In the battle for RK's endorsement there are three choices:
  1. Johnny S. Joannou (incumbent)
  2. Henry Light (challenger)
  3. No Endorsement

If you choose one of the two candidates you are saying that you'd like the Raising Kaine Community to take sides and endorse that candidate. 

If you are not sure or would prefer that RK not endorse either candidate, please select "No Endorsement".  A "No Endorsement" is not an abstention - it is a vote for the RK Community NOT to take sides in this primary.  If you want to abstain, don't vote.

When the poll closes the option with the most votes becomes the "community vote".

Here are a few links that you may find helpful for this vote:
RK: Our invitation to Del. Joannou, returned to sender
RK: RK's First Endorsement Question: Joannou or Light?

Joannou's Richmond Sunlight page
Joannou's Virginia Public Access Project page

Light's Campaign Website
Light's Virginia Public Access Project page

There are a number of other diary posts on RK that discuss Joannou and/or Light.  We highly recommend that you use the "Search" box (also on the left side bar) to find out more information about these two candidates before voting.

The rules are simple:
1. To vote you must have a Raising Kaine account
2. One vote per person... NO FREEPING (To slew or cheat an online poll by repeatedly voting (clearing cookies, using proxies))

Our blog software, soapblox, will not allow more than one vote per account so the one vote per person rule will be automatically enforced.  Right?  Not Exactly.  The internet savvy will realize that there is a loophole - an individual can create more than one account and therefore freep the poll.  In fact, there a few RK users who already have more than one account.  Creating extra accounts to freep the poll is not allowed and will not be tolerated.  I'm not going to go into details about how we will police this activity, but we have the means and will be policing it.  If you are caught freeping ALL of your votes will be thrown out - even your one allowed vote - and you may be excluded from future votes as well.

Yeah, me!

And normally don't demand loyalty to the Governor's plan.  But Republicans are merely stonewalling any of the Governor's initiatives simply to prevent another Mark Warner.

With all respect to Delegate Joannou, I have to endorse Henry Light.

on these two candidates, my decision became an easy one. Henry Light is a far better choice to represent this district.

It's not about who is more left-of-center. Albert Pollard, the Senate candidate from my home district, does clash with me in some areas. But he's a great fit for the Fightin' 28th.

Joannou is used by the Republicans to stop us from having any meaningful input on conference committees.  Why are we giving up a precious vote to a DINO?

An incumbent challenge is so Republican. Let's keep our eyes on the ball folks.

Mr. Joannou gave up his right to be seriously considered by Democratic primary voters a long time ago.  He should switch parties and ask voters to re-elect him as the Republican his voting record shows he has become.  Or he should retire and make way for someone who will represent the mainstream values of the voters whol send him to Richmond.  Henry Light is my choice for the future.

However, this is a solid blue district.  There is little chance of GOP takeover here.  A Joannou, though a Democrat, has shown himself to be a serious thorn in the side of most of Kaine's transpotation plans.

Independence schmindependence.  Joannou is the GOP's most useful tool to stand against progress on the many issues facing the district, from traffic congestion to public safety.  It's time for a fresh start. 

Eric, one thing I would like you to change.  You said:  "If you are not sure or you think both candidates are well qualified, please select "No Endorsement"."

This isn't about being qualified- clearly if one of the candidates was not "qualified" they wouldn't get any votes.  It's about who people want to represent them in the General Assembly.

I hate the word "qualified" because it makes these campaigns into some kind of warped "Lifetime Achievement Award".  If your candidate is qualified but can't vote correctly buy them a gold watch and retire them.

So I would hope you would use a different word there.

Also, question for Lowell.  Can it please be an announced policy that how people vote in these polls will be kept TOTALLY confidential.  I'd like to know who on RK can see how individuals vote- and whether that is protected from "gossip" before I cast a vote.

Otherwise, great job and I am glad RK is doing this.

I've tweaked the offending sentence to be more direct and avoid the "qualified" issue altogether.  I think everyone will know what we're getting at now.  And if anyone isn't sure feel free to ask.

As for your question: right now there are only two of us who have the login info to the database - Lowell and I.  And one of us doesn't know much SQL so he won't be digging around the data.  Which leaves me - and I will only be monitoring the data for freepers. 

And if we didn't make it clear before, non-disclosure of individual's votes is RK policy.  We will not be gossiping about who voted for what.

That's great for people to know, I trust you with that data.

...that 6 people have voted for Joannou so far.

Is there any reason in the known world why someone, other than a Republican, would vote for Joannou?

But he did vote for the smoking ban in restuarants- the most important issue facing Virginia during the veto session.

Light also supports this ban, so its a wash, but let's not personally attack people who voted the right way on this issue.

Come on, Ben.  Johnny has been a thorn in the side of many issues the Governor has advocated.  Just because he voted the way you like on the smoking ban doesn't mean the other things should be ignored.

There are lots of reasons to support Light. He appears to be a true blue Democrat, and I think he'd be an asset to the party.

Meanwhile, there's one outstanding reason (among so many reasons) to reject Little Johnny: His zealous vote in favor of the vicious Marshall-Newman amendment can best be objected to by voting against the man who enthusiastically voted -- twice -- to diminish the civil rights of thousands of Virginians.

Light!

(Oh, and I'm in this district, so I'll actually be able to cast a vote for Light. But wherever you live, consider contributing to his campaign to help get out the word and thereby help reduce Little Johnny's incumbent advantage.)

For Johnny to Go.  He isnt a Democrat - hasnt voted like a Democrat probably ever and when votes are going to be close in the House - would you rather have a REAL Democrat voting with us, or the DINO Johnny J. voting against us?