Election day is tomorrow for local, state races
Good morning! Today: our election day primer. Do you know as much civics as an 8th grader? Our civics contest lets you know.
If you weren’t one of the people who took advantage of early voting, your last chance to decide who will lead us is tomorrow, election day.
Polls will be open Nov. 4 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. In-person voting must take place at the polling place designated for your district. If you’re not sure where that is, check the portal at the Virginia Department of Elections.
Early in-person voting wrapped up on Saturday. By then, 23,762 people had voted in the 71st House of Delegates district represented by Amanda Batten, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. That was the highest turnout in any delegate race in the state.
The other house district in the Historic Triangle, 69, was third on the statewide early voting turnout, with 20,388 votes, according to VPAP.
Of more than 120 Williamsburg Watch readers who answered our admittedly unscientific poll, 80% said they had already voted.
Republican Amanda Batten is facing challenger Jessica Anderson, a Democrat, for the 71st seat. Republican incumbent Chad Green faces Democrat Mark C. Downey and Independent Valerie D. Beverly in the 69th.
James City County also has several local races:
The Powhatan District has two newcomers competing to succeed Michael Hipple as supervisor: Democrat Ti’Juana Gholson and Republican Tracy l. Wainwright.
In the Berkeley District, Democrat Kimberley M. Hundley is running unopposed to keep her seat on the school board.
In the Jamestown District, the board of supervisors’ race has Democratic incumbent Jim Icenhour, who chairs the board, facing newcomer Republican John C. Slokovitz.
Incumbent School board Chair Sarah G. Ortego, Republican, is being challenged by Ty Hodges, a Democrat.
All voters will also choose candidates for statewide seats.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger faces Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the race for governor; Republican John Reid is running against Democrat Ghazala Hasmi tor Lieutenant Governor; and incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, is challenged by Democrat Jay Jones.
13 ICE actions in James City County since last summer, county police chief tells panel
Immigration officials have detained people 13 times in James City County since July, according to remarks attributed to Police Chief Mark Jamison in a weekend press release from the League of Women Voters-Williamsburg.
We sent an email to the police department’s spokesperson Sunday asking for comment but had not heard back by press time.
The League hosted an immigration panel for its annual meeting Thursday that included Jamison, Williamsburg Council member Stacy Kern-Sheerer -- who provides free legal representation to immigrants along with her students at the Immigration Clinic of William & Mary Law school -- and Patricia Bracknell, president of the chamber for Hispanic Progress.
A press release from the League said Jamison reiterated what he earlier told Williamsburg Watch, that immigration enforcement is not the police department’s job, but that police will assist a federal agency that asks for help.
Jamison was quoted as saying federal immigration officials have acted in the county 13 times since July of last year, but that police were only involved twice when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms asked for help with cases involving drugs and guns.
“Most of the time when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) comes in, we don’t know it,” The group quoted Jamison as saying.
“We are not involved in seeking out individuals, asking about immigration status at routine stops, etc. We’ve been asked to be part of the ICE Warrant Officer Program…twice. We have declined to be part of the ICE program both times.
“Our priority is to protect all folks; we are here to keep everyone safe,” Jamison was quoted as saying. The county and Williamsburg police chiefs earlier told Williamsburg Watch they were not going to be involved in proactively handling immigration issues.
Are you smarter than an 8th grader?
Introducing our quiz, based on the 8th grade curriculum taught in local schools. We’ll ask a new question every week through November.
Fill in your email for a chance to win a free copy of E. D. Hirsch’s New Dictionary of Cultural Literary — What Every American Needs to Know.
Local schools recognized for supporting military families
The Virginia Department of Education has recognized the York County school system, and eight schools in the Williamsburg-James City County school system, for supporting military families.
Berkeley Middle, James Blair Middle, Clara Byrd Baker Elementary and Stonehouse Elementary joined J. Blaine Blayton Elementary, Lois S. Hornsby Middle, Warwick High and Jamestown High in winning Purple Star designations from the Virginia Department of Education.
The entire York County school system already holds the designation, one of only seven school systems in Virginia to have the designation for all its schools.
The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to the military.
These students often face major challenges such as frequent moves and family separations during deployments, according to a press release from the Williamsburg-James City County school system.
“As a school with one of the largest military family populations in the area, we are thrilled to be honored with the Purple Star designation, formalizing our ongoing support of military families,” said Stonehouse Elementary School Principal Melissa White.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to create an environment in which every military family feels supported throughout their educational journey with us.”
Retirement village in Ford’s Colony master plan?
An amendment to modify Ford’s Colony’s master plan for a new retirement facility that would permit up to 470 age-restricted housing units and rooms goes to the James City County planning commission Tuesday. The development, called Ford’s Village, would include age-restricted single family and multifamily dwellings, as well as a facility containing up to 200 assisted living and skilled nursing units.
It would be located across News Road from the Firestone Road exit to the main part of Ford’s Colony.
The planning commission will also consider amendments to Liberty Crossing and the Williamsburg Pottery when it meets Wednesday, Nov. 5. The commission meets in the county government center board room starting at 6 p.m.
Other government meetings this week:
York County School Board. A special meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday to finalize the qualifications that will be required of candidates for school superintendent. The board meets in York Hall.
Passings
Janice Trich Hoffman, 75, Oct. 28.
James Frederick Anderson, 91. Oct. 29.
Larry Michael Foster, 74, Oct. 30.