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Vol. 4 No. 8 | Richmond Suburban News | October 31, 2018
Christmas Mother: Focus Absentee voting rising as will be on helping the kids mid-term election nears By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
DOSWELL – After years in the classclass room as a teacher for Hanover ver County Public Schools, Carolyn Swinglee – the 2018 Hanover Christmas Mother – “enjoyed working with the kids, and that’s the focus” of her new role. Last Wednesday, Carolyn joined oined with former Christmas Mothers for a reception announcing her selecction at the Doswell home of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Flippo. The Doswell Ruritan Club spearheads the annual project to bring Christmas joy to all Hanover County children. “I’m just hoping that we can grow the program and help as many families and individualss a possible so that they can all have ve Joel Klein for Ashland-Hanover Local
Carolyn Swingle, 2018 Hanover Christmas Mother
a good holiday season -- make their winter a little warmer,” Carolyn said. Among her public responsibilities are taking part in the Christmas parades in Ashland and Mechanicsville and the program at churches sharing th and Ruritan Rurit meetings. “I’m really honored to serve in r this capa capacity; I hope that we’ll just be able to extend the program gra and help even more people, ” she said. p Carolyn also said she was impressed with the operation the Doswell Ruritans have in place in packing, finding needs and delivering for families. “Now they’re up to three delivery locations, tion ” she said the club. “It sounds soun like a huge undertak-
By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
HANOVER COUNTY – With the eyes of the nation focused on the mid-term election, Hanover County is already seeing a spike in voting. Teresa F. “Teri” Smithson, director of Elections/General Registrar, said, “Hanover County now has 78,711 registered voters. We started absentee voting on Sept. 21, 2018, and have processed over 2,900 applications and we still have four days of absentee voting to go.” In comparison, she said, “The 2014 mid-term only saw a total of 1,632 absentee applications.” Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, voters will be determining who they want to represent them in the United States Senate and United States House
of Representatives. Those on the ballot are: Senate – Corey A. Stewart, Republican; Timothy M. Kaine, Democrat; and Matt J. Waters. Libertarian. House 1st District – Robert J. “Rob” Wittman, Republican; and Vangie A. Williams, Democrat. County voters also will decide the fate of two Proposed Constitutional Amendments (the choices are yes or no): Question 1 Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if flooding resiliency improvements have been made on the property? Question 2 Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided
see MOTHER, pg. 16
see election, pg. 13
Wittman updates supervisors on issues affecting county By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
WITTMAN
HANOVER – U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1, made an appearance at last Wednesday’s Hanover County Board of Supervisors meeting to present a Capitol Hill update. First elected in a special election in 2007, Wittman is seeking re-election in Virginia’s 1st District in the Nov. 6 mid-
term election. Wittman focused on four major areas, all affecting Hanover County in a direct manner, including CTE (Career and Technical Education) training and funding, Chesapeake Bay TDML (Total Maximum Daily Load) and storm water regulations, broadband and transportation funding. The district representative
said the Metro system in the Washington, D.C., area is a tristate agreement that envisions the system becoming self-sufficient in the coming years. “I know Metro does have an effect on state transportation funding,” Wittman said There have been concerns raised by Richmond area localities regarding the road funding flowing to Northern Virginia and Tidewater leaves
communities like metro area counties with few options to fund vital road needs. Wittman acknowledged that federal funds are used for Metro issues, including safety upgrades, but said “The thought has always been that Metro should be, at some point on the track, self-sufficient.” “They’re soaking up a lot of transportation funds,” said Wayne Hazzard, South Anna
District, a former chair of the VACo’s (Virginia Association of Counties) transportation committee. “It’s a tractate agreement and, ultimately, the funding comes from the states. I know there have been concerns about how much that takes away from transportation efforts in other portions of see SUPERVISORS, pg. 10