Sally Thomas

Sally Thomas has represented the Samuel Miller district since 1994 when she first won election to the board in 1993 as an independent write-in candidate over Carter Myers by a margin of 192 votes. In all elections since (1997, 2001 and 2005), she has run unopposed.

“I originally ran to give Samuel Miller voters a choice when only one name was on the ballot. Since then, I’ve been privileged to serve those voters and all the residents of Samuel Miller and the County….I love the job and the responsibility that the voters have given to me, but sixteen years probably is as long as one should stay, so I won’t be running for re-election this November,” said Thomas. She announced she would not seek a fifth term on April 8, 2009.

Sally grew up in a small town in Oregon and has B.A. and M.A.T. degrees from Harvard/Radcliffe in Government and Education. She and her husband, George Thomas, have lived here since 1963, raising two daughters who attended Albemarle County public schools.

Before being elected in a write-in campaign in 1993, Thomas was director of Governmental and Community Relations at the University of Virginia. Thomas served on the Albemarle County School Board and was president of the local League of Women Voters. Thomas was also appointed to the Albemarle County School Board as the At-Large member during 1980-1983. Sally was selected as the 1994 Virginia Women’s Forum “Woman of the Year,” and the Leadership Charlottesville “Leaders’ Leader of 2001.” She received gubernatorial appointments to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Commission; the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; and the Natural Resources Partnership.

She served as chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors – 2001, 2002; the Planning and Coordination Council; the Citizens Committee for City-County Cooperation; the Thomas Jefferson Venture; and the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Stewardship Task Force. She served as president of the Virginia Transit Association and the Charlottesville/Albemarle League of Women Voters.

Sally served on the boards of the AIDS Support Group; the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center; the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission; Scenic Virginia; Albemarle County School Board; and the City Social Development Committee. She was board liaison for the Mountain Protection Committee; the Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee; and the ACE committee. Sally was a member of the Lewis and Clark Festival planning committee; Virginia Association of Counties Finance Steering Committee; Thomas Jefferson Sustainability Council; Jefferson Area Board for Aging Plan 2020 Advisory Committee; and the Policy Committee for VDOT’s U.S. 29 Corridor Study. She is a graduate of the Albemarle County Citizens Police Academy.

Ms. Thomas spoke at the January 13, 2010 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia held at The Charlottesville Senior Center. The event was moderated by SSV Secretary Bill Davis.

Billie Campbell

Billie Campbell, chief operating officer for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), spoke at our November 11, 2009 meeting. The TJPDC is one of 21 planning district commissions in Virginia established by the General Assembly under the Virginia Area Development Act in 1969. TJPDC has six member jurisdictions: the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. TJPDC is directed by a 12-member commission, consisting of two representatives appointed by each locality, more than half of whom are local elected officials. Ms. Campbell’s presentation will briefly review the history of the TJPDC since its creation in 1972, explore its working relationships with localities and public agencies, and present its programs and activities.

As chief operating officer, Ms. Campbell oversees TJPDC’s program operations and is responsible for the timely production of deliverables, preparation of the budget, implementation of policies, internal processes, and monitoring the effectiveness of programs and progress toward agency goals. She leads the Community Development Team at TJPDC and serves as the primary staff for the Charlottesville HOME Consortium. During her ten years at TJPDC, she has also provided staff support for the Jefferson Area Disability Services Board, the Local Workforce Investment Board, the Youth Council and the Jefferson Area Transition Council. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University, a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois. Prior to her career in public administration, she practiced for twenty years as a structural engineer and project manager. She maintains her registration as a Professional Engineer.

The November 11, 2009 meeting of the Senior Statesmen of Virginia was held at The Charlottesville Senior Center. The event was moderated by SSV Board member Sue Liberman.

On October 14th, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia and the Charlottesville Senior Center cosponsored a candidates forum featuring the candidates for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors: Jack Jouett District: incumbent Dennis Rooker (I); Rio District: incumbent David Slutzky (D), and challenger Rodney Thomas (R); Samuel Miller District: Madison Cummings (D), John Lowry (I), and Duane Snow (R). The candidates made brief statements of their positions on various issues following which the session was opened for questions from the attendees. SSV board member Jim Perkins moderated the event.

