Virginia Wine Council 2015 Election Recap & Legislative Update Katie Hellebush Director, Virginia Wine Council
VWC Working For You Advocate for dedicated funding and for laws and regulations fostering wine-making and grapeproduction in Virginia Continuous promotion of industry, interacting and networking with legislators, cabinet officials, agency heads and stakeholders Communication and outreach to federal, state & local officials, candidates and leadership Assistance with policy and regulatory matters; Liaison to provide assistance on winery, cidery & vineyard issues
VWC- WE THANK YOU VWC Board Members Jim Turpin, Democracy Vineyards (2014-2017) Ann Heidig, Lake Anna Winery/VWA (2015-2018) Mitzi Batterson, James River Cellars Winery (2015-2018) Philip Strother, Philip Carter Winery (2014-2017) John Delmare, Rappahannock Cellars (2014-2017) Bill Freitag, TollGate Farm & Vineyard/VVA (2015-2018) Lee Hartman, Bluestone Vineyard (2014-2017) Tom Payette, Consultant (2014-2017) Charlotte Shelton, Albemarle Ciderworks (2014-2017)
VWC- WE THANK YOU! Platinum Sponsors Pollak Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Assn. Trump Winery Gold Sponsors Bluestone Vineyard Early Mountain Vineyards Heart of Virginia Wine Trail Jefferson Vineyards Loudoun Wineries Association
VWC- WE THANK YOU! Silver Sponsors Afton Mountain Vineyards Barboursville Vineyards Barren Ridge Vineyards Blenheim Vineyards Bold Rock Cidery Casanel Vineyards CrossKeys Vineyards Desert Rose Ranch & Winery Doukenie Winery Glass House Winery King Family Vineyards Monticello Wine Trail Pearmund Cellars Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Potomac Point Winery Rappahannock Cellars Saude Creek Vineyards Stone Tower Winery Sunset Hills Vineyard
VWC- WE THANK YOU! Bronze Abington Vineyard & Winery Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail General's Ridge Vineyard Keswick Vineyards Paradise Springs Winery Peaks of Otter Winery Stinson Vineyards USA Wine Imports Willowcroft Farm Vineyards The Winery at LaGrange Virginia WineWorks
VWC- WE THANK YOU! Associate Blue Bee Cider Charlottesville Wine & Country Magazine (Ivy Publications) Chatham Vineyards Chestnut Oak Winery Double A Vineyards Gadino Cellars Granite Heights Vineyards Ingleside Vineyards MountainRose Vineyards Narmada Winery Rebec VIneyards Rosemont Winery Shenandoah Hard Cider Tom Payette Twin Oaks Tavern Winery The Vineyard at Point Breeze Vint Hill Craft Winery Virginia Mountain Vineyards Virginia Wine Lover Magazine (Vista Graphics) The Winery at Bull Run
VWC- WE THANK YOU! Individual Beliveau Estate Winery Belle Mount Vineyards Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Honah Lee Vineyards Jump Mountain Vineyard Lexington Valley Vineyard Mermaid Winery Miracle Valley Vineyards Piggott Vineyard Stanburn Winery Taylorstown Tavery & Vineyard Thistlegate Vineyards Tollgate Farm & Vineyard Wild Meadow Vineyard Wolf Gap Vineyard Significant In-Kind Support Britt Marketing & Public Relations; publisher of the Official Virginia Wine Lover e-newsletter
VWC s 2015 in Pictures
VWC s 2015 in Pictures
Analysis: Post-Election Day McAuliffe Administration Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) Lt. Governor Ralph Northam (D) Attorney General Mark Herring (D)
Analysis: Post-Special Elections House of Delegates 66 (R ) 34 (D) Two Pick Ups by Democratic in Open Seats Senate 21 (R) 19 (D) Republicans maintain narrow majority Lt. Gov Northam (D) Tie Breaking Vote Noise in the Background: VA Statewide Elections - 2017 Presidential Election - 2016
Analysis: Post-Special Elections Senate Key Races In the battle of the 10 th Senate District left open by the retirement of Senator John Watkins, Republican Candidate Glen Sturtevant was elected with 51% of the vote. Democratic Candidate Dan Gecker receiving 46% of the vote. Amanda Chase (R ) was easily elected in the 11 th District of Virginia after unseating incumbent Senator Steve Martin (R ) in the primary. Chase received 60% of the vote; her opponent Democratic Candidate Wayne Powell received 30%.
