The Congressional Candidates Showcase Forum is a biennial event sponsored by the Senior Statesmen of Virginia.This year, only one candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic challenger General John Douglass, spoke at the event. Congressman Robert Hurt declined the Senior Statesmen’s invitation to attend the forum. This is only the second time since 1996 that a candidate has failed to attend. Mr. Hurt also declined in 2010.
Following the program, questions were taken from the audience. The event was moderated by Coy Barefoot. Mr. Barefoot is the host of WINA’s Charlottesville – Right Now! and an award-winning and best-selling author, radio personality, historian and political analyst.
5th District Congressional Candidate General John Douglass speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday.
General John Douglass (D) is running for Congress in the 5th District to help Virginia families get a fair chance at a better future.
After serving our country for 35 years under Presidents Reagan and Clinton, he went on to promote air and space policies that grow our economy by creating manufacturing jobs and keeping our skies safe.
Douglass worked his way up to the highest levels of military leadership. In 1995, he was chosen by President Clinton to contribute his expertise to the Pentagon by serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. Under Clinton, he was responsible for ensuring that our sailors and marines were fully supported with ships, aircraft, weapons systems, and equipment. For his service to the Navy and our nation, Douglass was honored with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.
Prior to his work under Clinton, he served on President Reagan’s National Security Council as Director of Defense Programs. Responsible for the Strategic Modernization Program, he often briefed the President directly on key Defense and National Security Programs. After serving in the White House, General Douglass was named Deputy U.S. Military Representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
WINA’s Coy Barefoot moderated the event.
In addition to his work in the military, the candidate also worked to reform our defense policies. He was a leader in establishing and supporting the Presidential Commission on Defense Reform (known as the Packard Commission) and was a foreign policy advisor to former Senator Sam Nunn. More recently, General Douglass served as the President of the Aerospace Industries Association, where he advocated strong and sensible business practices at the Pentagon, an effective export policy for American aerospace products, and the preservation and expansion of United States jobs.
General Douglass earned degrees at the University of Florida, where he was member of the Air Force ROTC. He holds two Masters Degrees: one from Texas Tech University in Industrial Engineering and one from Fairleigh Dickenson University in Management Science. He now maintains a small family farm business, growing grapes for local distribution at his Fauquier County home, where he and his wife raise their two teenage boys.
The Rolleiflex camera used by Ed Roseberry to take many of the photos in this story. (Steve Trumbull photo)
In this continuing series on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network, we are featuring some of the people behind Charlottesville’s 250th birthday celebration. In this episode, photographer Ed Roseberry talks with CPN’s Dan Gould about his collection of historical photographs.
Listen as Ed tells the fascinating story of how he became one of Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s most noted photographers. Then, preview three photographs from his CitySpace exhibit with Ed as your personal guide.
Photographs discussed in this podcast. To view the entire collection visit the Roseberry exhibit at CitySpace on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. The exhibit will be officially dedicated this Friday, July 13, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The exhibit closes at the end of July.
Copeley Hill Housing, 1966 (Ed Roseberry photo)
Railroad Yard East of Belmont Bridge, 1951 (Ed Roseberry photo)
Intersection of Emmet Street and Barracks Road, 1948 (Ed Roseberry photo)
Ed Roseberry at the unearthing of the Charlottesville time capsule on May 27, 2012. To his left, a photo of Mr. Roseberry taken on the day the capsule was buried in 1962. (Steve Trumbull photo)
The photographs used in our story are courtesy of Trumbull Photography and Ed Roseberry and are used here with permission. For more on Ed Roseberry visit Steve Trumbull’s Charlottesville Then and Now website. Our interview was recorded on July 9, 2012.
Terry Cooper speaking before the June 2012 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia
Terry Cooper, owner of Terry Cooper Political Research, addressed many of the hot-button issues dominating politics today.
Mr. Cooper does political research, principally opposition research for Republican candidates. He is a member of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia.
Terry is a graduate of Episcopal High School, Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Research Editor of the Virginia Law Review, a member of the National Moot Court Team and elected to the Order of the Coif, the law-school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. He practiced law with the Wall Street firm Sullivan & Cromwell and held executive positions with three Fortune 500 companies before founding his firm, Terry Cooper Political Research, in 1982.
Terry has taught opposition research at the Republican National Committee’s Campaign Management Colleges, at American University’s Campaign Management Institute, at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, at the University of Florida and at training programs sponsored by the state Republican parties of Virginia, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Washington State.