Jack Jouett Magisterial District

Dennis Rooker

Dennis Rooker (Independent) is the incumbent supervisor representing the Jack Juett Magisterial District. Dennis Rooker has lived in Albemarle County for forty years and presently lives in Roslyn Ridge with his wife, Ann. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Dennis has a B.A. in Economics and a Juris Doctor, both from UVA. He has been a practicing attorney and businessman in this area for 33 years and has owned and operated law, media, real estate and venture capital businesses.

Dennis has served on the Board of Supervisors for 7 years (2 years as chair), four years on the Planning Commission (2 years as chair), the area’s transportation board (MPO) for 7 years, and numerous other boards and committees over the past twenty years including the Planning and Coordination Council for Albemarle County, Albemarle County’s Audi Committee, South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Stewardship Task Force, Transfer of Development Rights Committee, Meadowcreek Parkway Design Advisory Committee, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Transportation Funding Committee.

Rio Magisterial District

David Slutzky

David Slutzky (Democrat) is the incumbent supervisor representing the Rio Magisterial District. David’s passion for Albemarle County is readily apparent from his significant community involvement. As a member of the Board of Supervisors for the last three and a half years, he has immersed himself in the complex issues facing Albemarle and has applied his expertise on subjects from transportation solutions to spearheading new initiatives to protect the rural areas of the County. David is also the Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), serving as such for the past three years. Because of his experience and commitment to finding smart, realistic solutions, he has earned the respect of Albemarle residents from across the political spectrum. His record shows a commitment to doing what is right for the County, not what is politically easiest or most popular.

David has decades of experience in both the public service sector and as the manager of a small business. He and Melissa founded the environmental and economic policy firm, E2Inc., that has grown to employ over forty professionals here in Charlottesville. As a recognized expert on environmental policy issues, David served in the White House as a Senior Policy Advisor, where he led the International Task Force of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. David deeply believes in environmental sustainability and has incorporated this into his private life: he is a proud owner of an electric truck. Additionally, he is a part-time Urban and Environmental Planning Professor at the University of Virginia. He cherishes his role as an educator in the community and enjoys building relationships with his students.

David received his bachelors’ degree from the University of Chicago and his environmental law degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Then he and his wife Melissa were ready to raise their family, they made their home in Albemarle, where they have lived for the past few decades. David and Melissa have three grown children: Briana, Rebecca, and Isaac. David also recently became a grandfather to an adorable little baby boy-Briana and her husband’s son, Phinneas.

Rodney Thomas

Rodney Thomas (Republican) is a candidate for supervisor for the Rio Magisterial District. A lifelong resident of Albemarle County, Rodney is well aware of the issues facing the Rio community. Rodney began working locally for The Daily Progress. When the Vietnam conflict escalated he was drafted into the United States Army and served one tour before being honorably discharged. Upon his return home Rodney continued his career in the print industry and by 1979 Rodney was able to purchase Charlottesville Press, Inc., a family owned print shop which he still operates today.

As a small business owner in Albemarle County for 30 years, Rodney understands the issues facing the local business community. Yet he is also aware of the important role local organizations play. Serving as an active board member of the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Crime Stoppers, and Charlottesville Host Lion’s Club, Rodney has worked to improve the quality of life in Albemarle. Rodney brought this same mission of service to the Albemarle County Planning Commission in 1998, where he served the Rio District until 2006.

Rodney and his wife Nancy moved to Carrsbrook 36 years ago and still live there today. Their two children, Rod and Ashley, now have families of their own and the eight grandchildren enjoy spending time with Rodney and Nancy whenever they can.

Samuel Miller Magisterial District

Madison Cummings

Madison Cummings (Democrat) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. Madison Cummings has lived in Central Virginia for the last 39 years, 31 of those years in North Garden. He served as a staff and senior pharmacist at UVA Hospital from 1970 until he retired in 2004. His wife Pat taught in Albemarle County schools for 37 years. All three of their children were educated in Albemarle County schools and two of their children continue to live in Albemarle County.

