June 13, 2023: Campaign finance reports in for candidates in Albemarle, Charlottesville
Plus: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department offering free meals this summer to those in need
Is the number 13 unlucky to you? Not if you’re a baker perhaps. We’ve arrived at June 13, which is roughly 45 percent of the way through the year. How has this year been for you? Too hard? Too soft? Or just right? Either way, this is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and occasional podcast that seeks to inform about all manner of items. Today’s edition is a catch-up of sorts. I’m Sean Tubbs.
In today’s edition:
The Virginia Public Access Project has compiled the last campaign finance numbers
Both campaigns for at-large seat on Albemarle School Board raise five digit amounts
Charlottesville has a new city attorney
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation are providing free meals to those in need all summer long
First shout-out: Paddles with a Purpose
In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out, the Rivanna Conservation Alliance keeps an eye on the health of the Rivanna River which from time to time involves getting in the water to clean up litter and trash. If you have your own boat, you can get involved, too! On June 15, the RCA will hold another Paddles with a Purpose event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The paddle will begin at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and end at Riverview Park. The 1.5-mile paddle can vary in time but is intended to conclude at 8pm or before sunset, whichever is first.
This paddle will be self-supported, meaning that you are responsible for shuttling your boat and yourself. The section is rated as beginner-friendly with one Class I rapid. Sign up on the Rivanna Conservation Alliance website!
Campaign finance reports for local offices
There is one week to go until party primaries. Midnight was the deadline for candidates seeking office in Virginia to file their latest campaign finance reports. The Virginia Public Access Project has compiled the latest reports for activity between April 1 and June 8. Today I’ll cover races in Albemarle and Charlottesville and will have the General Assembly races tomorrow.
Challenger Fadeley outraises incumbent LaPisto-Kirtley in Rivanna district
There are no contested primaries in Albemarle County, but two of the magisterial districts in Albemarle County will have contested races in November.
In the Rivanna District, incumbent Bea LaPisto-Kirtley raised $800 from three people during the period and spent $381 to wind up with a balance of $8,253.
Independent T.J. Fadeley is seeking to win the seat. He began the period with $1,140 and raised $4,500. He had ten donations higher than $100. Fadeley spent $2,853 to end with a balance of $2,786.
School Board member Judy Le is currently unopposed in the district as she seeks a second term. She raised $500 and spent $38 to end up with a balance of $461.
Rykal technically outraises Mallek in White Hall District with large in-kind contribution
Incumbent Ann Mallek is seeking a fifth term and had $17,640 in the bank on April 1. She raised $7,385 in the period with 13 contributions over $100 including one $1,000 donation from former Jack Jouett Supervisor Dennis Rooker. Mallek spent $6,560 to end with a balance of $18,464.
Independent challenger Brad Rykal began the period with a balance of $1,704. During the period his campaign raised $2,225 in cash and received $6,000 in an in-kind contribution from Autumn Hill Advisors LLC. According to the State Corporation Committee, that is an entity registered to Eric Schmitz of Crozet.
“Goods or services offered free or at less than the usual charge result in an in-kind contribution,” reads a definition on the website of the Federal Election Commission. “Similarly, when a person or entity pays for services on the committee’s behalf, the payment is an in-kind contribution.”
Rykal spent $545 in the period to end with a balance of $3,384.
There is a contested race for School Board in the White Hall District. Rebecca Berlin was appointed to the position last year to replace David Oberg. She raised $1,800 in cash and received a $100 loan. She spent no money to have a balance of $1,900 in June 9.
Challenger Joann McDermid had a balance of $4,369 on April 1 and raised $4,506 in cash during the period. That includes ten contributions of more than $100. McDermid’s campaign spent $3,670 during the period including $2,623 in consulting fees to Rob Schilling, a former Charlottesville City Councilor and talk show host on NewsRadio WINA. McDermid had a balance of $3,670 on June 8, 2023.
Pruitt still lone candidate in Scottsville District
Democrat Michael Pruitt began the period with $4,603 and raised $350 in the period. He spent $12. He does not face any opposition despite a well-publicized campaign from an internet video personality with an intense emotional attachment to Charlottesville.
Independent candidates have until June 20 to qualify for the ballot.
School Board Member Ellen Osborne is seeking a second term. She began the period with $855 and raised $124.
Bryce outraises Spillman in Albemarle’s at-large School Board race
Albemarle’s School Board has an at-large member, unlike the Board of Supervisors. The seat is open this year.
