FROM THE EDITOR: Rays of Hope Shine Brightest on Our Darkest Days
Partnership of City Council candidates Susanna Finn and Kenneth Gantt is an example we should aspire to when the political temperature rises.
By Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Over 63 years, I have lived through and reported on more political violence than I care to remember.
On September 11, 2001, I was working for National Journal and reported on Islamic terrorism.
In my youth, I remember the fear the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., and the shooting of George Wallace, caused in the community I grew up in in North Carolina.
The attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life occurred during my freshman year of college — I still recall watching the images with my dorm-mates on a small, portable black-and-white TV with an antenna.
The Oklahoma City bombing occurred in 1995 — we were living in South Carolina with a one-year-old child, and I still recall how our friends with young children recoiled at the horror that unfolded as children at the facility’s daycare were killed in the attack. That horror was amplified for family friends whose young children were at the day care facility in the federal building in Columbia.
During the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabby Giffords I was working for a Washington-area think tank.
In 2017, I was working at U.S. News & World Report during the shooting that nearly took the life of Rep. Steve Scalise.
And most of us remember the January 6 uprising, the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband John, the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, and the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson.
Then, yesterday, the brazen murder of political activist Charlie Kirk.
If there is a common thread in the reactions to all of these events, it’s a call to lower the temperature in the nation’s political discourse.
And yet, usually within hours, social media is filled with posts by people falling into the predictable patterns of hate speech that we all know is a problem but seem to be incapable of letting go of.
Hope Abides
Turning the tide of hateful rhetoric will not happen through a program, legislation, or any other official channel. It happens one person, one debate, one relationship at a time.
In short, it happens in our own backyards. It happens when we hold ourselves accountable. And it happens when we choose to look first for the better angels in those people we disagree with.
It is fortuitous, therefore, that in wake of yet another inexcusable tragedy, we have in our own backyard a shining example of what respect for those we may disagree with can accomplish.
For weeks, the city of Fredericksburg has watched as tensions over coming local elections escalated, threatening to force one or more candidates out of the race. Yet, through it all, the two candidates whose races were disrupted by this argument found a way to work together to find a solution.
The Advance does not, as a matter of routine, publish press releases. Today, we are making an exception. We are reproducing, in their entirety, the press releases issued by Kenneth Gantt — candidate for City Council, Ward 1 — and Susanna Finn — candidate for City Council, Ward 3.
There remain wide disagreements among local individuals and parties about the conflict that jeopardized these two candidates’ races.
What matters is that these two candidates rose above it to find a solution.
On the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, and in the wake of an unspeakable assassination, it helps to be reminded that there are people who still know how to lower the temperature and get on with the business of democracy.
And that on our darkest days, their rays of hope shine brightest.
Joint Susanna Finn, Kenneth Gantt Press Release
Ward 3 City Councilor and candidate Susanna Finn and Ward 1 City Council candidate Kenneth Gantt today announced their collaboration to secure Fredericksburg’s standing as a “designated locality” under the Hatch Act, demonstrating proactive local leadership aimed at addressing a critical challenge for local elections.
Finn and Gantt worked together to provide clarity and protections so federal employees can serve the community without fear of legal complications while allowing local political committee’s right to free speech. They have submitted the formal request to the Office of Personal Management to recognize Fredericksburg as a “designated locality.”
“As federal employees, we honor our oath to serve—and for our Fredericksburg neighbors, that service is simply closer to home,” said Gantt. “Through partnership, we are advancing Designated Locality status as a team, the same kind of teamwork our community should expect from anyone seeking to represent and serve it.”
“Good leadership means tackling real problems head-on, collaboratively, for the betterment of the community,” said Finn. “By adding Fredericksburg as a designated locality, we’re giving federal employees the ability to keep serving the public with confidence.”
The effort reflects a shared interest in addressing a technical but important issue for the Fredericksburg community and public-serving workforce, aligning the City with neighboring localities that already operate with this designation. Federal civil servants bring proven leadership, selfless service, and critical management skills that strengthen municipal governance and directly benefit their neighbors. With this designation, Fredericksburg’s voters will now have the choice of some of its most qualified and engaged leaders.
The Office of Special Counsel has advised that while the designation is under review, federal employees may continue to participate in nominally nonpartisan races in accordance with Hatch Act provisions allowing Finn and Gantt remain on the ballot for council elections in November.
Ken Gantt Press Release
Kenneth Gantt, candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Fredericksburg City Council, announced today that he is resuming full campaign activity following a decision by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to grant a stay related to the potential Hatch Act implications of participating in a local election that had been affected by partisan endorsements.
The stay comes as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its Office of the General Counsel (OGC) continue their review of a formal request submitted by Gantt and fellow candidate Susanna Finn to designate the City of Fredericksburg as a “Designated Locality”—a status that clarifies federal employee eligibility to run for non-partisan local offices in areas near Washington, D.C.
“I want to sincerely thank my friends, neighbors, and supporters for encouraging me to stay in this race,” said Gantt. “Throughout this process, I have followed federal regulations and refrained from campaigning, even as others continued their efforts. Now, with this stay in place, I am fully cleared to campaign—something I do with renewed energy and purpose on behalf of the people of Fredericksburg.”
Gantt, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and current senior federal civilian, has long served Fredericksburg through hands-on involvement, including as:
President of the Village of Idlewild HOA for 18 years
Member of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission (8 years)
Member of the Police Department’s Citizens Advisory Panel (3 years)
Member of the City’s Teen Violence Steering Committee
President of the Virginia American Youth Football Alliance for 8 years
A tireless volunteer with the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
“People have asked me why I stayed in this race through all the uncertainty,” Gantt continued. “The answer is simple: I care deeply about our city. Like my opponents, I love Fredericksburg—but I’ve also put in the work, day after day, year after year, to make this city stronger. From our youth to our seniors, I’ve remained engaged and active because this is my home, and I want to continue being a part of building its future.”
As the campaign moves forward, Gantt reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, accountability, and meaningful public engagement.
“This race is not about titles or recognition—it’s about people,” said Gantt. “It’s about making sure our city remains a place of choice—for history, for families, for business, for education, and for community. I want to be the voice that reflects our shared values and aspirations, not just for Ward 1, but for all of Fredericksburg.”
Gantt’s campaign emphasizes increased community participation in key city decisions, including the evaluation of data centers, smart growth and housing, and preserving our historic and natural resources. His slogan, “Amping Up the Voice of the Burg!” highlights his focus on elevating the voices of residents in shaping the city’s future.
“My neighbors are the heart of this city—and I’m running to serve alongside them, not above them,” Gantt concluded. “Let’s continue this journey together. Let’s win with Ken—for the Burg.”
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Just to be clear, it was not the cartoon but the blog posted with the cartoon. Absent the Advance distancing itself, it appears that the Advance supports same and further divide our community.
Thanks for posting. Agree that vile language and hate have no place and especially in journalism. Maybe Advance should look at their own house and the hate behind your cartoonist. Or, is there a double standard?