Greetings, Friends.
I write to you as we are about to plunge into yet another cold spell, brought in on the wings of still more strong winds. Turn your air conditioner off and put on the heat!
This week was busy and varied. I hope you were able to catch the podcast with Republican Congressional candidate, Ralph Alvarado. The rest of the candidates are yet to come, except for Ryan Dotsun (R) whose people didn't bother to answer my invitation.
After the Congressional candidates, I am hoping to have the Senatorial candidates, although no promises there. I had a very weird conversation with a campaign manager, won't say who. But we will have the state representative candidates Anthony Looney (D) and Andrew Simpson (R) (or so I am told by his handler who hasn't yet confirmed), but not Deanna Gordon (R) because like Dotsun, she and her peeps do not return emails.
Following that, we'll get to the judge executive and mayoral races, including Richmond I hope, and then the magistrates.
So, lots of podcasts this year.
Where's the cash?
Saturday evening, I took the back roads from Berea to Chenault Vineyards for a gala to benefit LiKEN, a community-centered nonprofit that I have worked with on some land use projects yet to be published. If you're a nonprofit looking for a partner on virtually anything community-related, they are probably your people. At the gala, we heard about all the ways they support Appalachian communities impacted by water pollution, heirs property, forestry economies, and natural disasters, and most importantly, how Appalachians help each other in these realms by sharing their wisdom and knowledge gained from their own experiences.
Of course, there was a silent auction, being that it was a charity gala. And who was the autioneer? County judge executive candidate, Chuck Givens, who is also a horse trader. He was pretty good. But I don't think he knew the crowd.
In a room filled with many a nonprofit employee and a few retirees, he started the auction for a painting by a local artist at $5,000. Sorry if you heard me laugh. Has no one told him that it was a community-centered nonprofit, not a hospital gala, where the ones with all the bucks mostly attend? Anyway, the painting sold for $1,000, but I gotta give it to him that he tried with gusto to squeeze out an extra $100.
Givens didn't mention he is running for office, which was classy of him, I thought. But he is, and hopefully he took away a deeper understanding of the non-wealthy voters in his would-be constituency.
Candidate Q/A's with you, the voter!
Since we're talking about candidates, join me at One-Eyed Jack's on April 18th beginning 5PM for an audience Q/A with Congressional candidate, Erin Petrey (D). You can listen to the podcast interview with Erin first, then whatever questions you have that I didn't get to, you can come ask her in person. Plus, OEJ's have the best chicken wings, even better than that other place in Richmond everyone tells me is the best in the county.
We also plan to have an event on Saturday, March 28th, but there are currently too many moving parts for me to give you the details. I will get you the deets before then, though.
That's all I got for you this week, folks. I am so grateful to you for your support and look forward to hearing from you with any ideas or questions you have, and also to seeing you at the up-coming candidate events.
Have a good week,
Whitney
