Looking Ahead to November for Local Democrats

We all know the streetside demonstrations for democracy were political acts as well as cries for justice and peace.

Now’s the time to begin to put those values to work in our campaigns and policies, and hopes and dreams into political work.

That political work must be done by candidates with support from their voters.
Troy Miller is President of the Jefferson County Democratic Association.  He had a realistic but hopeful take on our primaries in Jefferson County and West Virginia. He shares his general take on the elections in Jefferson County:

“The overall voter turn out was abysmal. The difference is that Democrats are excited, but Republicans aren’t motivated. “500 more people took a Democratic ballot than a Republican ballot. That’s very heartening to me.”

One of the biggest and most welcome election outcomes was Rachel Fetty Anderson winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate against Shelley M. Capito.  She is a low key heroine who’s done amazing legal work in her career as an attorney specializing in family law.  She’s a mother of four who believes in real family values….and family support. The real family values are those that make us healthy and happy: liveable wages, healthcare for all, well-funded education, taking loving care of foster children.

Of her, Troy Miller said: “Rachel has a well established reputation across West Virginia for what she’s done. We really need her focus on family support. Our communities have been ravaged and broken by de-industrialization, coal colonialism, opioid crisis and natural gas extraction.”

Lucia Valentine worked the primary though she was uncontested. Lucia who is from Berkeley and Jefferson Counties is well known and trusted. Lucia has done a great job working on environmental, water and economic issues at the last two Legislative sessions. She’s running for District #97.

Ms. Valentine has already begun speaking for Berkeley County residents as she steadfastly stands against GOP data centers,  speaking publicly including a town hall against data centers attended by 700 very angry voters against a Berkeley County data center.

Lucia has very strong cross party line skills with her focus and commitment to uniting West Virginia people.

“Marta Beck is a very strong candidate running in a challenging district. It is so heartening to see her step up. She has been actively building community connections.

“Marta has a good balance of confidence in her commitment and a strong desire to listen to voters and constituents,” said Democratic leader Troy Miller.

This writer met Marta at streetside protests for democracy in front of the John Brown Courthouse in Charles Town. She will make a great state delegate from District #98.

Longtime active Democratic leader Regina Dyer is running for state delegate from District #99. She is a veteran, Black and Indigenous and mother who won more votes in the primary than did her opponent Wayne Clark.

Jenny Thacker is running hard on the mountain where she’s from, reaching voters across state delegate district #100.

The Jefferson County Commission races bring us hope as well.

Republican Chairman Steve Stolipher and his 100% Republican County Commission are turning farmland into cracker box plastic suburban houses for commuters, ruining our county’s beauty and attraction to paying tourists. 3000 Republican ballots were taken in the election. Only 1600 bothered to votes for Steve Stolipher. That is an electoral crisis.

Democrats have the solution to our Stolipher problems. Her name is Mary Margaret Mickey Reagan–lifelong educator, kindergarten teacher for years, now Vice Principal of North Jefferson Elementary School.

Political leader, community leader, retired officer from the U.S. Army Lanae Johnson– last year’s Democrat of the year–is running against Pasha Majda for the Harpers Ferry seat.

We need Lanae Johnson and Mary Margaret Mickey Reagan on our Jefferson County Commission.

Let’s protect this precious piece of paradise between the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.