Asking big questions

David Cox

Column by David Cox Amid the ruckus over abusive driver fees, a budget shortfall, mental health care in light of the Tech murders, and other issues of the moment, larger questions get overlooked. Yet these are often the questions that underlie the issues that elections turn on.

Inside the Beverley Manor District race

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham Jim Bailey announced his retirement from Augusta County politics earlier this year, leaving the Beverley Manor District seat on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors an open seat. The contenders for the seat – Democrat Lee Godfrey and Republican Jeremy Shifflett – answered questions on the issues of the…

Goodlatte, a great pumpkin, Marro, adult store in Staunton

Chris Graham

Winners and Losers column by Chris Graham LOSER: Bob Goodlatte not seeking Senate nomination Talk had been out there for years that Goodlatte might be interested in succeeding John Warner when the senator stepped down – and that talk intensified when Warner put the Sixth District congressman’s name on a short list of people he…

Breaking down the 24th Senate race

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham He had to fend off perhaps the fight of his political life in June with a party-primary challenge from Rockbridge County businessman Scott Sayre. With the change of seasons from summer to fall, 24th District Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger would seem to have if not the second-biggest fight of…

Is it 2007? Or 2003?

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham We’re facing a budget shortfall, and it’s only going to get worse. The Democratic governor is telling us so – and in short order, he’s going to tell us that we need to raise taxes to meet our core needs. The year is 2003 – or is it 2007? “When you…

Funding for Wayne passes House

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Funding for the Wayne Theatre renovation project in Downtown Waynesboro has passed the House of Representatives. Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte had the measure appropriating $300,000 for the Wayne renovation included in the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for fiscal-year 2008. The appropriations act passed the House on…