Military Vets Speak in Support of Danville Hopeful, Complaint Sent to Democratic Party of #Virginia @HigherHeights @EmilysList
Two veterans on the ballot for the June 20, 2023 primary have written in support of Jasmine Lipscomb to be the Democratic nominee for HD49. If Lipscomb is on the ballot she would take on Republican Danny Marshall.
🚩 House District 49 is a +5R seat but competitive. Democrats have long said they want to be competitive in rural districts, particularly after Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe in part because of Youngkin’s focus on rural Virginia. HD49 is 40 percent Black and includes Halifax and South Boston.
Editor’s note: Black Virginia News reached out to DPVA on this matter and has received no response as of today.
🚩RELATED: Dispute over filing fee blocks Danville Democrat from running for the House CARDINAL NEWS
🚩RELATED: Why Democratic officials won’t let a would-be candidate run for the Virginia House VIRGINIA MERCURY
By Pam Garner, Lt. Col US Air Force (Ret), Democratic Nominee SD26 and
Myra Payne, LTC US Army (Ret), Democratic Nominee SD19:
We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent incident involving Jasmine Lipscomb and the discriminatory treatment she is facing with the Democratic Caucus. As retired Lieutenant Colonels, we feel compelled to address this issue, as it is a matter of upholding the core principles of fairness, equality, and inclusivity that we have sworn to protect and defend.
It has come to our attention that, during the call to caucus, Jasmine Lipscomb was subjected to disproportionate requirements that were not imposed on other candidates. While the Democratic committees in other counties typically request a range of $0 to $250 and do not require signatures, Jasmine was unexpectedly asked to pay a nonrefundable $500 fee and gather 100 signatures to be considered as a candidate. This disparity is not only unjust, but also goes against the established Party Plan of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
As per our understanding, the Virginia Department of Elections Candidate bulletin explicitly states that no financial or signature requirements are required by the State after the close of the primary deadline. Such guidelines are in place to ensure a level playing field and foster an environment that encourages participation from all individuals who wish to represent the Democratic Party. The actions taken against Jasmine Lipscomb not only undermine the integrity of the caucus but also contradict the principles of inclusivity and equal opportunity that our party upholds.
We firmly believe that this incident warrants immediate attention to rectify the injustice faced by Jasmine Lipscomb. The remedy we are offering is that the Virginia Democratic Party execute section10.6 of the Party Plan and declare Jasmine the Democratic Nominee. It is our request that you take appropriate measures to ensure that the Party Plan is adhered to consistently and without bias in future caucus proceedings. Additionally, we urge you to extend a formal apology to Ms. Lipscomb for the distress and discrimination she has endured.
As retired Lieutenant Colonels who have dedicated our careers to upholding the values of fairness, integrity, and equal opportunity, we strongly believe in the importance of transparent and unbiased democratic processes. Our democracy thrives when individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives have an equal chance to participate and make a positive impact on our society. Any actions that deter or discriminate against potential candidates erode the very foundation on which our democracy stands.
We trust that you will take these concerns seriously and work towards rectifying the situation promptly by invoking Section10.6 of the Virginia Democratic Party Plan and immediately filing form 511 with the Virginia Department of Elections. By addressing this issue, we can reinforce the principles upon which the Democratic Party was founded and ensure that our party continues to be a beacon of fairness and justice.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We eagerly await your response and actions on this important issue.
//signed//
Pam Garner, Lt. Col US Air Force (Ret), Democratic Nominee SD26
Myra Payne, LTC US Army (Ret), Democratic Nominee SD19
Below is the complaint sent to the Democratic Party of Virginia on Thursday, June 15, 2023 (the pictures below were not included).
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