Political Empowerment

Increase the number of registered African American and other minority voters.
Train African American and other minority voters on the voting process and improve voter awareness of civil rights issues.
Hold elected and appointed officials accountable on civil rights issues and encourage African American, other minority, and pro-civil rights to seek public offices and roles.
Increase voter turnout in African American and other minority communities.
Promote election reform and enforcement of laws protecting and promoting voter participation and voting rights.
Listed below is contact information for the various elected officials representing Hanover County in local, State, and Federal government capacities.

The following constitutional offices are elected every four years.

Local Elected Officials

The Virginia General Assembly begins each year on the second Wednesday in January. During odd-numbered years a short 30-day session is held. During even-numbered years a longer 60-day session is held.

One hundred delegates from across the state make up the House of Delegates. Republicans hold a 64-34 majority over Democrats, with two delegates being Independent. The State Senate has 40 members. Twenty-two are Republicans and 18 are Democrats. Hanover has three representatives to the General Assembly.

The Fourth Senatorial district stretches from Hanover on the west to the Chesapeake Bay in the east. Caroline is its northernmost boundary and Charles city is its southernmost. Hanover also has two House Districts.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROPOSES INITIATIVES

(Jan. 31, 2006)

County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. has presented his proposed initiatives for the coming fiscal year to the Board of Supervisors.

The proposed initiatives for the County government are:

· Contract for the new Emergency Communication Radio System and complete the system design. The system was part of the 2005 Bond Referendum question approved by voters in November.

· Design the initial Bond Referendum projects, potentially including the Mechanicsville Library, Farrington and Ashland fire stations and some parks improvements.

· Review and update the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, with emphasis on the Suburban Services Area, the Economic Development area and rural development area.

· Explore the development of a land preservation program which would access Federal and State funds.

· Establish Succession Planning and Leadership Development programs in light of the fact that 41% of senior management staff is eligible to retire in the next 6 years.

· The Board to provide funding and collaboration with the School Board to support the planning and development of the Trades-Based Center behind Hanover High School. This facility was also part of the 2005 Bond Referendum question.

· Prepare a plan for Hanover’s participation in the Richmond Region 2007 celebration.

· Develop a Public Safety Strategic Plan that advances the concept of a safe community.

· Develop a Human Service Strategic Plan to establish priorities related to delivery of services.

· Develop funding alternatives which in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation will provide advanced construction timetables for critical construction projects.

The Board is not scheduled to adopt its Initiatives for FY06-07 until the conclusion of the budget process in April, but liked what it heard.

CITIZEN SURVEY RESULTS REPORTED TO BOARD

According to a Hanover County Citizens Survey conducted by the National Research Center, 92% of responding residents considered the overall quality of life in Hanover County to be “good” (64%) or “excellent” (28%). This was the best response of any locality in the South Region.

Hanover County also ranked tops in the South Region as far as being “a place to raise children” and 77% of responding residents rated the overall quality of County services as “good” (65%) or “excellent” (12%).

Those were some of the highlights from the 2005 Hanover County Citizens Survey reported to the Board of Supervisors last week. The survey will be used to help develop the Board’s initiatives, measure performance of County departments and help create an informed County budget and Comprehensive Plan.

The National Research Center of Boulder, CO mailed the survey to 1,200 randomly-selected Hanover County addresses last summer. Surveys were mailed proportionately to residents in all seven of the County’s districts and asked respondents for their opinions about the quality of life in Hanover and services offered by the County government. Five hundred and forty (540) responses were received, representing an excellent response rate of 45%.

Complete survey results can be read here and hard copies are available at each branch of the Pamunkey Regional Library. They can also be purchased on CD for a cost of $4.50; call 365-6005 for more information.

Over 350 local governments across the U.S. have used the National Citizen Survey, enabling the National Research Center to compare Hanover County’s results with those of other localities of similar size and demographics.

BOARD’S MEETING SCHEDULE THROUGH APRIL

Upcoming meetings are Feb. 8 and 22. The Board generally meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, with the first monthly meeting generally beginning at 6 p.m. and the 2nd monthly meeting generally beginning at 2 p.m.

However, in March and April the Board’s meeting schedule will change somewhat. In addition to the regular March 8 and 22 meetings, the Board may hold a budget workshop on March 15 and will hold a public hearing on the proposed County budget on March 29 at 7 p.m.

In April, the Board will meet on the first Wednesday (April 5) instead of the second Wednesday. The Board will also meet on April 26. The Board also plans to have a retreat with the Planning Commission in the early spring to discuss the upcoming Comprehensive Plan Update.

The public is invited to all Board meetings.