Half credit, U Hall voters, Carolyn Frank, Kristina Cruise

Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham

PUSH: Half credit for doing something good
The local TV stations covering the 24th Senate District candidates forum held last night in Waynesboro seem to think that the event materialized out of the thin air.
OK, I’m being harsh – because WHSV did show pictures from the event that included the New Dominion banner that we posted in front of the candidates on the dais in its reporting last night.
But … no audible mention was made of the fact that the forum was put together by The New Dominion and The Augusta Free Press there or on the report on WVIR. And what made that a tad bit insulting there was that WVIR also reported on a candidates’ forum in Greene County that included an on-air mention of that event’s sponsor.
Many thanks to The News Leader and The News Virginian for giving us credit in print.

LOSERS: U Hall precinct voters
Voters in the University Hall precinct in Albemarle County are being advised to get to the polls before 4 p.m. on Election Day because of the anticipated heavy traffic around the John Paul Jones Arena for that night’s concert featuring The Police.
Somebody has to be paying attention to these kinds of things (hint, hint, JPJ management).

WINNER: Carolyn Frank subject of attack signs
I’m saying here that Frank, the Harrisonburg City Council member challenging Matt Lohr in the 26th House District, will end up being the winner in the matter involving the negative campaign signs put up by a Harrisonburg developer on his property – but I think whatever benefit comes from the mini-controversy will be negligible at best.
Sure, it made the papers, and it made the guy who put the signs up look like a whinin’ baby, but …
Maybe I should change this one to PUSH.

WINNER: Kristina Cruise lands in Cincinnati
Remember the hubbub over the now-former WVIR reporter-anchor who was sent home after talking to The Hook and was later sent back to the general-assignment desk?
Well, now Cruise is back on the anchor desk – at WLWT in Cincinnati.
For those keeping score at home, that’s in the nation’s 33rd-ranked market. The Charlottesville market is ranked #181.

Chris Graham is the executive editor of The Augusta Free Press.