Madison has served Albemarle County in many capacities during those years. Early on when his children were young, Madison was involved in building playgrounds at Red Hill Elementary, coaching soccer and baseball, and serving as president of Red Hill PTO (1988-89) and as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission for Albemarle County Education in the 21st Century (1990-91). In 1994, he was appointed by Sally Thomas to the Albemarle County School Board and was elected for a second term in 1997. He has been a member of Albemarle County School’s Health Advisory Committee for 4 years.

From 2002 to 2008 Madison was a member of the Charlotttesville Albemarle Commission on Children and Families. He has been a member of the Cove Garden Ruritan for 25 years; has served on the African-American Teaching Fellows Board and participates in the Community University Research and Service Partnership.

Madison has been a member of the Democratic Party Steering Committee as Chair for the Samuel Miller District the last 5 years. He continues to advocate for bipartisan cooperation as when he served on the Albemarle County School Board.

John Lowry

John Lowry (Independent) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. John moved to the area in 1970. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1969. John met his wife, Nancy Feil, of Charlottesville at W&M. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Currently retired, his last employment was with Old Dominion Capital Management as an Investment Counselor. Prior to that he worked for Wachovia Securities and its predecessors from 1976- 2007. He was among those who opened the office of Wheat First Securities on the downtown Mall in May1976. In the summer of 1976 he played in the 14th Virginia Fife and Drum Corps for the Queen of England and the President of the U S at Monticello. He taught investments at Piedmont Virginia Community College for ten years. John co-founded the adult SOCA League and founded the Stock and Board club for fellow professionals. While serving on the joint Airport Board the new terminal was built. He has been chair of the Board of the Oratorio Society and the Charlottesville & University Symphony. He is the current chair of the Albemarle Economic Development Authority. He is a recent graduate of the Sorenson Institute for political candidates.

Duane Snow

Duane Snow (Republican) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. Duane was born and raised in Charlottesville and has been married to Rena Snow for 42 years. They have five children, all of whom attended Albemarle County Schools. He and Rena are the proud grandparents of 12 grandchildren.

Duane was the CEO and president of Snow’s Garden Center for 35 years. He was a former instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Gardening and Landscaping classes.

He served on the Albemarle County Architectural Review Board and 10 years with the Virginia State Agricultural Council. Duane is the past president of the Charlottesville Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Duane hosted for 35 years the longest running radio gardening show in the nation. He previously served on the board of the American Heart Association and the Boy Scouts of America Committee. He is a committed church and community leader.

Laura Feldman

Laura Feldman could be termed a “Washington Insider.” As a long-term organizer for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the leading nonpartisan advocacy group in the country for Social Security and Medicare, she has expert knowledge on the issue of health care reform, how it will impact seniors, social security and Medicare and what is really happening on Capitol Hill right now.

Ms. Feldman brings her skills as a teacher to educating senior groups and activists across the country. She is a native Washingtonian where politics is a local sport. Demystifying politics, personalizing it and making it fun is one of her goals.

She has been a grassroots organizer for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare for the past 18 years. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is a nonpartisan advocacy organization supported by membership. Prior to coming to the National Committee, she organized national programming for the National Science Foundation under a special education grant, which propelled her out of the classroom and into the public arena.

She brings her observations and perspective from “inside the beltway” on the politics of the new 111th Congress and the issues involving Social Security, Medicare and Aging.

Ms. Feldman graduated from American University. She is the past president of the Southern Gerontological Society, on the Board of Trustees for the Florida Silver Haired Legislature, was the first policy chair for GROWS, The (Grassroots Organization For The Well Being of Seniors) was a board member of the Maryland Gerontological Association, the Virginia Council on Aging and NANASP (the National Association of Nutrition and Service Providers.) She was appointed to the first Seniors Cabinet of the Montgomery County Council of Maryland and is a long-time member and moderator for the United Seniors of Maryland. She is the proud grandmother of eight-year-old twins.

