Transparency News, 11/13/20

 

If you’ve been to a Chesapeake City Council meeting, chances are you’ve seen the body vote on the bread and butter of local government: approving dog grooming businesses, extending recycling contracts or funding the school district nutrition plan. Here’s one thing you haven’t heard much of: dissenting votes. In the past two years, council members have voted unanimously on 94% of agenda items, according to a Virginian-Pilot review of meeting minutes. It could be a sign of good government, experts say, proof of trust and collegiality among the nine people elected to govern the city and craft public policy. It could be a sign of a positive relationship between council and the city manager they hire, who’s effectively the CEO of city government. Being on the council is a part-time job, and the manager runs the government day to day. It could also mean many disagreements are settled and discussions had before the council’s Tuesday night meetings start. Council members can pick up the phone or meet privately with one another, city staff and with developers vying for council approval.
The Virginian-Pilot

Democrats on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors are seeking reimbursement for $95,400 in legal fees stemming from a failed lawsuit filed by three county residents over a meeting called by the police department in the wake of a May 30 protest in Manassas.   Attorneys for all five Democratic supervisors filed a court motion Oct. 16 asking a judge to require the plaintiffs pay the legal fees, writing that the lawsuit’s claims were “frivolous assertions of unfounded factual and legal claims.” Retired Fairfax County Judge Dennis Smith dismissed the lawsuit on Oct. 7. Attorneys for all five Democratic supervisors filed a court motion Oct. 16 asking a judge to require the plaintiffs pay the legal fees, writing that the lawsuit’s claims were “frivolous assertions of unfounded factual and legal claims.” Retired Fairfax County Judge Dennis Smith dismissed the lawsuit on Oct. 7.
Prince William Times

A significant discrepancy in the latest results of a Richmond City Council race is again leading to allegations of poor transparency in the city’s election office. After seeing his count lowered by about 1,000 votes in the results certified by local officials Tuesday, wiping out what appeared to be a slim lead in the race, 2nd District candidate Tavarris Spinks said Thursday that he had not received an adequate explanation for the change. He also challenged the credibility of the election office, after similar complaints from another candidate last week. Kelley Losier, Spinks’ campaign manager, said: “If she is sincere about proving she is qualified to manage Richmond’s democratic process, all she needs to do is show the receipts.” Spinks announced earlier Thursday that he would be seeking more information about how the votes were counted after the election, but would be willing to accept the results even if they prove he loses.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Virginia received more than two dozen applications for mobile sports betting permits from companies interested in a piece of the state’s growing gambling market. But the Virginia Lottery is refusing to name the companies that applied, citing a public-records exemption the agency claims allows it to withhold information related to “investigations” of applicants or licensees. “The names of specific applicants will not be publicly released or acknowledged,” the Lottery said in a news release announcing it had received 25 sports betting applications last month. In response to follow-up questions, a Lottery spokesman said successful applicants will be identified when the licenses are awarded. But it wasn’t clear if the state will ever release a full list of applicants. The licensing investigations exemption to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act would allow regulators to conceal information uncovered about the inner workings of private companies. But the Lottery appears to be interpreting it to mean they don’t have to say who they’re vetting for a limited supply of potentially lucrative state-issued licenses. The secrecy around sports betting is similar to how Virginia officials handled the state’s first batch of medical cannabis licenses.
Virginia Mercury