Analysis: Post-Special Elections Senate Key Races In Senate District 29 Democratic Candidate Jeremy McPike edged out Republican Candidate Hal Parrish. This seat was left vacant after the retirement of long serving Senator Charles Colgan. After the retirement of Senator Walter Stosch in Senate District 12, Sibbon D. easily was elected to after a hard fought primary race.
Analysis: Post-Special Elections Senate Key Races The Senate will also welcome several members of the House. Delegate Bill DeSteph was elected in Senate District 8, filling the seat left vacant by the retirement of Senator Jeff McWaters. Delegate Scott Surovell was elected to Senate District 36, filling the seat left vacant by the retirement of Senator Linda Toddy Puller. Finally in Senate District 19, David Suetterlien, the former legislative assistant to Senator Ralph Smith, was elected to fill Smith s seat after his retirement.
Analysis: Post-Special Elections House Key Races As of this writing Delegate Kathleen Murphy (D) has won re-election in House District 34 after a hotly contested election. Murphy s margin of victory rests at 191 votes over her Republican challenger Craig Parisot. Two other races which were also closely watched were House District 86 (left open with the retirement of Delegate Tom Rust) and House District 87 (left open by the retirement of David Ramadan).
Analysis: Post-Special Elections House Key Races Democratic Candidate Jennifer Boysko was elected in a hotly contested race in House District 86. Boysko received 54% of the vote; her Republican challenger Paul Vargas 40%. Similarly Democratic Candidate John Bell was elected in House District 87. Bell was elected receiving 49% of the vote; his challenger Chuong Nguyen (R) received 47% of the vote. Finally, the retirement of Delegate Ed Scott left open House District 30. Nick Freitas won the Republican primary to run unopposed in Tuesday s General Elections.
Analysis: Post-Special Elections Leadership Speaker of House Bill Howell (R) House Minority Leader Delegate Dave Toscano (D) Senate Pro Tempore Senator Charles Colgan (D)-Retiring Senate Majority Leader Senator Dick Saslaw (D) Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R)
Analysis: Committee Leadership House Agriculture NEW Chair: Delegate Danny Marshall (R) House General Laws Committee Chair: Delegate Todd Gilbert (R) Sub#3/ABC Chair: Delegate Barry Knight (R) Senate Agriculture: Chair: Senator Emmett Hanger (R) Senate Rehabilitation & Social Services Chair: Senator Toddy Puller (D)- Retiring
Analysis: Committee Leadership Other Big Changes: Budget Conferees Senate Finance Senate Commerce & Trade
2016 General Assembly Session Long Session 60 Days January 13, 2016 First Day New Two Year Budget Governor McAuliffe Presents His Budget in December 15 Clear Objectives Educate our new 12 Delegates & 8 Senators Promote wine-friendly legislation Defend against burdensome and restrictive regulations
2016 General Assembly Session Budget Amendments Advocate for Wine Promotion Fund, Agriculture & Forestry Grant Fund, and Ag Best Management Practice Funding. Support tourism funding, including promotion of wine industry and marketing grants Support funding for food safety positions at VDACS
2016 General Assembly Session Key Issues: Environmental Land Use Interdiction Split Case Fees Sampling
Mark Your Calendars! Virginia Wine Council Pre-Session Legislative Roundtable December 3, 2015 Early Mountain Vineyards 2:00 pm 5:00 pm (Reception to Follow) Virginia Wine & Vines Day January 21, 2016 Richmond, VA 9:00 am 11:30 am
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