Meg Bryce, the daughter of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, began the period with $17,204 on hand. She raised $17,065 including 33 contributions over $100. Bryce spent $6,552 to have $27,717 on hand.
The other candidate in the race so far, Allison Spillman, had $1,250 on hand on April 1. She raised $11,892 including $327 in in-kind contributions and had 20 contributions of over $100. Spillman reported $2,942 in cash spent and ended up with $9,872.
Oschrin, Payne lead Council candidates in total fundraising
There are five candidates seeking Democratic nominations for the three slots on the Charlottesville City Council.
Newcomer Natalie Oschrin began the period with $735 and raised a total of $29,941 in the period from a variety of sources. That includes $11,675 in contributions of more than $100, $3,660 in 64 contributions of less than $100, $1,000 in in-kind contributions from two photographers, and $13,156 in loans from family members and her own funds. Oschrin spent $5,621 in cash. She had $23,605 on-hand.
Incumbent Michael Payne began the nine-week period with $3,598. He received $22,051 from various sources including $1,238 in a loan to himself on April 21 that was repaid on June 7. He also received $18,475 in 13 contributions more than $100, $2,145 in contributions less than $100, and $193 in in-kind contributions.
Notable contributions include $10,000 from Marcia Geyer and $5,000 from the Stony Point Development Group. That’s the development firm behind Dairy Market.
Payne spent $9,179 in itemized expenses and had a balance of $15,038 on June 8, 2023.
Incumbent Lloyd Snook began the period with $8,180 and raised $6,150 during the period including four contributions over $100. One of those is $5,000 from author John Grisham. The Snook campaign spent $7,897 during the period.
Challenger Dashad Cooper had $4,356 that was transferred over from his bid for the House District 54 seat. He raised $3,750 in cash from April 1 to June 8 and spent $4,456. That leaves Cooper with a balance of $3,650.
Former City Councilor Bob Fenwick did not file an electronic copy. He reported no campaign activity in the past period.
More on the Charlottesville School Board tomorrow.
Second shout-out: Charlottesville Community Bikes
In this second subscriber supported shout-out, Charlottesville Community Bikes believes that bicycles can be a means to social change, addressing issues of equity, access, and inclusion. They provide free bikes to adults who need one, and have a special program that provides free bikes to children. Want to learn more or support their work? Visit charlottesvillecommunitybikes.org to learn more.
Stroman takes over as Charlottesville City Attorney
Charlottesville City Council has agreed to Interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers’ choice for the city’s top legal official.
Jacob Stroman will be the next city attorney. His most recent position was in the equivalent position in the City of Chesapeake.
“We’ve consented that this was the best candidate that emerged after a very competitive process,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the city charter requires Council to consent to the hiring of the city attorney.
“I thought it was a very good process and we had some excellent candidates to apply and I think it puts the city in a good light that we had so many qualified applicants to apply and it was a difficult choice,” said Vice Mayor Juandiego Wade.
Stroman replaces Lisa Robertson. Robertson resigned suddenly last December after serving in the position for less than two years after succeeding John Blair. Blair had been interim city manager and left Charlottesville to work for the City of Staunton.
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation offering summer meals
There are many government programs that seek to provide resources to those who need them. One of them is the Summer Food Service Program offered by the United States Department of Agriculture.
“USDA reimburses program operators who serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas,” reads the website for the program.
The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department is a local provider in the program.
“Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability or age, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service,” reads the city’s website.
The food will be distributed at four locations.
Sites & Dinner:
Greenstone on 5th Community Center: M, W, F 4:30 – 6:30pm
Friendship Court Community Center: M, W, F 4:30 – 6:30pm
South 1st Street Community Center: M, T, W, F 4:30 – 6:30pm
Westhaven Community Center: M, T, W, F 4:30 – 6:30pm
Notes for #544:
What kind of year are you having? One of transition and change for me, and I’m temporarily suspending production of the regular podcast but will likely do one per week.
I’m having to spend a lot of time providing care to family members in something that’s turned out to be a pandemic-level disruption. I’m still evaluating what the next couple of months, and welcome this opportunity to tweak a few things here and there.
What’s not being tweaked is that this newsletter is supported by subscribers, and coming up this week will be at least one “premium” piece of content. If you can manage a few dollars to pay through Substack, Ting will match the initial payment.
And if you sign up for Ting at this link and enter the promo code COMMUNITY, you’ll get:
Free installation
A second month for free
A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall