BVDC Calendar for March

March is here!

It is time to check your voter registration if you have changed addresses or need to update any of your voter registration information. You can check or update your information, find out who is on the ballot, and get lots more information about elections at Virginia Department of Elections. We have three elections this year, two elections before the big one in November. Those elections are important, so be sure they are on your calendar!

• Local election on May 1, 2018, with three seats on City Council and 3 seats on the School Board open. April 9, 2018, is the deadline to register to vote in the Local Election.
  
• Primary election on June 12, 2018. May 21, 2018 is the deadline to register to vote in the Primary. The primary is the election in which Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates for the November General Election. Democrats have two people on the ballot in the primary, Anthony Flaccavento and Justin Santopietro. The winner will be on the ballot for the Virginia Ninth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives currently held by Morgan Griffith. You can find these folks on Facebook, or meet them personally at two more forums, March 24 (Martinsville, Carmen Forman moderator), and April 21 (Wytheville, David Bailey moderator). In addition, there are many events scattered around the district, as Justin and Anthony are both working very hard to meet you. Visit their websites and take a look at their calendars to find an event near you. Here is their contact information on line:
  • Anthony Flaccavento Make a donation or volunteer here. Anthony has visited the Bristol Virginia committee, and has scheduled an open house for his campaign HQ in Abingdon on Tuesday, March 6th, at 188 E. Main, across from the Washington County Courthouse. Open House is scheduled from 11am-1 pm and 5pm-7pm. For more information, visit the link above or call (276) 781-6742. You are all invited to the Open House!
  • Justin Santopietro Make a donation or volunteer here. Justin will be present at our next meeting of the Bristol Virginia Committee, Monday, March 12 at 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland St., in Bristol, VA. You are invited to attend and bring your friends who are voters in the Virginia 9th District.

New in our Virginia 9th District: Highlands Democratic Resource Center, 407 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA, 24210. Open House for the new Resource Center is March 11, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., hosted by Washington County Virginia Democrats and Scott County Democratic Party. You are invited!

 

Keep up with our Tennessee friends, their candidates and elections: the Democrat Resource Center, 2700 South Roan Street, Suite 440, Johnson City, TN 37601, 423-282-2081. The Tennessee DRC is open five days a week from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.

 

Here are our regular Bristol events for March 2018:

• Monday, March 12: Committee Meeting at 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland St., in Bristol, VA. Bristol VA Democrats are encouraged to attend, even if you are not members. Agenda: At this meeting Justin Santopietro speak and respond to questions. If you have not met Justin, please come out and get to know him. His name will be on the ballot in the Democratic Primary, June 12, 2018.  New agenda items may be added before the meeting date..
• Saturday, March 17: Breakfast with Democrats, at 9:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral, Exit 7 in Bristol, Virginia. Good food, great conversation, no agenda, guests welcome. Attendees pay separately for breakfast. Check the Facebook page near the date to see if there will be special guests.
• Monday, March 19: TN-VA Democratic Social at around 5:00 p.m. at the State Line Bar and Grille, 644 E. State St., Bristol, TN, 37620. This is an informal meeting of Democrats, Progressives, Liberals, and our political friends and cousins. Attendees order and pay for food and/or drinks individually, but the conversation is free.

Come out and join us in March!

Calendar for November

The election is just days away! If you can’t be at the polls on Tuesday Nov. 7, there is still time to vote in person absentee. In Bristol, to vote in person absentee you need to show up at the City Hall on Lee Street, stop at the Registrar’s window, and certify that you meet one of the 20 or so reasons that you must be absent on Election Day. Your vote for our candidates in this election is critical, and I hope everyone receiving this e-mail will vote, and call your friends to be sure they do not forget to vote.

Thank you to folks who have volunteered to work at the polls as Officers of Election, campaign support for candidates outside the polls, and providing rides to the polls.

Bristol folks and people from surrounding areas are invited to a Covered Dish Swing Through Dinner hosted by the Washington County Democratic Committee on Saturday November 4th at 5:00 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia 4-H Center on Hillman Highway in Abingdon. Admission is free, just bring a tasty dish to share. Candidates and There will be guest speakers, bluegrass and country music from local musicians and friends of Heartwood. Washington County constitutional officers and Candidate Joel Harte will be there.

