Thoughts from our Chair
November 5
Good morning,
Congratulations! Mathews, Virginia, and the nation sent a message to bullies and tyrants last night that serious, smart, and nice people are in charge. I am so proud to be a Democrat today. For all our foibles, we do know how to organize and turn out the vote.
First, all praise goes to Patrick Beattie and David Walsh for taking on Mathews's own mini-Trumps and getting them out of office. The vote totals tell it all. Mathews voters will no longer tolerate bad behavior from our elected officials. Civility is back.
The sweep of the three highest offices by Spanberger, Hashmi, and Jones, plus the 64-seat Democratic majority in the House of Delegates, shows Virginia is a modern, forward-thinking state. We are a national bellwether.
Our brave Elaine Walters ran a great campaign, but the Republican hold on the 68th House District remains strong. Elaine has a bright future in politics if she wants it. Speaking of bright futures, Leslie Mehta, who ran against Wittman last year in the 1st CD, won a seat in the VA House of Delegates for the 73rd District last night.
One of the hardest and most rewarding elements of political campaigns is door-to-door canvassing. Canvassing in Mathews is particularly challenging, given the distances between houses and the bizarre house numbering patterns. For me, the opportunity to meet and talk with new people is fun. We had a great canvassing team this year: Maureen Bongarzone, Susan Riggs, Deb Krahn, Butler Knight, Melinda Sprague, Christine Ulrich, Janet Deschak, and Ed Donohue. I want to thank all the canvassers for their dedication, and all the Mathews voters who graciously agreed to talk with us.
Regarding signs: Kent will start taking down the large signs today. We are saving Elaine's signs, but the Spanberger et al. large signs coated with plastic are hard to recycle and likely will go to the dump. Same with plastic-coated yard signs. Please save all of Elaine's yard signs. You can leave them up, and someone will pick them up. Or bring them to the MCDC meeting on November 15. If you have Spanberger et al. plastic bag signs, they can be bundled and put in the plastic bag recycling container at Food Lion. The metal wire frames go to the metal disposal container at the dump
Next meeting of Mathews Dems is Saturday, November 15, at 10 am in the Chesapeake Bank Community Room.
With deep gratitude!
Sheila
Bud Ward with President Obama
Bud Ward worked at Anheuser Busch in Williamsburg starting in 1982. He was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Bud was active in the Mathews Democratic Committee for many years and became chair in 2012. He also became vice chair for the Southeast Region of the Virginia Democratic Party in 2012.
Under Bud’s leadership, our annual Crab Steam grew to be one of the most successful fundraisers of rural Democratic Committees in the state. He was well known among Democratic leaders across the state and was close friends with former Governor Ralph Northam. He completed his tenure as chair of the Mathews committee in 2020, but continued to be active in local and state Democratic affairs.
In recent years, Bud became an integral part of the effort to tell the story of the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island. He helped form the association of the descendants of Black people who were enslaved by Gwynn’s Island white families and who lived and worked on Gwynn’s Island after emancipation. The first reunions of the descendants were held on Bud’s property on the Piankatank River. He was so determined that the historic marker commemorating the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island be located on the island that he offered his property as the place for it to be installed. It is a fitting tribute to Bud that this historic marker will be erected in front of his house on Old Ferry Road.
Bud was an unapologetic champion of all principles and priorities of the Democratic Party in a place where not too many people agreed with him. He loved Mathews County nonetheless.
Bud was active in the Mathews Democratic Committee for many years and became chair in 2012. He also became vice chair for the Southeast Region of the Virginia Democratic Party in 2012.
Under Bud’s leadership, our annual Crab Steam grew to be one of the most successful fundraisers of rural Democratic Committees in the state. He was well known among Democratic leaders across the state and was close friends with former Governor Ralph Northam. He completed his tenure as chair of the Mathews committee in 2020, but continued to be active in local and state Democratic affairs.
In recent years, Bud became an integral part of the effort to tell the story of the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island. He helped form the association of the descendants of Black people who were enslaved by Gwynn’s Island white families and who lived and worked on Gwynn’s Island after emancipation. The first reunions of the descendants were held on Bud’s property on the Piankatank River. He was so determined that the historic marker commemorating the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island be located on the island that he offered his property as the place for it to be installed. It is a fitting tribute to Bud that this historic marker will be erected in front of his house on Old Ferry Road.
Bud was an unapologetic champion of all principles and priorities of the Democratic Party in a place where not too many people agreed with him. He loved Mathews County nonetheless.
But What Can We DO?
Posted by Inequality Media, Robert Reich, professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator, tells us the 5 things we can do to protect our democracy.
Reich served in the Ford, Carter, Clinton, and Obama administrations.
Reich served in the Ford, Carter, Clinton, and Obama administrations.