Getting to know Dr. Cameron Webb, our 5th District Congressional Candidate
Community Gathering for Peace and Justice
A letter of important updates from Mary-Sherman
Please click the following link to view the letter: https://www.rappdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RCDC-2020-May-Letter-to-the-RCDC.pdf
The Presidential Race
Even though Joe Biden appears to be the presumptive Democratic Nominee, we have a long road ahead before it’s certain. After our Super Tuesday Primary, delegates go to the 5th District convention on May 9, and the State Conventions on June 20 to pick the delegates Virginia will send to the National Convention in Milwaukee on August 13.
This year both Virginia conventions will be held virtually.
The CD5 Convention on May 9 starts at 9AM. At 1PM, delegates will vote for 6 delegates to be National Delegates from Virginia.
To participate, register here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4953873135220740365
At the State Convention on June 20, delegates will pick 21 at-large National Delegates to go to the National Convention.
Save the Date for Our Virtual Candidates Forum on May 12!
The Rappahannock Democratic Committee invites you to a virtual forum for 5th District’s candidates for U.S. Congress.
Click the following link for the official press release with photos: https://www.rappdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RCDC-CD5-Forum-Press-Release.pdf
When: Tuesday, May 12th, at 6 pm.
Where: Live Streaming on Facebook and YouTube
The forum will be moderated by Leslie Cockburn, former Democratic 5th District candidate.
RD Huffstetler grew up in North Carolina and served as a sergeant in the U. S. Marine Corp in both Iraq and Afghanistan. With a Harvard MBA, he went to work in Silicon Valley. He now lives in Charlottesville with his wife, an OB-GYN, and daughter. Looks forward to “solving the challenges of the future” and pledges to improve the economy of “every community” in the 5th District.
John Lesinski of Rappahannock County. A Marine Corps colonel and one-time president of the county school board, he served as a member of the county Board of Supervisors. Successful in commercial real estate, John lives with his wife Heidi in Washington, VA. He promises better access to health care and broadband in the many rural communities of the 5th District.
Claire Russo is a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps who served in Iraq, and later as a civilian employee of the U. S. Army in Afghanistan. “I was trained,” says Claire, “to run toward the fight” and she plans to put that same determination to work for her constituents especially when it comes to affordable health care. Claire lives in Earlysville with her husband and their three children.
Cameron Webb, a UVA grad with degrees in law and medicine, Dr Webb is Director of Health Policy and Equity at UVA’s School of Medicine. He pledges that “Common sense and fairness” come first. Then promises to put health care front and center when he is in Congress. Webb lives in Charlottesville with his wife Leigh-Ann, an ER doctor, and their children.
Participate in the discussion.
Submit your questions for candidates at Chair@RappDems.org
For more information contact: Mary-Sherman Willis at 540/987-8912 or send her an email.
A LETTER TO THE RCDC MEMBERSHIP
April 8, 2020
Dear Rappahannock Democrats,
We missed seeing you at our last monthly get together, cancelled for COVID19. Unfortunately, we will miss you again. Our scheduled general meeting for April 11 is also cancelled to keep everyone distanced and safe, following Governor Ralph Northam’s recommendations. They came not a moment too soon. Sadly, our county reported its first confirmed case this week.
Distanced as we are, we have been busy and want to keep you informed of events in the coming months.
- County delegates to the district, state, and national Democratic conventions have until April 9 at 5 pm to send in their pre-filing forms to the DPVA (Democratic Party of Virginia).
Based on your votes on Super Tuesday, the county was allotted two delegates for Joe Biden and one for Bernie Sanders. Even though Bernie has dropped out of the race, his delegates will go to the conventions!
- To be a delegate to the 5th District Convention on May 9 and State Convention on Jun 20, click HERE for the form.
- To go on to the National Convention in August 17-20 in Milwaukee, click HERE to apply.
NOTE: Compared to other counties in the CD5, Rappahannock has had a great turnout of delegate applications! The DPVA has been accepting them all, for both candidates, to cover the shortfall in other counties.
NOTE: Because of the pandemic, the Party will decide, from moment to moment, whether to hold in-person or virtual conventions. The 5th District Convention will be held virtually. (Those details to come.)
- To find out more about delegate selection and duties, click HERE.
- The 5th District Congressional
Primary is scheduled for June 9. We are urging you to vote
absentee by mail. It’s easy and complies with our distancing practices.
- I’ve attached Registrar Kim McKiernan’s instructions and the deadlines to apply for and send in absentee ballots for the June Congressional Primary and November General elections.
NOTE: Mail-in voting is going to be crucial this year for getting out the vote! We’re planning phone banks, texts blasts, and socially distanced postcard parties to get the word out, and to help voters get their ballots in. We’ll need your help.
NOTE: We have four terrific candidates to run against Denver Riggleman in November: RD Huffstetler, John Lesinski, Claire Russo, and Cameron Webb. Instead of live forums to let voters meet the candidates, we’re coordinating with other 5th District committees to hold virtual forums in our localities. Ours is tentatively scheduled for May 12 at 6 pm, to be moderated by former candidate Leslie Cockburn. (Details to come.)
- RCDC fundraising has become one of the casualties of COVID19. Our April 4 Blue State Blue Grass Brunch and auction were cancelled. The Yard Sale in August may be too. While our expenses will go down, our income will too. As the season progresses, we’ll need to buy yard and highway signs, and campaign ads. We appreciate any donations you’re able to make along the way.
We want to thank everyone for your work and support, for stepping up even as our world is upended by this invisible threat wreaking such havoc to ourselves and our democracy. Thanks in particular to Ron Goodman, Tommy Bruce, Larry Wohlers, and Rachel Taylor for representing us as delegates to the State Convention (and beyond!).
Please send your questions and comments at maryswillis@me.com. We want to hear from you! Keep up with our news at www.RappDems.org and on our Facebook page.
Stay safe, stay engaged, and let us bring the light of Democratic competence and compassion into this dark time.
Mary-Sherman Willis
RCDC, Chair