State and Local Democrats on the Nov. 7 ballot in Bristol, Virginia:

• Ralph S. Northam for Governor of Virginia
• Justin E. Fairfax for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
• Mark R. Herring for Attorney General of Virginia
• Cloe Eva Barker for Bristol Commissioner of Revenue
• Joe R. Mink for Bristol Sheriff

Our scheduled meetings in November:

• Saturday November 4: Covered Dish Swing Through in Abingdon, as described above.
• Thursday, November 9: Washington County Democratic Committee Meeting at 6 p.m. at The Southwest Virginia 4H Center, 25236 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210. More information is on their website at www:WashCoVADems.org
• Monday, November 13: BVDC Committee Meeting at 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland St., in Bristol, VA. This is an important planning meeting, and we will need voting members to be present.
• Saturday, November 18: Breakfast with Democrats, at 9:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral, Exit 7 in Bristol, Virginia. Good food, great conversation, no agenda, guests welcome. Attendees pay separately for breakfast.
• Monday, November 20: TN-VA Democratic Social at around 5:00 p.m. at the State Line Bar and Grille, 644 E. State St., Bristol, TN, 37620. This is an informal meeting of Democrats, Progressives, Liberals, and our political friends and cousins. Attendees order and pay for food and drinks individually, but the conversation is free.

Hope to see you in November, especially on Election Day November 7, 2017.

Caucus cancelled, nominees announced

The Nominating Caucus scheduled for May 18th at 6:30 p.m. has been cancelled. Our candidates for nomination at the deadline for filing with us at 4:00 today have been named our Nominees. We are happy to announce the nomination of Cloe Eva Barker for Commissioner of the Revenue, and Joe R. Mink for Sheriff. Our candidates will be on the ballot November 7, 2017, and we encourage Bristol residents to come out and vote for them! We will have more information about them posted soon!

Here is our calendar for May!

Here is our calendar for May. Lots of work to do, so make this the month that you come out to one of our events and say hello!

Our regular meetings this month:

• May 8 – Our Committee Meeting, Monday May 8th, at 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland St., in Bristol, VA. We will have information about the Nominating Caucus for the Nov. 7, 2017 election.  Folks interested in runningfor Constitutional Offices and voting members please attend!
• May 15 – The TN-VA Democratic Social is at the State Line Bar and Grille in downtown Bristol Monday, May 15th, at around 5:00 p.m. This is an informal social gathering of Democrats and friends from Bristol and Sullivan County TN and Bristol VA and the surrounding area.
• May 20 – Our breakfast is Saturday, May 20th at 9:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral, Exit 7 in Bristol. Good conversation, no agenda. Attendees pay separately for breakfast, and join us in the reserved meeting room. Tell the cashier that you are with the Democrats for directions to the meeting space.

Special this month: Caucus for nomination of candidates for Constitutional Offices in Bristol that are on the ballot for the November 7, 2017 General Election. These include Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Treasurer, and Commissioner of the Revenue.

• May 17 – Deadline at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, for turning in Candidate forms for the Nominating Caucus on Thursday, May 18. Instructions for submission of this form are available using the Call to Caucus tab on the menu above.
• May 18 – Nominating Caucus Thursday, May 18th, 2017 – All Democrats registered to vote in the City of Bristol, VA, are invited to attend the Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee Caucus at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for registration and close promptly at 7:00 p.m. Persons in line to register at 7:00 p.m. will be admitted for registration, and the Caucus will assemble when registrations are completed.
• More information along with Participant and Candidate for Nomination forms are available using the Call to Caucus tab.

Also Special this month: Absentee voting has already begun for the June 13th Primary Election.

We need to select our candidate for Governor and Lt. Governor, so this is important! Stop by the Registrar’s Office (City Hall, on Lee Street) and vote if you are not going to be here in Bristol to vote on June 13th. Hope that you are following the candidates and making a decision about the Primary. If there is any part of the process that you have questions about, or if you need information on the candidates, contact us!

