The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
City Councilwoman Ella Ward announced on her Facebook page Thursday night she is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes for the 4th Congressional District.
Forbes has held the office since 2001.
Ward, a Democrat, said Friday that running for Congress has been in the back of her mind for "several months," and she decided to announce once the General Assembly approved the Republican-drawn congressional district map.
Assembly Democrats had proposed an alternative map that would have boosted the non-white population in Forbes' district, increasing the likelihood that Virginia would add a second black member to its congressional delegation, but that plan was defeated.
Ward, who is black, said that she will push for stronger minority representation.
Ward, who has served on the City Council since 2006 and on the Chesapeake School Board for six years before her council term, said she will continue to serve on the council throughout her campaign and step down if elected.
Marjon Rostami, 757-222-5207, marjon.rostami@pilotonline.com
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Really
Dr. Wards voting record on Chesapeake City Council leads me to believe I wouldn't vote for her if she was running for hall monitor.
really?
The City of Chesapeake was recently named the sixth best run city in the nation.
Bad Timing
With the Pentagon facing severe mandated budget cutting is now the time to remove our Representative from the House Armed Services Committee? Randy may not have, in many folks eyes, done much but what he does do is to advocate for the proection of the military presence in the Tidewater area.
In my opinion, Dr Ward has not demonstrated that she is a leader on Chesapeake City Council; which leads me to ask how will she do in the House of Representatives of the United States.
Politics
One Crook trying to replace another crook. This is all we get this day in time. Damn the Politicians.
Ella Ward is a bad choice for Chesapeake
Some readers may remember when Dr. Ward was on the Chesapeake School Board and voted to redistrict most of the kids in S.E. Hickory to the new Grassfield HS despite overwhelming opposition by concerned parents. I will never forget (or forgive) it; with the stroke of her pen, she increased the commute for kids in my neighborhood 400% and forcing them to bypass three closer high schools. It was especially bad for the military families stationed at Northwest Annex who's children are now forced to ride a bus two-hours per day. Ella Ward's actions violated the trust of parents, showed favoritism for one group over another and clearly demonstrates that she is not fit to hold public office.
Time for
good ol Randy to retire or be retired. He's been in there 12 years and about all he's done is collect a pay check. Help me out here Tea Partiers, name a bill he's written and passed that has helped the country?
How Congress Works - Automatic annual pay raise
In 1989, Congress passed an ethics reform law that included an annual cost of living adjustment. The pay raise is automatic unless Congress takes a vote to stop it. The law, even if it had the best of intentions, created a system where members of Congress receive raises without having to be on-record voting for them.
Members of Congress certainly have seen their pay increase over time. Members initially received $6 a day in 1789; today they receive $174,000 annually. Here are the salaries for the years 05 to 11
Year Annual salary
2005 $162,100
2006 $165,200
2007 $165,200
2008 $169,300
2009 $174,000
2010 $174,000
2011 $174,000
Thanks for pointing out what
Thanks for pointing out what these folks make. I vote we give them a raise. You couldn't pay me 174,000 to take the crap these people take getting dragged through the muck and misrepresentation by their detractors.
Good
I'm glad to see someone running against Forbes. I hope she succeeds.
Ok, other than "in god we
Ok, other than "in god we trust", someone please tell me what Forbes has done in his 10 years in congress?