Thank you to Cathie Fisher Braman of the Fredericksburg League of Women Voters for writing this 'FXBG Advance' commentary about NON-PARTISAN LOCAL ELECTIONS in the city of Fredericksburg. I am a founding member of the Fredericksburg League and support it because I know I can get a NON-PARTISAN view of the issues that face all of us. Not just the Democrats, not just the GOPs, the Indpts. All of us.
I am a cradle Dem, influenced even in first grade by Franciscan nuns who were in love with JFK and wanted us to sense a moment in history of the first Catholic president. These nuns taught us JFK's campaign song 'High Hopes' (Frank Sinatra). For extra credit, we memorized and recited Robert Frost's 'Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening' in preparation for watching him recite his poem 'The Gift Outright' at JFK's inauguration.
I have knocked at least 40,000 area doors in support of Dem candidates since 2007. I am on the DPVA Dem Party of Virginia Central Committee and have served many years as Chair of the CD7 Women's Caucus, Secretary & Vice Chair of the Fred Dems.
With that being said, it is wrong of the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee to do the LOCAL endorsements. LOCAL endorsement ballot divides the city into political 'tribes'.
Since 2007, I've worked with many Fred Dem Chairs and Executive Boards.
Never have I seen such back-door manipulation by 'power players' who not only subvert the FDC Executive Board but get their people in place on the city's commissions/boards to muddle in the Dem influence on the City Council.
The Economic Development Authority is one example of how the local Dem party is controlling what happens in the city. Former EDA Chair Mitzi Brown (Councilor Jon Gerlach's wife) used to be able to name the EDA appointee directly to Council.
The EDA by-laws have since been rewritten to remove that power from the Chair. The by-laws now align with other city commissions/boards, so that the Chair is only allowed to serve notice to the Clerk of Council that there is 'a vacancy' on the EDA.
But prior to that EDA by-laws change, we have 'fox guarding the henhouse' DATA CENTER developer for Stack Infrastructure on it.
and not one Councilor or city official would respond to a member of the Fredericksburg Neighborhoods Coalition who filed a FOIA (Freedom of Info Act) requesting the name of the DC developer.
That DC developer name is not proprietary info. The University of Mary Washington students came through with the Stack name through extensive research of their FOIA emails and presented it at the 2-22-25 Student Climate Action Summit.
A few days later, on 2-25-25, the Council held its 'Done Deal' stacked vote, the usual 7-0 vote (all Democrats who will not tolerate any dissent on the dais), that the DC Performance Agreement Standards document was ready to vote on. Despite the Planning Commission on 2-12-25 voting NO (4-3), it wasn't ready.
Just one example of when one party dominates local government decisions.
It's unhealthy what's going on in the city because of one party domination on the dais. It has no 'balance' in which 'diversity of thought' is valued and more robust decisions are made in representing ALL stakeholders. Potholes in the city don't need a political party to fix it. Yet the 'virtue signalers' in the Fred Dems say potholes are based on Dem values.
Nah, 'gaslighting' begone. Not buying it. Just fix the darn pothole.
We now see that political party domination on the LOCAL dais leads to reduced accountability (resulting in more FOIAs, lawsuit), a lack of trust, a lack of representation for minority views, and policies that are misaligned with the community's broader interests, like 'balanced growth' in 22401 instead of this kowtowing to developers who use a 1891 Fredericksburg Development Company map to justify violating the Comp Plan zoning to get 'double the density' townhouses and soul-sucking 'big uglies' casting shadow on sidewalks right past the cemetery on William St.
In a one-party-dominated council, the majority faces little to no political opposition, which can erode the checks and balances critical to a healthy democracy. When this current Council got in, some of them crowed that they were there to represent the people who elected them. uh, no.
Part of the divide again. Cast us into political 'tribes' like this FDC endorsed ballot does.
Look at all the uncontested seats in the city. Know that the Fred Dems endorsement divides. Who would want to run in this environment?
Fred Dems endorsed ballot is the lazy candidate's way of getting a quick vote at the poll site without having to do extensive door-knocking like the non-endorsed candidates want to and are doing right now. The non-endorsed candidates have been out door-knocking since Jan 2's ice. Not measly efforts. Extensive. to listen to each voter at each door to hear their concerns.
