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Tammy Belinsky (right) and Phyllis Butterworth (at left) greet visitors at the social Saturday at Pine Tavern Restaurant.

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Voters talk to candidates about the issues at Democrat event Saturday

by Wanda Combs
Editor

Voters got an opportunity to speak with candidates for state and local office at a Floyd County Democrat Party event Saturday. Approximately 63 attended the free hot dog/ice cream social at Pine Tavern Restaurant.
Kim Chiapetto, party chairperson, said the event went well. “It ended up being like an open forum.” One of the candidates present remarked that when people were sitting at the tables they were “talking about issues and things they were concerned about in the county,” she said. Some of the issues were related to farming, electric power rates, roads and safety.
Speeches were short, Chiapetto added, and the extra time allowed the politicians to “mill” to the tables. “They sat and talked with people.”
Chiapetto said most of those attending the event Saturday stayed beyond the two hours set aside for the social.
State Senator Roscoe Reynolds told the group this is an important election that could bring a majority of Democrats back to Virginia’s General Assembly. “It is abundantly clear the Republicans do not know how to govern Virginia.”
Reynolds reminded that he was the only member of the General Assembly who spoke before the State Corporation Commission in opposition to proposed rate increases by American Electric Power. And, he said, it was the “Republican leadership” that sponsored the Dominion Resources Bill that will figure into how future rate increases are considered. He said he would fight to repeal that legislation if he is returned to the State Senate.
Eric Ferguson, who is seeking a seat in the House of Delegates, recognized Floyd County Supervisor candidates Cynthia Babb and Bill Gardner, and said he would look forward to working with them should all be elected. “They represent the commonsense leadership Floyd County needs.”
In discussing his own race, Ferguson referred to the advertising put out against him by his Republican opponent, Charles Poindexter, and apologized for the negative campaigning. He said he had chosen to talk about the issues – from immigration to health care. “Polling indicates we’re winning Floyd County with Boothe (Jerry) and Poindexter in the race.”
Babb, who is a candidate for the Little River District Supervisor, said this was her first time running for public office, and her goal is “to open up the governments of Floyd County to the people of Floyd County…and find out where all the money went.”
Gardner, Burks Fork Supervisor candidate, said his education, experience and volunteerism in the community have prepared him for the office. He said planning is an important strategy in county government.