Ms. Feldman spoke at the Wednesday September 9, 2009 meeting of the The Senior Statesmen of Virginia held at The Charlottesville Senior Center. Following the presentation questions were taken from the audience. The program was moderated by SSV Secretary Bill Davis.

Professor Edwin T. Burton of the University of Virginia Economics Department spoke on the current economic crisis at a Senior Statesmen of Virginia forum on January 14, 2008. Professor Burton is a well known economic expert who is a frequent guest on WINA. He is the former head of the Virginia Retirement System and is the author of the Burton Finance Blog.

 

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Burton received his B.A. in Economics from Rice University in 1964 and his Ph.D. in Economics from Northwestern University in 1971. He is currently professor of economics at the University of Virginia, a post he has held since 1998. He is also currently a trustee of Virginia Retirement System. His past positions include head of Investment Banking and Municipal Finance at Interstate Johnson Lane from 1994 to 1995, president of Rothschild Financial Services, Inc. from 1987 to 1994, senior vice President of Smith Barney from 1975 to 1984 and assistant and associate professor of economics at Cornell University from 1969 to 1979.

The topic of today’s presentation is “The Financial Crisis - Which Inning Are We In?”. Bill Davis, SSV board member and secretary, moderated today’s program.

Al explained how global warming, if it continues as it is going now, will submerge regions of Tidewater Virginia, and will cause major problems in Virginia agriculture.  The solution to this danger is to greatly reduce emission of fossil carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

 

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On April 9th, 2008, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosted Charlottesville-area Delegates David Toscano and Rob Bell. The two reviewed this year’s General Assembly session, and gave a preview of the upcoming veto session. Mike Ludgate serves as the moderator for the event, which was recorded by Dan Daniels with help from Jim Peterson.

 

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• 00:00 - Introduction from Mike Ludgate
• 03:36 - Delegate David Toscano (D-57)
• 09:14 - Delegate Rob Bell (R-58)
• 18:21 - Question on legislation requiring Virginia medical students to take at least one course on geriatric medicine
• 20:47 - Question on transportation funding
• 23:44 - Question on whether the Delegates would support in the gas tax
• 29:34 - The Delegates are asked about their support for mass transit
• 33:40 - Question about regional transportation authorities
• 36:36 - Question about bipartisan redistricting
• 39:20 - “What is the process used to provide support for the schools?”
• 46:00 - Toscano discusses the revenue-sharing agreement between Charlottesville and Albemarle
• 47:32 - Delegate Bell is asked a question about the role of the teacher in cases of bullying
• 50:10 - Question about the state reimbursing dentists who accept patients on Medicaid
• 51:57 - Question about how state lottery funds go to education
• 53:20 - Question about pay-day loans
• 58:50 - Question about using private funding to build roads
• 1:00:20 - “How can we get more support for enlarging and improving rail service in Virginia?”
• 1:02:23 - “Why can’t there be stiffer laws to get the mentally ill into treatment?” (Delegate Toscano had to leave, so the remaining questions are answered only by Delegate Bell)
• 1:08:18 - “What is re-benchmarking?”
• 1:09:38 - “What aren’t Charlottesville and Albemarle County consolidated into one authority?”
• 1:11:52 - A question about prioritizing transportation spending

On April 11, 2007, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia held their monthly meeting at the Northside Library in Charlottesville, VA. The three invited panelists, among the community’s most familiar faces when it comes to discussions of local growth and development issues, shared their views on topics including land use, transportation, population growth, government regulation, and property rights.

The panelists were:

Jack Marshall, Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population
Jeff Werner, Piedmont Environmental Council
Neil Williamson, Free Enterprise Forum

 

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With the Senate race between Jim Webb and George Allen too close to call, Virginia faces the prospect of a second statewide election that goes to a recount. Last November, Democrat Creigh Deeds was locked in an extremely close race for Attorney General with Bob McDonnell, the eventual winner.

Deeds spoke at a public forum of the Senior Statesmen on November 8, 2006, the day after the election. He describes what happened with his recount, and why he thinks a paper trail should be required for all elections. Deeds also offers suggestions for reform to encourage a higher turnout.

 

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