They've also changed some voter's minds. when these voters hear the full story of what the endorsed candidates did not do or do not know because they don't have the time to devote to attending community meetings that have been happening for years.
Say NO to any candidate who takes the Fred Dem endorsed ballot (GOP says they're going to put out one in response. It's likely saber-rattling to get the Fred Dems to knock it off with theirs. They'll pull out when Fred Dems, the initiators of the divisive endorsed ballot, yank their endorsed ballot).
The following candidates are going to win anyway since they're the only ones running. Just don't vote for them if they allow the Fred Dems endorsement bubble by their name. To show them that it is wrong of them to take the FDC endorsed ballot.
If they put in a written request to Fred Dems to take their name off the 'endorsed' ballot, and there's no bubble by their name, then go ahead and vote for them.
Otherwise, 'no vote' them because they are part of the problem in dividing the city. Just like Mayor Kerry Devine's missed opportunity to start her term of office as a non-partisan Mayor. She was unopposed. It's a no-brainer: Don't take the FDC endorsement:
School Board Fred Dems endorsed candidates running unopposed:
Ward 1: Andy Wolfenbarger
Ward 2: Kathleen Pomeroy
Ward 4: Malvina Rollins Kay
How can constituents feel they're getting a fair hearing when the following two candidates are taking the Fred Dems endorsement? Endorsement from their professional organizations, sure. But a political party? NO. They need to get their name off the Fred Dems endorsed ballot.
Commonwealth's Attorney: Libby Humphries
Sheriff: Rashawn Cowles
Finally, the involvement of political parties in formally non-partisan races can have real-world implications. In August 2025, an endorsement by the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee was rescinded for two federal employees due to concerns about violating the Hatch Act, which restricts the political activities of federal workers.
According to an interpretation by the Office of Special Counsel, a partisan endorsement can make a non-partisan race effectively partisan under the Hatch Act.
Yank the endorsements Fred Dems, for all candidates. Do the right thing for the city.
Thank you to Cathie Fisher Braman of the Fredericksburg League of Women Voters for writing this 'FXBG Advance' commentary about NON-PARTISAN LOCAL ELECTIONS in the city of Fredericksburg. I am a founding member of the Fredericksburg League and support it because I know I can get a NON-PARTISAN view of the issues that face all of us. Not just the Democrats, not just the GOPs, the Indpts. All of us.
I am a cradle Dem, influenced even in first grade by Franciscan nuns who were in love with JFK and wanted us to sense a moment in history of the first Catholic president. These nuns taught us JFK's campaign song 'High Hopes' (Frank Sinatra). For extra credit, we memorized and recited Robert Frost's 'Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening' in preparation for watching him recite his poem 'The Gift Outright' at JFK's inauguration.
I have knocked at least 40,000 area doors in support of Dem candidates since 2007. I am on the DPVA Dem Party of Virginia Central Committee and have served many years as Chair of the CD7 Women's Caucus, Secretary & Vice Chair of the Fred Dems.
With that being said, it is wrong of the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee to do the LOCAL endorsements. LOCAL endorsement ballot divides the city into political 'tribes'.
Since 2007, I've worked with many Fred Dem Chairs and Executive Boards.
Never have I seen such back-door manipulation by 'power players' who not only subvert the FDC Executive Board but get their people in place on the city's commissions/boards to muddle in the Dem influence on the City Council.
The Economic Development Authority is one example of how the local Dem party is controlling what happens in the city. Former EDA Chair Mitzi Brown (Councilor Jon Gerlach's wife) used to be able to name the EDA appointee directly to Council.
The EDA by-laws have since been rewritten to remove that power from the Chair. The by-laws now align with other city commissions/boards, so that the Chair is only allowed to serve notice to the Clerk of Council that there is 'a vacancy' on the EDA.
But prior to that EDA by-laws change, we have 'fox guarding the henhouse' DATA CENTER developer for Stack Infrastructure on it.
and not one Councilor or city official would respond to a member of the Fredericksburg Neighborhoods Coalition who filed a FOIA (Freedom of Info Act) requesting the name of the DC developer.
