Chesterfield Republicans win big with 23 out of 24 elected offices

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When Republicans achieve almost 100 percent success, that’s something to celebrate.

Members of the Chesterfield County Republican Committee (CCRC) are some of the most active in Virginia. When Terry McAuliffe declared he would win the Commonwealth for Hillary Clinton in 2016, CCRC decided to put a few road blocks in the way. As a result, they ended up painting the county deep Republican red by winning 23 of 24 offices, ranking Chesterfield as one of the most Republican locations in Virginia.

Not bad for a group of dedicated volunteers who started the 2015 campaign season by holding regular Sunday night coordination meetings, beginning in the spring, that brought together campaigns, candidates, and leaders.

Propelling election day with state senate candidate Glen Sturtevant, the Republican winners included all five school board seats, four of five supervisors, all Constitutional officers, five House of Delegate positions, two state senators — heck, they even won both Soil and Water Directors. In January when everyone takes office, all but one local elected official in Chesterfield will be Republican.

9/11: Never forget America under attack, those who perished, and the heroes of that day

By Donald C. Williams
Originally published September 11, 2014

I cannot remember what the weather was like on a single other day 13 years ago. But I remember it on this day. It was warm and the sunny sky was a deep blue. Like all of you, I remember exactly where I was that morning … what I was doing.

Then it happened. And like you, I saw the first glimpses of America under attack. The horrific images are seared in our memories.

We must never forget what happened that warm, sunny September day. Nor can we ever forget the nearly 3,000 innocent people who went about their lives as they did any other day … only to be murdered at the hands of truly evil people. And we must never forget the pain and anguish felt every single day since by those who lost loved ones on that day.

Photos from Saturday’s RPV meeting in Staunton

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On a rainy Saturday morning, the Republican Party of Virginia arrived in Staunton, located in the 24th Senate District, to resurrect a lawsuit in the 24th District (see Here we go again: RPV resurrects lawsuit in Emmett Hanger’s 24th Senate District), and to vote for a Presidential Primary during the five-hour marathon meeting (see Live-blogging RPV State Central Committee meeting in Staunton, Va).

Brian Schoeneman has a good analysis of Saturday’s meeting at Bearing Drift (see SCC meeting in Staunton puts RPV dysfunction on full display).

RPV’s First Vice-Chairman Michael Thomas (right) with his son Alec Thomas. Mike has been a pillar in the party and a voice of reason during the turmoil in recent years.

Kasha Nielsen, ‎Chairwoman at College Republican Federation of Virginia and UVa student, rallied the pro-primary supporters prior to the vote. She was cheered by the crowd that included at least two dozen College Republicans (CRs) and Young Republicans (YRs).

YRs and CRs sat on the floor due to lack of chairs: YR and small business owner Emily Brewer (left), CR Samatha Sedivy (middle), student at University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams Law School; and YR Thomas Turner (right) who had written a pro-primary post for LynnRMitchell.com (see Western Tidewater Young Republican Chairman supports a primary for 2016). #TeamPrimary

Donald Williams, Chairman of Chesterfield County Republican Committee; Trixie Averill, former RPV Western Vice-Chairwoman; Ben Dessart, law student at the University of Richmond T.C. Williams Law School.

Chesterfield GOP snags THE DONALD for annual fundraising dinner

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The tease came from Chesterfield County Republican Committee Chairman Donald Williams on Facebook Friday evening :

… so … its now official….

The 2015 CCRC Lincoln Reagan Dinner will be April 24th …….. with our special guest speaker…….(insert drum roll here)

Donald Trump.

That’s right …….THAT Donald Trump.

More details to come….but you won’t want to miss this one. It will be one of the most entertaining evenings in recent Richmond history.

So I emailed Donald and asked, “THE Donald? Not an impersonator?”

Mike Thomas responds to baseless claims by blogger

In case you missed this Saturday post….

