Extend Party ID to Local Elections
It is time that party ID on the ballot be extended to local offices like Board of Supervisors and Constitutional Offices in Virginia.
Under current Virginia law, only indicators for political party candidates (or independents) for federal, statewide, or General Assembly positions are printed on the ballots. Local office candidates such as those for Constitutional Offices (circuit court clerks, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, sheriffs, treasurers, and commissioners of revenue) and Board of Supervisors nominated by a political party do not have any indicators beside their names on the ballot. Yet, of course local political parties can nominate and place on the ballot candidates for these offices. As a party chair I have to fill out and return a certification form for our local candidates for these offices to allow them ballot access. Seems that after that, there isn’t anything in the official processes that designate them as party candidates.
As with most local political parties, we spend a considerable amount of time seeking out candidates for offices, holding meetings to nominate those candidates, assisting them with their campaigns, along with providing money and resources. Yet, when the election comes a voter who wanted to vote a Republican ticket could be faced with two or more names for an office and be unsure of who is the Republcian candidate. Granted, a voter should be better informed on their own and know the candidates before hand.
I’m glad that the 2009 Republican Party of Virginia Convention adopted a resolution in support of extending party ID to local elections.
Bottom line is that if the law provides for the ability of a local political party to nominate candidates for local offices, the ability for that candidate to be identified on the ballot as a Republican or Democrat should be there. Contact your General Assembly member and encourage them to fix this problem.
June 21st, 2009 at 10:46 am
Having lived in several states with local officials identified by party and several states where they were not, it is best to have the local officials not overtly affiliated with any political party.
What happens is that, when the Democrats control the state level positions, local districts that are identified with the Democrats receive favorable treatment and patronage.
Nearby, in the People’s Republic of Maryland, drivers can actually feel the road surface change as they pass from a favored Democratic area into a shunned Republican area. There is partisan favoritism there in every form of expenditure.
Here in Virginia, some local officials have strong political party ties, while many are fiercely independent. In either case, by not having overt party affiliations, the citizens are more evenly treated at the local level.
One lesson we should all learn from the Bush regime, is that the Republican Party is now led by megalomaniacs who want to control every facet of our lives; including what political choices we may still have available. No one with a shed of sense will EVER support the Republicans again.
We need a new political party to represent citizens with traditional values, and who love liberty. The Republicans have proved that they will shred the Constitution if given power and therefore can no longer be trusted to lead.
June 21st, 2009 at 10:55 am
As a former candidate for a constitutional office, I agree with you and said virtually the same thing more than three years ago. Further, I supported Sen. Ken Cucinelli’s efforts on this during the 2008 legislative session as discussed here.
In my opinion, this is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an issue of fairness - especially to the candidates.