That DC developer name is not proprietary info. The University of Mary Washington students came through with the Stack name through extensive research of their FOIA emails and presented it at the 2-22-25 Student Climate Action Summit.
A few days later, on 2-25-25, the Council held its 'Done Deal' stacked vote, the usual 7-0 vote (all Democrats who will not tolerate any dissent on the dais), that the DC Performance Agreement Standards document was ready to vote on. Despite the Planning Commission on 2-12-25 voting NO (4-3), it wasn't ready.
Just one example of when one party dominates local government decisions.
It's unhealthy what's going on in the city because of one party domination on the dais. It has no 'balance' in which 'diversity of thought' is valued and more robust decisions are made in representing ALL stakeholders. Potholes in the city don't need a political party to fix it. Yet the 'virtue signalers' in the Fred Dems say potholes are based on Dem values.
Nah, 'gaslighting' begone. Not buying it. Just fix the darn pothole.
We now see that political party domination on the LOCAL dais leads to reduced accountability (resulting in more FOIAs, lawsuit), a lack of trust, a lack of representation for minority views, and policies that are misaligned with the community's broader interests, like 'balanced growth' in 22401 instead of this kowtowing to developers who use a 1891 Fredericksburg Development Company map to justify violating the Comp Plan zoning to get 'double the density' townhouses and soul-sucking 'big uglies' casting shadow on sidewalks right past the cemetery on William St.
In a one-party-dominated council, the majority faces little to no political opposition, which can erode the checks and balances critical to a healthy democracy. When this current Council got in, some of them crowed that they were there to represent the people who elected them. uh, no.
Part of the divide again. Cast us into political 'tribes' like this FDC endorsed ballot does.
Look at all the uncontested seats in the city. Know that the Fred Dems endorsement divides. Who would want to run in this environment?
Fred Dems endorsed ballot is the lazy candidate's way of getting a quick vote at the poll site without having to do extensive door-knocking like the non-endorsed candidates want to and are doing right now. The non-endorsed candidates have been out door-knocking since Jan 2's ice. Not measly efforts. Extensive. to listen to each voter at each door to hear their concerns.
They've also changed some voter's minds. when these voters hear the full story of what the endorsed candidates did not do or do not know because they don't have the time to devote to attending community meetings that have been happening for years.
Say NO to any candidate who takes the Fred Dem endorsed ballot (GOP says they're going to put out one in response. It's likely saber-rattling to get the Fred Dems to knock it off with theirs. They'll pull out when Fred Dems, the initiators of the divisive endorsed ballot, yank their endorsed ballot).
The following candidates are going to win anyway since they're the only ones running. Just don't vote for them if they allow the Fred Dems endorsement bubble by their name. To show them that it is wrong of them to take the FDC endorsed ballot.
If they put in a written request to Fred Dems to take their name off the 'endorsed' ballot, and there's no bubble by their name, then go ahead and vote for them.
Otherwise, 'no vote' them because they are part of the problem in dividing the city. Just like Mayor Kerry Devine's missed opportunity to start her term of office as a non-partisan Mayor. She was unopposed. It's a no-brainer: Don't take the FDC endorsement:
School Board Fred Dems endorsed candidates running unopposed:
Ward 1: Andy Wolfenbarger
Ward 2: Kathleen Pomeroy
Ward 4: Malvina Rollins Kay
How can constituents feel they're getting a fair hearing when the following two candidates are taking the Fred Dems endorsement? Endorsement from their professional organizations, sure. But a political party? NO. They need to get their name off the Fred Dems endorsed ballot.
Commonwealth's Attorney: Libby Humphries
Sheriff: Rashawn Cowles
Finally, the involvement of political parties in formally non-partisan races can have real-world implications. In August 2025, an endorsement by the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee was rescinded for two federal employees due to concerns about violating the Hatch Act, which restricts the political activities of federal workers.
According to an interpretation by the Office of Special Counsel, a partisan endorsement can make a non-partisan race effectively partisan under the Hatch Act.
Yank the endorsements Fred Dems, for all candidates. Do the right thing for the city.