaigns as well as Mark Warner's campaign for Senate.

We welcome all to help us make 2008 the best year for Democrats in Virginia and Powhatan!

Happy Veteran's Day!

For all of those who have served our country proudly and those who are currently serving, we wish you peace and joy on Veteran's Day.

Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel are also wishing our veterans the best by introducing a new version of the G.I. Bill that is the least we can do for those who have served or are serving our country!

Click here to read more!

We're On the Move!!!!!

Well, the results are in:

Charlie Green: 43%
Marsell Bustos: 29%
T.J. Bise: 28%

Congratulations to Mr. Green!! We are looking forward to working closely with him in moving Powhatan forward.

Good luck to Mr. Bise.

For all the results, click here!

Thank you to everyone who supported Marsell Bustos and proved that a Democrat can do well in Powhatan!!!

For those of you who did support him and recognize the importance of staying involved in the determining the future of Powhatan, we invite you to our next meeting at the Powhatan Public Library on Monday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 pm. Please visit our website for updates including meeting times for the comprehensive plan update.

Let's help keep Powhatan moving forward!!!

Richmond Times-Dispatch Endorses Marsell Bustos!!!

Today's Richmond Times-Dispatch released their endorsements (read it for yourself) and they chose Marsell Bustos as the best candidate for District 2 Board of Supervisor. It really means something when a conservative newspaper like the RTD endorses the only Democrat running for election in Powhatan. Let's hope the voters in District 2 take the endorsement to heart and take a closer look (Bustos Website) at the one candidate with the right vision for Powhatan's future!!

STRAIGHT TALK--THE REAL DEAL

Why did T.J. Bise and Scott Daniel take money from developers who are building homes that the average citizen in Powhatan cannot afford?

Good question. T.J. Bise has taken $935 and Scott Daniels $1932.09 from the Home Builders Association of Richmond PAC, a political action committee that is funding campaigns all over the Richmond area in order to keep people on the local boards that support their industry--residential development. So, what does that tell you about where their interests lie? When we are desperately trying to rewrite our comprehensive plan to get a handle on residential growth, they are taking money from the people who profit from building as many homes in Powhatan as possible.

Are we making this up? See for yourself!

State Board of Elections Campaign Reports

Here is how the same developers are influencing the election in Chesterfield: RTD Article

If these candidates were supported by the citizens, why would they need the developers to pick up their postage to mail out flyers that say they are working for the citizens?

Why are the current Board of Supervisors allowing such high increases in tax payments?

The members on the Board of Supervisors will also tell you that they have reduced taxes and that is true, sort of. They reduced the TAX RATE but because our assessments have gone up so much, our TAX PAYMENTS have increased.

The “effective (tax) rate increase” was over 21 percent last year at 74 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value when a revenue neutral rate (no tax increase) would have been 61 cents per $100 of assessed value on real estate. Powhatan Today, March 8, 2006, p. 5B.

Why have the current Board of Supervisors not done enough for seniors on fixed incomes?

Back in the summertime when Mr. Bise was just beginning to campaign, he was quoted in the Powhatan Today saying he wanted to “consider raising Powhatan’s [tax]relief to the allowable limits, or at least study the fiscal impact of such a change.” Someone who wants to "study" the fiscal impacts of allowing those on fixed incomes to get the maximum allowable limits set by the General Assembly--limits they changed way back in the beginning of the year--certainly doesn't seem like someone who is truly interested in helping those who are in need of help the most! Scott Daniel even mentions in his campaign literature how he "fought for tax relief for the elderly and disabled." We'd like to know EXACTLY what Mr. Daniel did to fight for tax relief. Did he pressure the General Assembly to raise the limits, or did he just simply pass along what limits they had allowed? Either way, these men do not seem to be doing much "fighting" at all.

Mr. Bise also contends that his two opponents are simply copying him and that he is already working on the issues they are raising. Really? Marsell Bustos long ago promised to lobby the General Assembly in order to allow localities to cap property tax payments for those on fixed incomes. Is Mr. Bise really doing that? We'd like to see proof!

Why have the current Board of Supervisors allowed Dutoy Creek and Fighting Creek to become polluted costing the county $25,680 in fines?

For the past eight years that T.J. Bise has been on the Board of Supervisors, the county has received NUMEROUS notices of violations from the Department of Environmental Quality concerning the polluting of Dutoy and Fighting Creek.

Here is the proof:

DEQ Report on Dutoy Creek DEQ Report on Fighting Creek

As you can see for yourself, these violations have not only harmed our environment, they have cost the taxpayers over $25,000! If we don't have a handle on our wastewater treatment plants NOW, what will they be pumping out when we have increased development even more?

These are not questions that just the Democrats in Powhatan are concerned about. These are questions that ALL RESIDENTS OF POWHATAN are concerned about!

So, what are the SOLUTIONS?

We encourage you to visit http://www.marsellbustos.com/ to find out what solutions CMDR Marsell Bustos USNR (RET) has to offer.

He is one of the few candidates with true vision for the future of Powhatan. He will not just claim that he is fighting for the people of Powhatan, HE WILL FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF POWHATAN! He will fight for those who may have LITTLE LAND but have a HUGE STAKE in the future our our great county!

Don't Flatter Yourself, Mr. Bise!

The Tuesday’s copy of the Times-Dispatch gave a good overview of the candidates running for the board of supervisors in districts one and two, and Marsell C. Bustos was again the one candidate to stand out above the rest. Mr. Bustos was the only one offering REAL solutions to Powhatan’s REAL problems. Such solutions include lobbying the General Assembly to allow us to cap property taxes for the elderly and handicapped, so once their income becomes fixed, so does their tax payment (yes—the payment is fixed so increasing assessments will not increase the payment also!). The article goes on to say that Mr. Bustos wants “more control over development to allow the county’s schools, sewer, and emergency services to be positioned to handle the extra growth.” This refers to APFO’s or Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances that Marsell also plans to push for passage by the General Assembly.

All Mr. Bise had to say was that “his challengers are simply copying the things he is already doing, noting county leaders already have plans to approach the state about extending the amount of tax relief for the elderly and handicapped and are working on updating the county’s land use plan.

DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF MR. BISE!!!

If Marsell Bustos wanted to copy the things Mr. Bise is already doing, that would mean he would:

1) VOTE 100% OF THE TIME TO REZONE AGRICULTURAL LAND TO RESIDENTIAL.

2) IT WOULD ALSO MEAN TAKING MONEY ($935) FROM THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF RICHMOND PAC AND SIDING WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS IN POWHATAN, USING THE EXACT SAME PHRASES AND QUOTES THEY ARE USING

3) IT WOULD MEAN DRAGGING YOUR FEET TO INCREASE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR TAX RELIEF FOR THE ELDERLY UNTIL RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION

4) IT WOULD MEAN ALLOWING EXCESSIVE HARMFUL MATERIALS TO BE CONTINUALLY DUMPED INTO FIGHTING CREEK AND DUTOY CREEK

5) IT WOULD MEAN LETTING THE RESIDENTS OF POWHATAN DOWN BECAUSE OF WAITING TEN YEARS TO SERIOUSLY WORK ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND GIVE OUR COUNTY A FAIR CHANCE TO GENUINELY SLOW DOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PLAN SMARTER

LET ME REASSURE YOU, MARSELL C. BUSTOS DOES NOT PLAN ON COPYING MR. BISE ON THESE ISSUES WHATSOEVER.

THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW. THE LEADER QUALIFIED TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE FOR POWHATAN’S FUTURE IS MARSELL BUSTOS.

Powhatan Tomorrow Forum: Some Just Don't Get It!

Last night at the Powhatan Tomorrow candidate forum for the Board of Supervisors, the residents of Powhatan got a chance to see all 11 candidates on stage TRY to answer tough questions about Powhatan's future. Some candidates, mainly incumbents, recited the same old phrases and rhetoric that they've been saying forever, playing it safe. Some candidates offered residents a new vision, one that goes beyond "buffer zones" and "cluster development." As we all know, serious times call for serious measures, and THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES!

Marsell Bustos was one of the candidates courageous enough to bring up progressive ideas like down-zoning and TDR's (transfer of development rights). These are ideas that are often controversial because landowners fear losing their investments in land if it is zoned in a way that can never be developed into residential or commercial property. However, when down-zoning is accompanied by TDR's, studies have shown that it works. With TDR's, landowners can sell their development rights to developers who wish to build in an area where it is allowed, so the landowner is compensated for the possible loss in value to his property, but at the same time making sure that sections of the county remain GREEN and PROTECTED. Also, the developers get to build in areas designated for residential development and are allowed a little more flexibility once they purchase development rights.

Marsell Bustos also understands that under the Dillon Rule, counties are extremely limited in what they can and cannot do. But, does that mean we should give up and not try to bring change that would benefit the citizens of Powhatan?

T.J. Bise tried to point out that some candidates are making promises that they cannot deliver, because of these limitations, but if he had read Marsell's website and literature, he would have seen that Marsell talks about working with other localities that are either going through or have gone through the rapid increase in growth to LOBBY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY in order to get more power to run our own county. Just because we cannot currently CAP PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE ELDERLY, DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD JUST THROW UP OUR HANDS AND GIVE UP? Those on fixed incomes in Powhatan deserve better leadership than that. Marsell will NOT GIVE UP. Powhatan has great representation in the General Assembly because of Del. Lee Ware. Is it too much to think that Del. Ware would not actively help in trying to get Powhatan the authority it needs to provide the maximum amount of tax relief?

Another concept that Marsell will lobby the General Assembly for is APFO's (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances). What these do is allow localities to DEFER OR DELAY DEVELOPMENT UNTIL THE INFRASTRUCTURE (SCHOOLS, ROADS, SEWER AND WATER) CAN ADEQUATELY HANDLE THE INCREASE IN GROWTH. Again, should we just give up because at the moment, we don't have the power to do so? Most board members seem content to just say "Oh well" and continually vote to rezone our agricultural land to residential (Bise and Cosby 100% of the time!!)

Marsell Bustos will NEVER GIVE UP if he can FIGHT to protect our residents on fixed incomes and to protect our green spaces.

Something else that the incumbents continued to say last night was that any new, progressive ideas to curb growth would have to come from the comprehensive plan. OVER AND OVER THEY REITERATED THE FACT THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS THEIR TOOL TO DECIDE HOW THE COUNTY DEVELOPS AND THAT IF REZONING REQUESTS FOLLOW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THEN THEY MUST VOTE YES.

This being said--WHY DID THEY WAIT TEN YEARS TO ALLOW US TO UPDATE THIS TOOL IN ORDER FOR US TO SAY "NO" TO DEVELOPERS AND MAINTAIN OUR RURAL NATURE??????

This is where the current board has failed us, and ESPECIALLY the Chairman, T.J. Bise, who has been on the board for the past 8 years! With all of his "experience," why did he not demand the comprehensive plan be updated four years ago when he was re-elected?

It is time for Bise to go, and time for a real leader with true vision to take his place. One that has the courage and integrity to face the tough challenges and questions instead of trying to push it off onto the citizens, insisting that they can make the changes through the comprehensive plan. One that will say "no" to developers, but at the same time will not take "no" for an answer when the county is limited in what it can do to help its residents that need the help the most!

The choice is clear. On November 6th, the FIRST CHOICE IS BUSTOS!!!

Bise Votes 100%

Well, if you didn’t already know that the majority of the Board of Supervisors has allowed residential development to grow at an alarmingly rate, one of the Republicans running in District 3 has made it all too clear. Barry Hodge has done his homework and compiled every vote by the current board concerning rezoning requests from agricultural to residential. Not surprisingly, the data is alarming. Two board members have voted to rezone to residential 100% of the time. One of them is T. J. Bise. Now, the law of averages and logic would both dictate that there would be AT LEAST one, maybe two, or even maybe TWENTY or so rezoning requests that SHOULD BE DENIED. Somehow logic seems to escape the board member representing the citizens of District 2.

It’s time to say ENOUGH!

Marsell Bustos has the leadership skills, budgetary skills, and integrity to stop this kind of irresponsible governing. His experience as a Navy fighter pilot and his experience working on a Pentagon budget in excess of $50 billion makes him more than qualified to do the job.

However, experience is not the only thing necessary to be the right man to bring true, positive change to Powhatan County. It also takes a man who has the same vision, ideals, and values of the citizens of District 2.

Marsell owns 10 acres in a subdivision, NOT large amounts of land or land on Route 60 waiting to be developed. Marsell is a man of the people, willing to go door to door to talk to the citizens of District 2 and listen to their concerns—and not JUST LISTEN, but to act on them.

Marsell Bustos understands that just because you are on a fixed income shouldn’t mean you must sell your property or leave the county because of increasing property taxes or assessments. Why hasn’t the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors pursued MORE solutions for tax relief for the elderly and disabled? Why aren’t we lobbying the General Assembly to allow us to CAP PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED? Assessments go up every year, yet income for those who are retired and disabled do not. Marsell Bustos will push to change this and will work with other localities to pressure the General Assembly to allow localities to dictate their own tax relief.

Of course, the question is how we will make up for this loss of revenue. Marsell would push for more SOFT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT such as tourism in Powhatan. We should capitalize on our rich historical heritage and encourage tourism. People could spend their money in Powhatan while they visit without having to provide schools and other services.

Attracting more business to Powhatan would also help offset the loss in revenue and offer more job opportunities for residents in the county. Marsell would push for incentives to attract businesses and relief for small businesses in order for them to be able to afford to relocate to Powhatan.

At the same time we attract business Marsell would fight to keep Powhatan rural and green. By using cluster development and buffer zones we can ensure that Route 60 doesn’t become an extension of Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County.

Marsell will, again with other localities, pressure the General Assembly to pass APFO’s (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances) to allow Powhatan to defer or delay residential development until our infrastructure (schools, emergency services, roads) can handle the extra burden.

He will also provide assistance to residents who are seeking to place their property in conservation easements in order to help them keep our county rural and green.

So, when you go to the polls on November 6th, remember: THE FIRST CHOICE IS MARSELL BUSTOS!

Labor Day Parade of Politicians and Marsell Bustos is Right in the Middle!

Once again, the Village of Powhatan was the gathering place of many citizens on Monday for the annual Labor Day Parade, and, once again, the Powhatan Democrats made our presence known with a booth on the Courthouse lawn. This year, however, was extra special in the fact we could showcase our rising star and Democratic candidate for the District 2 seat on the Board of Supervisors, CMDR Marsell Bustos USNR (Ret).

You certainly couldn’t miss Marsell, along with his wife Tina and daughters Christina and Savannah, as they cruised down the parade route in a vintage army jeep. Afterwards, Marsell walked through the crowd, talking to as many people as possible, listening to their concerns with the current board.

There were several candidates there representing the many positions that are being contested. Although, the ONLY candidate currently on the board who was NOT present was T.J. Bise, the incumbent for District 2. Many were perplexed as to why Mr. Bise would miss such a great opportunity to interact with the citizens of Powhatan. Perhaps, as the incumbent and not having an opponent last time, Bise is so confident in his re-election that he did not feel it necessary to attend the Labor Day Parade. Perhaps he was too busy. Perhaps, he had a very good personal reason that he could not make it, and in that case, Marsell certainly hopes that Mr. Bise and his family are well. Still, one would think that there would be SOMEONE to represent the Bise campaign or at least put out a sign or two, but again, there were no signs of Bise at all.

If you couldn’t make it and still want to meet Marsell Bustos and personally hear his vision of the way Powhatan needs to be governed, instead of the same old status quo where residential development is allowed to grow wherever the developers wish, and the need for updating the Comprehensive Plan has been ignored for MANY, MANY years, he is walking through the neighborhoods of Distict 2, house by house, to reach out to the citizens of that district and offer them his new vision of change.

There are also a few "Meet the Candidates" nights scheduled for October and we encourage you to see for yourself why Marsell Bustos is the best candidate for the job!

Wednesday, Oct. 17th Powhatan Tomorrow will host a candidate forum at 7:00 pm at the Powhatan County Village Building.

Saturday, Oct. 20th Fine Creek Fire Station (Judes Ferry Road and Huguenot Trail) will host a community meeting at 12 noon.

Tuesday, Oct. 23rd the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum at the Powhatan High School auditorium at 7 pm.

Hope to see you there!