Fifth CD Dinner

By: Kathy Gerber
Published On: 4/13/2007 12:42:44 PM


Southside southside - gonna start this party off right.  - Kanye

Last night the 5th CD held its annual dinner at the Institue of Advanced Learning and Research down in Danville. A bus went down from Charlottesville stopping to pick up folks in Lovingston, and as I understand it, everyone had a really good time.

The host committee did a wonderful job, and the turnout was amazing for a week night.  So much was happening that I'm certain to neglect something or someone important, so apologies in advance, and fair warning that I had about 2 hours sleep the preceding night.  Energy was high, and the mood was just a wee bit more contemplative than one would expect at such an event.

[cross posted to democraticcentral.com]
Here are a couple of photos from last night -






Lawrence Campbell led the opening prayer, and we heard from Tim Franklin, the executive director of the institute.  Fred Hudson was MC, Jim Turpin introduced Adam Tomer, and speakers  Creigh Deeds, Ward Armstrong, David Toscano, Roscoe Reynolds and Mark Warner followed.

 Listen, Democrats.  These were excellent speakers and every single one of them was "on" last night.  Mark Warner's global vision and realism were impressive.

But we have a problem.  A problem called diversity and inclusion. Putting together a speakers list for an event like this would be a great place to start working on this.


 Let's see.  Connie Brennan is running in the 59th, Eric Ferguson in the 9th, Adam Tomer in the 14th, and David Shreve is running for Congress.  I know I'm forgetting someone!


I enjoyed meeting David Toscano and Lloyd and Michael Snook. Michael will be graduating from UVA in May.  Congratulations, Michael (whose photo I didn't get)!

No new photos, but Jennifer McKeever is running for City Council in Charlottesville.  We sat with her at the last 5th CD dinner, and wow, that seems like a lifetime ago in a parallel universe.  That was the dinner where Steve Jarding stood in for Jim Webb.

RK bloggers Gordie and Commonsense were busy making trouble, and Joe Stanley was behaving.  Really.


Fred Hudson and Chapin and Janice Wilson.

More coming up in our area..


Saturday, April 21, Nelson County Democrats will host a dinner honoring the contributions of Bernie McGinnis.

The Nelson County Times featured Bernie on the front page this week.

Bernard L. McGinnis is an avid Democrat, lover of history, a Hokie through-and-through and booster of his native Nelson County, among other things. He will be honored on the evening of April 21 at the Nelson Heritage Center.

Erin McGrath of the Nelson County Times caught up with the busy man recently. An edited transcript of their conversation follows.

Click the link above for the rest of the article.  For tickets visit http://nelsondems.org/ or get in touch with me.  I don't know what's on the menu, but the food at the Heritage Center never disappoints.  If you're planning a spring hike or bike trip out this way, join us for a fun evening.


I'm Running!!!!!

That's right.  This Saturday April 14  - OMG that's tomorrow - is the Piney River Mini Triathlon.  I challenge one and all to come out and kick my butt if you think you can.  Seriously, this is an event that

  You. Can. Not. Lose.

Because I am certain that I will be dead last since I haven't been working out at all.  This should be fun.


Democrats Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Will Headline Camp Jeep 2007 - July 26

McGraw and Hill will play for Camp Jeep 2007 at Oakridge here in Nelson. Way ahead of the event but something to think about. During McGraw's Camp Jeep performance, the Grammy-award winning country artist will play some of his number one hits, including "Live like You Were Dying," and "Real Good Man," and his recently released single "Last Dollar" from his new album "Let It Go."


Nelson County Democrats Highway Cleanup - April 28

On Saturday April 28, Nelson County Democrats will meet at the boat landing by the James River on Highway 60 to clean up a stretch of highway.  We'll be meeting at 9:30 a.m. and working until around noon.  If you are interested in participating, please let me know at kath@skatha.net

Comments



thanks for the update (martha - 4/13/2007 2:40:41 PM)
Many of us in Lynchburg attended the 5th CD dinner last year in hopes of hearing Jim Webb ( his father-in-law had passed away and he did not attend). Instead we were all impressed by the speech given for Webb by Steve Jarding.Jarding is a treasure!
Wish I could have attended this year.
I live in the 6th CD and tomorrow Sam Rasoul will formally announce he is running against Bob Goodlatte. There may be another person who enters the race for the Democratic nomination but that is yet to be determined.
Stay tuned.


(Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/13/2007 4:19:03 PM)
We NEED someone else to enter the race for 6th CD if we have any hopes of making Goodlatte earn his dinner. Rasoul, while a nice young man, has 0 chance at even making it in the mid 20%'s.


Yes Kathy (Gordie - 4/13/2007 3:54:52 PM)
There were 4 candidates in the 5 who are running for delegate, but I am terrible with names.

David Shreve will be running against Virgil in '08. Talked with him on the bus. A West Virginia native, whose mother was from VA with an accent, but since she was a school teacher and always asked about it she decided to get rid of the accent and made sure the children did not have one.

But being a West Virginian may be part of the trick we need to get rid of "V".



I HATE to sound so negative... (Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/13/2007 4:29:10 PM)
...but Shreve also has no chance. A professor at a university that is viewed as very liberal, in a city viewed as far left, with absolutely no political experience , will not resonate well outside of that area. He honestly has as much of a chance as Al Weed, and Virgil will absolutely cook him in a cauldron. Goode has a lock on the culture of the 5th CD, which explains why he was just as popular as a Democrat as he is now as a Flat Earth Repub.

What I want to know is what happened to Brydon Jackson? Was he not at the 5th CD dinner? He's the Chatham businessman and Iraq War veteran who announced awhile back he'd seek the Democratic nomination. With this district, he'd be the best dog in the fight!



A little about Brydon Jackson (Ghost of A.L. Philpott - 4/13/2007 4:31:26 PM)
http://www.thehook.n...


sam rasoul (martha - 4/13/2007 6:32:14 PM)
He has a lot to learn, granted. At least he's trying and NO THANKS to David Layman, 6th CD Dem Chair. Nice guy... but he needs to work harder to find better candidates!


What a great District Committee! (soccerdem - 4/13/2007 6:37:25 PM)
I'm so envious.  I live in the 1st District and we don't hear "diddly" from the 1st District Committee. 

What gives in the 1st??



Your CD (Kathy Gerber - 4/14/2007 8:46:33 PM)
soccerdem - at least occasional district wide events are a great idea because you get to meet your neighbors. And if you all do get something going I hope you diary it.

I think what happens in rural areas is that there's less opportunity to network informally so these things are pretty important.  Like Martha mentioned there's a fair amount of cross-district activity as well.



Follow-up (Kathy Gerber - 4/14/2007 9:01:07 PM)
As promised I came in dead last in the triathlon but this is an excellent incentive to work out more :)  It was great to see two familiar faces from Nelson County Democrats among the volunteers who helped make this happen.  And thanks to Nelson County Parks and Recreation for putting this on.  It was lots of fun except for the getting wet part... way too cold for that.

Anyway, a runaway dog came over and pooped on our porch, I stepped in it and almost broke my neck.  Only when I called his owner did I find out that it is a *Republican* dog who belongs to the guy with his back turned in this picture.