Politics

Cox named Kiwanis Club’s ‘Person of the Year’

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 12, 2019 Clubs, Community, Politics

House Speaker Kirk Cox holds a plaque that he was given last week. State Del. Kirk Cox thinks it’s “pretty cool” being House Speaker. Cox – who’s in his 30th year serving in the General Assembly – was honored last week as the Chester Kiwanis Club’s “Person of the Year.” The Colonial Heights native said that, despite being tentatively redistricted into a district that favors Democratic voters by 6.5 percentage points, he plans on running for re-election in November. He spoke March 4 before the club about the recently-concluded legislative session. He noted that because of a U.S. District Court…

Assembly expands law to include fake nudes

By Capital News Service on March 5, 2019 Politics, State News

By Caitlin Morris RICHMOND – The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill to expand “revenge porn” laws to include realistic fake images. In 2014, Virginia outlawed the dissemination of explicit photos or videos without the consent of the person seen in the images. The images may have been originally shared in agreement between both parties, but in cases of revenge porn, get posted online by people seeking to embarrass the victim. “They put them on a website with the intent to coerce, harass or maliciously hurt those folks,” said Del. Marcus B. Simon, D-Fairfax. Simon introduced HB 2678 to protect…

Three men vying for Republican nod for supervisor in Matoaca

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 5, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Politics

Craig StarihaRob ThompsonKevin Carroll The recent announcement that two-term county supervisor Steve Elswick is not running again has resulted in three declared Republican candidates thus far. Kevin Carroll had already announced, but shortly after Elswick’s decision, current Matoaca District school board member Rob Thompson and Matoaca District planning commissioner Craig Stariha also came forward. The three men will square off for the Grand Old Party’s nomination in the June 11 primary. Carroll, 55, a Rhode Island native, worked for the Chesterfield County Police Department for 32 years after moving to Chesterfield in 1986 and retiring Oct. 1, 2018. As a…

Coal ash bill sent to governor: Wording about access to Henricus Park, Dutch Gap not included in bill

By Caleb M Soptelean on February 26, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Health, Outdoors, Politics, State News

Del. Riley Ingram speaks and Sen. Amanda Chase listens during a meeting between Chesterfield County Public Schools and local legislators late last year. The recently concluded general session was Ingram’s last. A coal ash bill that went through a number of changes in the final weeks of the recently-concluded General Assembly’s general session is waiting action from Gov. Ralph Northam. He has until midnight March 25 to sign, veto or amend the bill. SB1355 was approved 37-2 in the state Senate and 96-2 in the Assembly. It requires Dominion Energy to excavate some 28 million cubic yards of coal ash…

Jaeckle not running again: Ingle angles for job

By Caleb M Soptelean on February 26, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Politics

Jim Ingle (LinkedIn) Three-term county supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle announced Feb. 19 that she is not running again, while another Republican said he plans to seek his party’s nomination for the position in the June 11 primary. In a press release, the 64-year-old Jaeckle said time is a “most precious commodity.” “It has been a privilege and honor beyond my highest expectations to serve the citizens of the Bermuda District and the citizens of Chesterfield County,” she said. “I have tried my best to listen to the citizens and balance all sides of issues and make the best decisions for the…

House Speaker gives legislative update

By Press release on February 26, 2019 Politics, State News

By Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights The 2019 General Assembly just adjourned sine die Sunday. Over the course of the 46-day legislative session, the House and Senate considered thousands of bills on a wide range of issues. Despite the distractions taking place elsewhere on Capitol Square, the General Assembly was laser-focused on getting our job done in a timely and responsible manner. State budget passed The final action of the legislative session was the passage of amendments to the state budget. As is required by the Virginia Constitution, the budget is balanced and does not spend more than we bring…

Elswick will not seek third term

By Press release on February 19, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Politics

CHESTERFIELD — After serving the citizens of Chesterfield County for nearly a half-century, Chesterfield Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Steve A. Elswick announced Friday that he will not seek a third term on the board. Elswick began his service to Chesterfield County as a firefighter in 1973. For the last 6 1/2 years of his 31-year career, he served as chief of the fire department. He was first elected to the Board of Supervisors from the Matoaca District in 2011 and was reelected in 2015. At the conclusion of his current term of office, Elswick will have served as chairman…

Consensus reached on coal ash cleanup: Jaeckle questions whether access to Henricus will be protected

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 29, 2019 Community, Politics, State News

Visitors to Henricus Historical Park and Dutch Gap Conservation Area, including a boat ramp and trails, must pass by Dominion Energy’s coal ash ‘ponds’ to access those sites. A bipartisan agreement was reached in the state Legislature last week to deal with 27 million cubic yards of coal ash. Although House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, state Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, and others got behind the deal, Chesterfield supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle questioned whether Henricus would be protected. Dan Genest, a Dominion Energy official, said access to the area will remain open. A Jan. 24 email from Jaeckle asked constituents to…

Coyner seeks to replace Ingram in General Assembly

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 22, 2019 Politics, School Board, State News

Carrie Coyner believes in girl power. The 37-year-old Chester resident announced last week that she is seeking the Republican nomination for the House District 62 seat currently held by state Del. Riley Ingram, R-Hopewell. Coyner said she wants to offer “a different voice,” that of a “young female business owner.” Coyner is in her eighth year representing the Bermuda District on the Chesterfield school board. Ingram said he is not running again. “He’s done an amazing job,” said Coyner, a business and real estate attorney and the daughter of George and Darlene Emerson. Ingram said he is supporting Coyner and…

Where legislation begins? School board asks legislators for help

By Caleb M Soptelean on December 4, 2018 Politics, Schools, State News

ABOVE: Matoaca District school board rep Rob Thompson, center, speaks while state Sen. Rosalyn Dance and House Speaker Kirk Cox listen. Adding school resource officers at each of the 38 elementary schools in Chesterfield County was one topic discussed at a joint meeting of school board members and local state legislators last week. The school board made some of their requests known during the Nov. 27 meeting with seven state legislators at the Chesterfield Career and Tech Center. “We would be grateful for any help,” board member Dianne Smith said. The SRO funding is part of a list of recommendations from…

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