CANDIDATE FORUMS
There will be three Candidate Forums in October, one sponsored by Our Children, Our Future (OCOF), and two sponsored by our local LWV.
State Candidates
The OCOF candidate forum will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church, 503 N High Street. District 51 Legislative candidates have been invited to hear concerns related to Our Children, Our Future issues.
The first LWV Forum will be held Thursday, October 13, 7-9 p.m. at South Middle School (500 E. Parkway Drive). WV State Senate candidates for Districts 2, 13, and 14; and WV House of Delegates candidates for districts 5, 49 and 51 have been invited. Candidates will have time to introduce themselves and respond to questions from the audience. Bring your questions to be read by the moderator, and enjoy refreshments and informal conversation with the candidates after the forum.
County Candidates
The second LWV candidate forum will be held Thursday, October 20, 7-9 p.m. at South Middle School. Candidates from the contested offices have been invited: Eldon Callen (D) and Sean Sikora (R) for County Commission; Carey Blaney (D) and Kyle McAvoy (R) for County Clerk; and Perry Palmer (D) and Richard Panico (R) for Sheriff. There will be refreshments and time after the forum to talk with the candidates.
Annual Meeting May 21, 2016
The Annual Meeting 2016 was held at Sargasso Restaurant on May 21. After the noon Luncheon, Jonathan Rosenbaum introduced the Guest Speaker, Stephen Smith, Executive Director for WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition. The title of his talk was “The Fight to End Child Poverty in West Virginia”, and his presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session. Jonathan then presented “Democracy in Action” Awards, to Mike Ellis of West TV, Catherine Lozier (in absentia), and Cynthia O’Brien. Each of the awardees gave a thank you speech (Shirley Rosenbaum read a letter from Catherine Lozier).
Here is the link to the Annual Meeting video: https://youtu.be/WiKe9leHJoI
During the business part of the meeting, the Budget and Program for 2016-2017 were adopted.
Members approved the Budget Committee’s recommendation to increase dues to $48 individual, $72 household. The increase will go into effect in January 2017.
Board Members for 2016-2018 are:
1st VP Vicki Conner
2nd VP Catherine Lozier
Treasurer Lyndell Millecchia
Director Marlene Frich
Director Barbara White
Director Nancy Bird
Nominating Committee: Lyndell Millecchia, Janis Gunel, John Bird
Continuing Board Members (elected in 2015) are: Jonathan Rosenbaum, President; Penny Thomas, Director; and Shirley Rosenbaum, Director
Bylaws Change Recommended by LWVUS
A league amendment changes the Membership Types, from “citizens at least 18 years of age” to “persons at least 16 years of age” as a requirement for becoming a voting member of the League. Since the bylaw change was adopted at the national level, it does not need to go before our membership. At its August Board meeting, our board voted to accept the amendment and incorporate it into our local bylaws.
OCOF Workshop a Success!
The Workshop on Civic Engagement, hosted by our League, was held July 28. Our Children, Our Future leaders conducted the workshop. About 40 persons, many from area non-profit organizations, participated in discussions and activities throughout the day.
LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the League is open to all persons (both men and women) over the age of 16. Dues of $44 for an individual, $66 for a household, and $22 for a student are required annually. Dues paid in 2016 assure membership through the end of 2017.
Note: In January 2017, dues will be increased to $48 individual, $72 household, $24 student.
Dues may be sent to Lyndell Millecchia, 476 Lawnview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. You can also pay with your credit card at http://tinyurl.com/paylwvmm or you may send money from your PayPal account to mmtreasury@lwvwv.org .
Contributions are also welcomed and encouraged. Checks should be made out to “LWV Morgantown-Mon. Co.” (Membership dues and contributions to the League of Women Voters are not deductible as a personal or business expense for tax purposes.)
2016 West Virginia Election Dates and Deadlines
August 16 – November 2
Voting Absentee
All eligible voters may apply to receive an absentee ballot by mail
October 18
Voter Registration Deadline
You may register or update your registration online at https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register
If you prefer to complete your voter registration form by hand, you may download a blank voter registration form to mail or deliver in-person from https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register
October 26 – November 5
Early Voting is open during regular business hours at each county courthouse or courthouse annex. Early Voting is also available each Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Any registered voter within Monongalia County is eligible for early voting beginning October 26th and ending November 5th. The official times and locations of early voting are as follows: Mountaineer Mall, Mason Dixon Park, Pierpont Landing, Westover Senior Center, and the WVU Alumni Center*.
- Wednesday, October 26>
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 27
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 28
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 29
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 31
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 1
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 2
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 3
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 4
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, November 5
- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.*Please note that the WVU Alumni Center will only have an Early Voting Location from October 31st thru November 4th.
November 1 – November 8
Emergency Absentee Voting – Contact County Clerk
Eligible citizens may request an emergency absentee ballot until noon Election Day.
November 8
General Election Day polls are open 6:30am – 7:30pm
Review your West Virginia Voter’s Bill of Rights
Visit http://tinyurl.com/wv-voters-bill-of-rights to learn your rights. WV does not require Voter ID. However, poll workers may ask for identification at the polling place ONLY if you are a first-time voter since registering. Call 304-558-6000 or 1-866-SOS-VOTE for election violations. If for some reason your voter’s right to request a ballot has been challenged by the poll clerk, reasons may include:
• If the voter’s registration record is not available at the time of the election.
• If the signature written by the person in the poll book does not correspond with the signature on the registration record.
• If the registration record indicates any other legal disqualifications
You are permitted to vote using a Provisional Ballot, and you have the legal right under WV Code §3-1-41 to check the status of your Provisional Ballot at the Provisional Ballot Tracking page at the Secretary of State website.
No More Straight Ticket Voting
During last year’s WV legislative session, a change was made to WV Code eliminating the option of voting a straight party ticket in the General Election (§3-6-2 (g)). Effective this General Election:
There is no straight-party ticket voting
West Virginia voters will no longer be able to vote for all candidates in a political party by making a single mark on the ballot
Every voter will need to individually select each candidate they wish to vote for
Other Ballot Issues
School Levy ballot item. This is a five year excess levy, a continuation of the levy that is currently in effect. Passage requires a 50% majority.
Sunday Hunting ballot item. Currently there is a ban on Sunday hunting. In 2001, the Legislature repealed the ban on Sunday hunting, but decided to let each county determine whether to repeal the ban. 22 counties now allow Sunday hunting on private land. Monongalia County has the referendum on the ballot this year to allow Sunday hunting on private land. Passage requires a 60% majority.
Sunday Brunch ballot item. Currently alcohol can be sold only after 1 p.m. on Sunday. In March, Governor Tomblin signed the so-called Brunch Bill, which allows alcohol to be sold on Sundays starting at 10:00 a.m. instead of 1:00 p.m. Making this change does require the support of county voters in the form of a referendum. The County Commission has placed the Brunch Bill on the November ballot. (Morgantown City Council is also trying to pass the bill via Home Rule.) Passage requires a 60% majority.
LWVMM October 2016 Newsletter