Dates for the Primary:

• Ongoing through May – Absentee Voting for the June Primary. If you will be unable to come to the polls on Primary Day June 13th, stop by the Registrar’s Office at City Hall, 300 Lee Street, Bristol, VA., and complete an application to vote absentee. Make sure your vote is counted.
• May 22 – Close of registration for the Primary. If you want to vote in the June Primary, your registration must be received by the Registrar, or postmarked if sent by mail, by close of business at 5:00 p.m. on May 22.
• June 6 – Deadline to request a mail absentee ballot. The Absentee application must be received by the Registrar by closing at 5:00 p.m. on June 6.
• June 10 – Last day to vote absentee in-person at the Registrar’s Office in Bristol. The office will be open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• June 13 – Primary Day! Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hope to see all members at the May Committee meeting, and many more friends and supporters at Breakfast and at the Social!

Kelly Kept!

Kelly Flannagan Duffy held on to the Clerk’s position in Bristol Virginia by hard work and a clean campaign that challenged voters to look beyond partisan interests to the actual important functions of her office. Visit her web page at http://duffyforclerk.ruck.us/ to review her campaign and take another look at the information she has shared about what the Circuit Court Clerk does. Congratulations to Kelly Duffy and her great campaign team!

Find your polling place and vote

by Sarah Williams

Where do I go to vote?

Who should I vote for? Hopefully you have done your homework and understand the ballot! Here in Bristol I am recommending:

• U.S. Senate – Senator Mark R. Warner, who will be with us at the Washington County Potluck, Saturday Nov. 1, at 5:00 p.m.! Come to Abingdon High School, 601-727 Thompson Drive in Abingdon, bring food, eat with us, cheer our Senator on, and vote for him on Nov. 4th.
• House of Representatives – I can usually choose a candidate, but in this race there is nobody that I consider a good representative of the Ninth District. Griffith has not continued the initiatives that Rick Boucher had going for us, he did not take care of Glade after the tornado, and he has not looked after the interest of the Ninth in jobs, infrastructure, and health care. Carr has nothing to run on except that he thinks that Griffith is too liberal and not as dedicated to the extreme right social agenda. So I might just write in Rick Boucher, as I have heard other Democrats are doing. And I will set aside money from my Christmas fund to support a Democrat to run in two years. Step up, folks! We need someone to continue the Boucher tradition of service in the Ninth.
• Proposed Constitutional Amendment – Yes. Of course yes.
• Clerk of Court – Kelly Flannagan Duffy for reasons too numerous to mention. If you have been paying attention, you know the reasons already. If not, check out the link. Or you can come tonight at 7:00 p.m. to the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, 20 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol TN, and meet Kelly in person. Actually, do both. This is important.

And that is the whole ballot, folks! November 4, 2014. Make a difference – do your homework and vote!

Request a yard sign!

No doubt you have seen yard signs springing up in your neighborhood, and now is the time to support your candidate for election November 4, 2014. Yard signs help with name recognition and show your support for your candidate.

Kelly Flannagan Duffy is Bristol’s own candidate for Circuit Court Clerk, and will be on the ballot in Bristol only.  We hope that many Bristol Virginia voters will show their support for Kelly with a sign in their yard, and we will come out and place one for you upon your request. 

Senator Mark Warner is seeking re-election, and will be on the ballot throughout the Commonwealth. We have three different signs for him, and will distribute these as long as we have them.

To have one of these signs placed in your yard in Bristol, Virginia, contact The Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee.

We will place both Duffy and Warner signs for Bristol residents. If you are a Virginia voter near Bristol but not a Bristol resident, you may pick up a Mark Warner sign as long as we have them. We expect that they will all be claimed soon! If you have a particular favorite of the three designs, get your request in quickly!

Cancellation: Democratic Call to Caucus, City of Bristol Virginia

Cancellation: The stated deadline today Friday April 26, 2013, at noon having passed, and no additional candidates having appeared to necessitate a caucus, the Nominating Caucus scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2013, is hereby cancelled.