Terry’s clients have included then-Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich (R-GA); then- Congressmen Tom Davis (R-VA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Jim Greenwood (R-PA), Chip Pickering (R-MS) and Jim Nussle (R-IA); Congressmen Tom Latham (R-IA), Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and Doc Hastings (R-WA); then-Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell; and a number of members of the Virginia and Florida legislatures. Terry Cooper Political Research is located at 1111 Timber Trail Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901. Terry can be reached via telephone at (434) 202-8065.
Mr. Cooper spoke at the Wednesday, June 13, 2012 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia. The meeting was held at the Senior Center in Charlottesville. Following the presentation, questions were taken from the audience. The program was moderated by SSV Vice President Bob McGrath.
Each spring and fall, the Charlottesville Senior Center’s Encore Players take to the stage to perform a series of one-act plays. This spring the group presented four plays, Henry Aldrich, Ozzie and Harriet, The Bickersons and The Honeymooners.
The Encore Players performing a staged reading of The Honeymooners. From left to right: Alice Hennigan, Ray Jacquin and Levi Miller.
In this podcast you will hear The Encore Players perform The Honeymooners. Ralph and Alice have tickets for a Broadway show but there is a problem. Will they get there in the end or will Alice’s mother interfere? The play was directed by Senior Center volunteer Jean Newland.
The performance took place on Wednesday May 23, 2012 as a part of the Encore Player’s spring performance. (Part 4 of 4)
Each spring and fall, the Charlottesville Senior Center’s Encore Players take to the stage to perform a series of one-act plays. This spring the group presented four plays, Henry Aldrich, Ozzie and Harriet, The Bickersons and The Honeymooners.
The Encore Players performing a staged reading of The Bickersons. From left to right: Dick Somer and Patricia Gadus.
In this podcast you will hear The Encore Players perform The Bickersons. Will John and Blanche ever get to sleep? Or will the Bickersons live up to their name? Our play is introduced by series director, Jean Newland.
The performance took place on Wednesday May 23, 2012 as a part of the Encore Player’s spring performance. (Part 3 of 4)
Each spring and fall, the Charlottesville Senior Center’s Encore Players take to the stage to perform a series of one-act plays. This spring the group presented four plays, Henry Aldrich, Ozzie and Harriet, The Bickersons and The Honeymooners.
The Encore Players performing a staged reading of Ozzie and Harriet. From left to right: Glenn Short, Gene Outlaw, Liz Evans and Mark Dryer.
In this podcast you will hear The Encore Players perform Ozzie and Harriet. Listen as Ozzie tries to find the perfect Valentine gift for his wife. The play was directed by Senior Center volunteer Marge Haugen and is introduced by series director, Jean Newland.
The performance took place on Wednesday May 23, 2012 as a part of the Encore Player’s spring performance. (Part 2 of 4)
Each spring and fall, the Charlottesville Senior Center’s Encore Players take to the stage to perform a series of one-act plays. This spring the group presented four plays, Henry Aldrich, Ozzie and Harriet, The Bickersons and The Honeymooners.
The Encore Players performing a staged reading of Henry Aldrich. From left to right: Jeffery Goodsell, Dick Somer and Elaine McGrath.
Senior Center member Jean Newland introduced the play which she directed.
In this podcast you will hear The Encore Players perform Henry Aldrich. Henry, like so many of us, just needs a little quiet time to himself. But will he be able to find some? Listen in to find out. The play is introduced by its director, Jean Newland.
The performance took place on Wednesday May 23, 2012 as a part of the Encore Player’s spring performance. (Part 1 of 4)
Preston Coiner points to the spot where a time capsule was buried in 1962. The capsule is to be unearthed on May 27th.
In 1962, local residents buried a time capsule. Now, 50 years later, that capsule is about to be unearthed.
In this podcast CPN’s Dan Gould talks with Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society vice president Preston Coiner. Preston, a Charlottesville native, has had a long time interest in local history. Listen as he talks about the historic unearthing to take place on May 27, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of 4th Street NE and East High Street in Charlottesville. The unearthing is a part of Charlottesville’s 250th birthday celebration taking place this year.
Preston’s extensive research on the capsule has uncovered many interesting facts. Learn about that day back in 1962 when the capsule was buried. Find out who was there that day and who of those will be joining the celebration 50 years later to see the capsule unearthed.
Charlottesville Resident Tom Hartsell’s father took this 8mm film in 1962. In it, city leaders bury the time capsule. In this podcast, listen as Preston Coiner describes the film in wonderful detail. Learn about the boy at the end of the film, and about the woman in the white dress, both of whom will be joining the unearthing ceremony on May 27th.
Senators Creigh Deeds and Bryce Reeves provided their perspectives on the 2012 legislative session and other current issues facing Virginians.
Senators Bryce Reeves (left) and Creigh Deeds speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday.
Senators Deeds and Reeves spoke at the Wednesday, May 9, 2012 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia. The meeting was held at the Charlottesville Senior Center. Following the presentation, questions were taken from the audience. The program was moderated by SSV President Sue Liberman.
Senator Creigh Deeds
Creigh Deeds represents the 25th Senate District, which includes the counties of Albemarle (part), Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Nelson, and Rockbridge, and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Charlottesville, and Lexington. He serves on three Senate standing committees: General Laws, Privileges and Elections, and Transportation.
Sen. Deeds’ public service career began in 1987 when he was elected to serve as the Commonwealth’s Attorney of Bath County. In 1991 he ran against an incumbent and won in the 18th District in the House of Delegates. After serving 10 years in the House, Sen. Deeds was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2001. Senator Deeds was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2005 and for Governor in 2009.
Senator Deeds serves on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, the Virginia Sesquicentennial for the American Civil War Commission, the Small Business Commission, and the State Water Commission. For his work on behalf of crime victims, he was awarded the Warren Stambaugh Award from Virginians United Against Crime. He also has received the Leadership in Public Policy Award from The Nature Conservancy, the Preservation Alliance of Virginia Delegate of the Year, and the Virginia Association for Parks Legislator of the Year. His legislative work and accomplishments have also been recognized by the Fairfax Coalition of Police, the Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors, and BikeWalk Virginia.
Senator Deeds attended Virginia’s public schools and graduated from Bath County High School in 1976. After completing undergraduate work at Concord College, he received his law degree from Wake Forest University in 1984. Senator Deeds lives in Bath County. He is an attorney in private practice and a visiting professor of law at Washington and Lee University. He has four grown children.
Senator Bryce Reeves
Bryce Reeves represents the 17th Virginia Senate District which includes all of Orange County and the City of Fredericksburg, and parts of Albemarle, Culpeper, Louisa and Spotsylvania Counties. He serves on four Senate standing committees: General Laws and Technology, Courts of Justice, Privileges and Elections, and Rehabilitation and Social Services.
Senator Reeves is President of Bryce Reeves Insurance and Financial Services, and President of Reeves Asset Management Group, a commercial real estate development firm with holdings in Stafford County, Virginia.
Senator Reeves joined the United States Army as an enlisted soldier but ultimately earned the rank of Captain and served as a United States Army Ranger, our country’s oldest elite special operations force. He worked for the Prince William County Police Vice/Narcotics Bureau as a front-line detective and served on a joint jurisdiction drug interdiction taskforce of Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Senator Reeves serves his community as a small group Bible study leader and deacon at Spotswood Baptist Church in Fredericksburg and is also an International Mission team leader that helped to spread humanitarian aid and resources to the less fortunate in Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Jamaica.
He served as the regional chairman for Americans for Prosperity.
Senator Reeves holds a Master of Public Administration in Public Policy from George Mason University and Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Industrial Education, a discipline focused on designing optimal manufacturing workspaces to maximize worker efficiency. He lives in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, with his wife Anne and their two children, Nicole and Jack.
Steve Trumbull wanted to give the city he loves something special for its 250th birthday. He wanted his gift to be elegant and to last for many generations to come. So, with the help of a few of his friends, Steve created The Medallion at First and Main.
The medallion is a five hundred pound granite stone quarried in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. It was engraved with Steve’s graphic design by the local firm of Gropen Design. Today, it sits at the very center of Charlottesville’s historic street grid at the intersection of First and Main.
In this podcast CPN’s Dan Gould talks with Steve Trumbull. Steve is a local businessman and is the Trumbull in Trumbull Photography. He is perhaps best known for his Charlottesville Then And Now website where you can find additional information and project photos. Dan also talks with Neal Gropin and Darryl Muller of Gropen Design about the project.
Delivered: A 2 1/2 inch thick, 500 pound slab of North Carolina granite arrives at Gropen Design. This and the photos which follow were provided by Trumbull Photography and are used here with permission. Additional project photos may be found at Steve’s Charlottesville Then and Now website.
Measure twice, cut once: Darryl Muller at Gropen Design prepares to trim the stone to size.
Rubber mask: Gropen employees hold the rubber mask that will be used during sand blasting.
Sand blasting: Similiar to an incubator, the sand blaster has two openings for the operator’s arms and hands.
Ready for paint: Sandblasting finished, the stone is ready to be painted.
Mask removed: In this photo a portion of the rubber mask has been removed to expose the etched and now painted surface of the stone.
Preparing the spot: Existing paving stones are removed at the corner of First and Main streets to prepare the spot for the new medallion.
Unloading the stone: Workmen from Gropen Design unload the 500 pound stone.
Final touches: The final touches are completed to set the stone.
All done: The new Medallion at First and Main is set in place.
A part of Charlottesville: Passers by on the Downtown Mall stop to check out the medallion.
Delegates Rob Bell, and David Toscano provided their perspectives on the issues that came before the 2012 legislature. The delegates spoke at the Wednesday, April 11, 2012 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia. The meeting was held at the Charlottesville Senior Center. Following the presentation, questions were taken from the audience. The program was moderated by SSV Secretary Bill Davis.
Delegates David Toscano and Robert Bell speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday. Invited Delegates Matt Fariss and Steve Landes were unable to attend.
Robert Bell
Robert Bell (R) – 58th District: An honors graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Law School, Rob served as a state prosecutor for five years. He prosecuted over 2,400 cases, working with the police and crime victims to bring criminals to justice.
In the Virginia General Assembly, Rob has written laws that crack down on drunk driving. As a result, MADD (Virginia) named him the 2005 Outstanding Legislator. He is also interested in school safety. In recent years, he has written laws to ban criminal sex offenders from school property during school hours and to require additional background checks on school personnel. In 2008, Rob helped overhaul Virginia’s mental health commitment laws in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. And, in 2009, Rob received the Act, Honor, Hope award from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to recognize his work in the Virginia General Assembly.
An Eagle Scout, Rob was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts and with the public schools prior to his election in 2001. Rob’s wife, Jessica, is a schoolteacher. She is currently staying home to raise their children, Robbie and Evie. The Bells live in Albemarle County and are members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Rob understands that in tough economic times everyone – business, communities, government – needs to pitch in to create and protect Virginia jobs. That’s why Rob has fought to preserve and promote Virginia’s #1 business-friendly ranking. This helps Virginia’s small businesses to expand and encourages new companies to move here.
In response to the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, Rob was chosen to lead a special Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee charged with reforming Virginia’s mental health commitment laws. The subcommittee’s goals were to ensure that a similar tragedy would not happen again and to protect the ability of Virginians to voluntarily seek care for themselves. In 2008, as a result of the subcommittee’s work, Virginia saw the most sweeping reforms of mental health commitment laws in 30 years.
Rob and Jessica’s son Robbie attends public school. Jessica is a high school English teacher who is currently taking time off to raise Robbie and Evie. As delegate, Rob regularly visits our schools to talk with students. He has taught more than 1,000 students about civics and how laws are made. Rob has also sponsored local students as pages in the Virginia General Assembly and others have served as interns in his legislative office.
Rob is a champion for our communities against crime. He has led an all-out assault against drunk driving and has fought to protect our families from sex offenders. Rob has served on the Virginia Crime Commission since 2003 and is currently chairman.
Matthew Fariss
Matthew Fariss (R) – 59th District: Matt Fariss is a seventh generation native of Campbell County with a desire for future generations to continue to reside in the region. His wife, Crystal, and children, Hunter, Bobby, and Harrison are the reason Matt entered this campaign. He hopes that they can continue to enjoy the same rights and freedoms that he has been blessed with, and, as delegate, he will fight against liberal policies that will put those liberties in jeopardy. Despite his various successes, he is first and foremost a Christian family man committed to serving his family and community.
Matt was blessed to grow up in rural Virginia. However, as a youth he may have taken some of those blessings for granted and was subsequently “fired” by his father around twenty years old. Following that incident, Matt employed the values of hard work that he’d learned since he was a child. He began purchasing cattle and growing his business operation. Through the years, Matt has operated a country store, managed large amounts of real estate, raised cattle, managed farms, and operated numerous businesses. In addition to other projects, he is currently co-owner and Vice President of the Lynchburg Livestock Market, the largest livestock market center in Virginia. Matt has mastered numerous business ventures, and always has multiple projects going on at one time. As delegate, he will apply that business savvy towards serving his constituents in Richmond.
Having never run for or held office before, Matt is ready to take on the new challenge of representing the citizens of the 59th District. Seeking political office is not something that Matt ever planned or envisioned for himself. As a result, Matt has no favors to return in Richmond or in Washington, and his work will be focused solely on serving his constituents. His service comes because he understands that times like these require sacrifices and commitments of those capable of leading. Matt knows that Richmond is in need of a common sense conservative approach, and, as a businessman, he is capable of bringing that much needed attitude to the House of Delegates. Central Virginia needs a man with roots in the district who understands how to create jobs and make common sense decision. As delegate, Matt will never become an ivory tower leader; instead, he will remain committed to being a citizen-legislator fighting for the economy, values, and future of rural Virginia.
Steven Landes
Steven Landes (R) – 25th District: Delegate Landes is serving his eighth term in the House. He is a Member of the House Education, Appropriations, Rules, and Privileges and Elections Committees.
Steve is Vice Chairman of the House Education Committee. He was recently appointed Chairman of the Economic Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Subcommittee of House Appropriations as well as a Budget Conferee. Steve is also Past President of the Weyers Cave Ruritan Club.
Steve serves on the Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Projects Approval Commission. He was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates.
Steve is also is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Rural Virginia. Steve serves on the Board of Trustees of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia as well as the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.
From 1988 to 1992, Steve served as legislative assistant to his predecessor, former Delegate A.R. “Pete” Giesen, Jr., and from 1993 to 1995 served as Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s district director and district representative.
Steve is the Community Relations Coordinator for DuPont Community Credit Union, which is headquartered in Waynesboro, Virginia. He served as Executive Director of NewBiz Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley’s small business incubator, for five years. Steve was a life insurance agent and registered representative with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Steve also worked a Davis & Davis Marketing, Inc., a Staunton-based marketing and advertising firm, as a media buyer and then as an account executive.
Steve is a graduate of Buffalo Gap High School in Augusta County, and he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He and his wife Angela, who is an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Augusta County, live in Weyers Cave with their son Roth. Steve and Angela are both members and elders of Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church.
David Toscano
David Toscano (D) – 57th District: David Toscano is serving his third term in the Virginia General Assembly, representing the 57th District of the House of Delegates, where he serves on the Courts of Justice; Transportation; and Science & Technology committees. David also serves on the Disability Commission and has served on the special Joint Subcommittee to Study Land Use Tools in the Commonwealth and the Joint Committee to study Math, Science, and Engineering. He is also a member of the United Way Board and the Chamber of Commerce.
David, his wife Nancy A. Tramontin, and son Matthew live in Charlottesville. David is a practicing attorney and an active volunteer for many community-based organizations.
David is an attorney with Buck, Toscano & Tereskerz, Ltd., and specializes in family law, real estate transactions, and estate planning.
David’s priorities are education, energy, and the environment. He fights for education funding, against teacher pay freezes, and to protect VRS and retirement benefits. He pushes the cause of renewable energy, and stood against those who deny the reality of climate change. He opposes predatory lending in its various forms. He argues for multifaceted transportation programs that include roads, rail, and public transit. He opposes cuts to services for the poor and disabled, defends a woman’s right to choose, and advances reforms in foster care and adoption, so that all children will have the opportunity to live productive lives in family settings free from abuse and neglect.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters has named David a “Legislative Hero” four times for his work on environmental issues.
David was born in Syracuse, New York, the oldest of five children. He received a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, a Ph.D. from Boston College, and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He has taught politics and sociology at various colleges and universities, including Boston College, University of Maryland (European Division), PVCC, University of Virginia, and James Madison University. He recently taught for the University of Virginia as part of its 14-week Semester at Sea program.
David served on the Charlottesville City Council from 1990 to 2002 and as Mayor 1994-96. David is a resident of the City of Charlottesville, where he lives with his wife, Nancy A. Tramontin, and their son, Matthew.
Morgan Perkins, hostess of the TV10 series ‘Charlottesville Arts Spotlight’.
In this, the third episode of a brand new series on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network, we talk to some of the people behind Charlottesville’s 250th birthday celebration. In this episode, CPN’s Dan Gould talks with Morgan Perkins, hostess of the TV10 seriesCharlottesville Arts Spotlight and member of the Celebrate!250 steering committee.
Learn about how the Celebrate!250 committee was formed and about some of the great work it’s doing to help Charlottesville celebrate its 250th anniversary. Dan and Morgan talk about a wide range of subjects from Charlottesville arts to what makes this year’s celebration special. It’s all here, on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network.
