DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 26, No. 19 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | September 12, 2012
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Bailout move tops informational talk County officials, NAACP, Democrats share opinions on Voting Rights Act request By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Hanover County registrar Teri Smithson conducted an informational meeting on voting issues, including the county’s request to be removed from Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Hanover County registrar Teri Smithson and county attorney Sterling Rives covered a wide variety of voter related issues at an informational meeting on Saturday at the county’s administration building. Not surprisingly, the subject receiving the most discussion was the county’s recent decision to move forward with a bailout request removing the
county from pre-clearance U.S. Justice Department guidelines. When the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed ensuring every American equal access to the polls, nine states were targeted for pre-clearance requirements because of past problems with minority voting. Virginia was included in that list, and localities are required to receive Justice Department pre-clearance on any and all voting changes, including precinct moves or adjustment of hours of opera-
Dale Jr.: stay in school
tion. “Today, I cannot hold a voter registration drive without mailing the Department of Justice. You have to be pre-cleared for that,” Smithson said. Smithson said the process requires “tons of paperwork” and costs county taxpayers needless dollars. Section 5 also delays electoral actions in some cases. Originally installed to ensure localities adhered to the Voting Rights Act, the pre-clearance requirements are not necessary in Hanover County, according
to Smithson. More than 25 counties in Virginia have applied for and received an exemption from the requirements, citing no voting violations or election infractions for decades. “The Justice Department itself recognizes that localities and jurisdictions who have a good voting rights record should be able to be exempted from this first step,” Rives said. see VOTING, pg. 4
Officials get whirlwind schools’ tour By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Dale Earnhart Jr. addressed students at Patrick Henry High School last week and told the students to stay in school and emphasized the importance of education. Story on page 7.
Just under 18,000 students made their way to Hanover County’s 25 schools for the first day of school last week, and Dr. Jamelle Wilson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools; Hanover County School Board chair Ann F.H. Gladstone and communications specialist Linda Scarborough made a stop at each and every county campus to welcome students. For the mid-point of the tour, they visited Hanover High School. Wilson said it had been a successful first day, despite the
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Hanover County School Board chair Ann F.H. Gladstone, left, in the back; Dr. Jamelle Wilson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools; and Hanover principal Dana Gresham mingle with students as they exit lunch at Hanover High School.
normal opening session jitters. “I couldn’t sleep last night just like the way it was the first year I was a teacher,” she said. “It’s been an incredible morning, and there’s an incredible energy in all of our schools,” Wilson added as she completed her eleventh tour of the busy day.
After 22 years in public education, Wilson is more than familiar with the opening day routine, and said she appreciates the excitement of students and teachers. “You know what to expect, but there’s still a little bit of see TOUR, pg. 4