LynnRMitchell.com

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Republican Party of Virginia First Vice Chairman Michael Thomas responded to the latest click bait rambling attack of blogger Tom White and his baseless accusations on Donald Williams, the Chesterfield County Republican Committee, the Hanover County Republican Committee, and by extension, the Republican Party of Virginia. Mr. Thomas wrote:

Dear Tom:

I believe you are way off base with your attacks on Donald Williams and the Chesterfield County Republican Committee. There are no requirements for RPV or any local committee to allow audio or video recording of meetings. None. Not in IRS regs, not in federal or State code, not in the RPV Party Plan.

In fact, the RPV General Counsel provided guidance in 2008 that committees MAY adopt restrictions – or even a prohibition – on recordings. Quite a number of committees have such a policy, including the Chesterfield County Republican Committee, which adopted one…

View original post 385 more words

Mike Thomas responds to baseless claims by blogger

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Republican Party of Virginia First Vice Chairman Michael Thomas responded to the latest click bait rambling attack of blogger Tom White and his baseless accusations on Donald Williams, the Chesterfield County Republican Committee, the Hanover County Republican Committee, and by extension, the Republican Party of Virginia. Mr. Thomas wrote:

Dear Tom:

I believe you are way off base with your attacks on Donald Williams and the Chesterfield County Republican Committee. There are no requirements for RPV or any local committee to allow audio or video recording of meetings. None. Not in IRS regs, not in federal or State code, not in the RPV Party Plan.

In fact, the RPV General Counsel provided guidance in 2008 that committees MAY adopt restrictions – or even a prohibition – on recordings. Quite a number of committees have such a policy, including the Chesterfield County Republican Committee, which adopted one over 5 years ago. Not last week. Not last month. Not even last year. More than five years ago.

Winslow to run for Chesterfield supervisor

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Chris Winslow, a 35-year-old Midlothian attorney and Navy veteran, is hoping to replace outgoing Chesterfield County Supervisor A.S. “Art” Warren when Warren retires later this year.

After twenty years on the board, Clover Hill District Supervisor Warren is stepping down (see Art Warren stepping down from Chesterfield board after 20 years).

Warren did not respond to several requests for comment, but he has notified the party of his intentions according to Donald C. Williams, chairman of the Chesterfield County Republican Committee and a resident of Clover Hill.

“Art has been has been prudent and deliberate in handling his business which sets him apart from other politicians,” Winslow said Saturday. “He’s going to be tough to follow. There’s no question.”

‘Sen. John Watkins leaves legacy: policy over politics’

Sen. John Watkins

By Lynn R. Mitchell

State Senator John Watkins’ announcement to not seek re-election in 2015 caught many by surprise. After all, this  long-time legislator had represented Powhatan, Chesterfield, and Colonial Heights citizens in the Virginia legislature since 1981, first as a delegate and later as state senator.

Photos #1 – Burgers with Bill … Bolling, Romney, Gillespie, McDonnell joined by 400 guests

The 20th Annual “Burgers with Bill” was a highlight event Tuesday at Innsbrook on the western edges of Richmond with more than 400 friends and allies attending as guests of former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and his wife Jean Ann. The Bollings continued the event this year as an appreciation dinner for those who have traveled the journey with them through 22 years of elected office. The LG was joined by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie and Governor Mitt Romney who was the GOP U.S. Presidential nominee in 2012 and remains extremely popular with Republicans nationwide. (See Burgers with Bill tonight … hottest ticket in UVA headlining Bill Bolling, Mitt Romney, Ed Gillespie.)

“Mitt Romney. Go, Ed!”
Governor Romney signed the bus, a tradition with the Gillespie campaign at events throughout the Commonwealth. Others in the crowd signed, too, finding room among other familiar Republican signatures.

Governor Mitt Romney and Dr. Kurt Michael. (More photos after the fold.)

Chairman Donald Williams … Chesterfield County Republican Committee

Donald and Nancy Williams at Friday’s Chesterfield County Republican Committee Lincoln-Reagan dinner.  Donald is chairman of the very successful CCRC.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
May 2, 2014