Please note that the May 6 Delegate Selection Caucus scheduled for May 6, 2013, is still in effect.
______________

This Call is cancelled: Whereas the terms of Constitutional Officers of the City of Bristol, Virginia, including Commonwealth’s Attorney, Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, and Treasurer expire with the coming year, and Whereas the Bristol, Virginia, Democratic Committee may nominate Democratic candidates for said offices:

The Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee will hold an assembled caucus beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2013, at the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Virginia, for the sole purpose of choosing nominee(s) for said offices. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and close promptly at 7:00 p.m., and no person may complete a form or enter the caucus after 7:00 p.m. with the exception of those persons in line to register at 7:00 p.m.

Any person attending the caucus, before participating in the caucus, shall sign a standardized declaration form. The declaration form must be filled out at the caucus location prior to voting, and includes an affirmation that the person attending:

• is a resident of Bristol Virginia and registered to vote in Bristol Virginia,
• does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to the Democratic nominee in the next ensuing general election,
• is a Democrat,
• is not a member of any other political party, and
• has not participated in and will not participate in the nominating process of any other political party for the 2013 general election.

Any person seeking election as the Democratic nominee for any of the said offices must pre-file a Declaration of Candidacy for Democratic Nomination form with Sarah Williams, Chair of the Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee, prior to 12:00 noon on Friday, April 26, 2013. No late forms will be accepted, and no person who has failed to comply with any pre-filing requirement may be considered for nomination. Pre-filing forms are available from Sarah Williams, 423-366-9968, and may be completed and filed during the turn-in hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 710 Piedmont Avenue in Bristol, Virginia, or earlier by appointment. Candidates elected as nominees must comply with all filing requirements of the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Should no more than one Declaration of Candidacy be filed for each open office, those individuals may be declared the nominee(s), and the Chair may cancel the caucus. For further information or to turn in pre-filing forms, please contact Sarah Williams at 423-366-9968.

• Paid for and Authorized by the Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee, April 15, 2013
• This Call to Caucus remains in effect until duly cancelled or convened as provided in the Call.

Voter Registration

If you are concerned about voter registration in Bristol, Virginia, remember that you can verify your own registration and insure that everything goes smoothly on election day! The voter registration site has lots of information that you can use — dates of elections, forms and instructions for registration, etc., everything you will need. This year the Republican Presidential Primary is on March 6th, local elections for City Council and School Board will be on May 1, the House of Representatives/ U.S. Senate primary is tentatively scheduled for June 12, and the Presidential Election in which we will be voting for President, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate will be on November 6th. Verify these dates on the voter registration site, put them on your calendar, and be sure you are ready to vote!

You must be registered to participate in these important events.

Look for our local City Council and School Board races to gear up soon. There will be lots of information in the news in Bristol, comments on this page, and announced opportunities to meet the candidates. These folks are our friends and neighbors, and we will be counting on those we elect to take care of our city and our schools, so become involved, get to know the candidates, and vote in the local elections on May 1, 2012.

Notice of City of Bristol Virginia Democratic Caucus

The Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee hereby announces that it will hold an assembled caucus on Monday, December 12, 2011 in the first floor courtroom of the Bristol Virginia Courthouse, 497 Cumberland Street, Bristol, Virginia for the purpose of electing members to the Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee. Doors to the caucus will open at 6:00 p.m. for check-in and close at 6:30 p.m.

Any person attending the caucus, before participating in that caucus, shall sign a standardized Caucus Participation Form stating that he or she is a Democrat, believes in the principles of the Democratic Party, does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in the ensuing general election, and is a registered voter in the City of Bristol, Virginia. Caucus Participation Forms must be filled out at the caucus prior to voting. Doors to the caucus will be closed at 6:30 p.m., and no person may complete a form or enter the caucus after that time with the exception of those persons in line at the above mentioned time.

For further information, please contact Chair, Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee, P. O. Box 17452, Bristol, VA 24209 or send a message using our Contacts tab above. A meeting to elect officers will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011, at the same location, immediately following the caucus.– Political Advertisement Paid for and Authorized by the Bristol Virginia Democratic Committee