The Virginia Senate recently passed Senate Joint Resolution 352 that would end the notorious practice of gerrymandering, a pernicious system that has been used by political parties to create so-called "safe" districts for their candidates, making themselves politically eternal.
[To protect herself and her husband,] State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis (R-34), voted against this reform bill.
Read why here...
To the Editor:The Virginia Senate recently passed Senate Joint Resolution 352. SJR 352 was a remarkable statement guaranteed to make elections more fair, open, and honestly competitive, all of which would undoubtedly help to end voter apathy and increase voter turnout. How? By creating an independent commission for re-drawing the lines of voting districts after every national census. In other words, it would end the notorious practice of gerrymandering, a pernicious system that has been used by political parties to create so-called "safe" districts for their candidates, making themselves politically eternal. Occupants of over 40 seats in the Virginia Assembly's last election were unopposed because the other party figured "Oh, what's the use" - and voters agreed, staying away from the polls in droves. SJR 352 has the potential of bringing Americans back to participating in elections, something so beneficial to our republic that patriots of every political hue applaud the idea.
I was therefore extremely disappointed to see that State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis (R-34), voted against this reform bill. Then I remembered that Sen. Devolites-Davis was the chief patron of the redistricting bill in 2001 which created her own current Senate seat and "protected" the Congressional seat of her future husband U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-11) through a bit of fancy gerrymandering. Her recent vote shows the continuing conflict of interest she has between a reform benefiting Virginia voters, and protecting the position of U.S. Rep. Tom Davis. I believe we Fairfax voters deserve better.
Theodora Goodson
Fairfax