Yesterday, Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, announced that he will create a subcommittee to address concerns about “obsolete” school buildings across the state.

In doing so, he credited Richmond’s Put Schools First campaign for “being the catalyst” in raising issues plaguing poor school districts. He specifically mentioned both Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond (a former city school board member and Oregon Hill’s state senator), and Democratic political consultant Paul Goldman. But of course, the campaign was bigger, a grassroots effort that included the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the Sierra Club Falls of the James, and the Richmond Green Party as supporting organizations.

Paul Goldman had this to say:

Thank you Richmond! As Senator Stanley says, YOUR willingness to buck the Mayor, the City Council, School Board, and give 85% support to last year’s School Facility Modernization Referendum “opened the eyes” of state officials. What the RTD’s “know it all” editorial board – with Amens from the usual RVA chorus – called a “distraction” is now positioned to make a huge difference. Democratic Governor Northam agrees with Republican Stanley about the damaging impact to those children attending a “crumbling school building” to use the Governor’s term. The average VA child, not just in RVA, but rural, suburban, and urban school communities in the Commonwealth attends such an obsolete, aged, building! YOU did it 56000 voters, YOU stood up for the kids, I applaud everyone, YOU deserve it.

All well and good. Of course there’s a lot of work ahead. And many supporters hope that this school modernization revolution will add green building, energy conservation, and working solar that can save taxpayer money.

Speaking of which, let’s hope this is not the only revolution that takes hold. This past week, the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation presented new public opinion data that shows American voters are eager for three key electoral reforms that would give voters a greater voice at the ballot box and more fair representation in government, while tempering the partisan rancor that currently dominates our politics. Those three reforms are ranked-choice voting, multi-member districts, and congressional redistricting with nonpartisan commissions.

All three proposals were seen as at least tolerable by more than two-thirds of respondents, including super-majorities of Republicans and Democrats. Not surprisingly, given the outcry over partisan gerrymandering in recent months and two cases currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court (Gill v. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone), redrawing congressional district lines with nonpartisan citizen commissions is supported by the largest number of voters – 66 percent – including 53 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents.

OregonHill.net has repeatedly called for ranked choice voting, for President of the United States, and for Mayor of the City of Richmond. Of course, the local corporate media has answered these calls with mostly silence. And, undoubtedly, local corporate Democrats will continue to try to corral these reforms and any other progressive movements by barking “But Trump” as loudly as possible. As horrible as conman Trump is, voters would be wise to use their own critical thinking.

Let’s hope Richmond, learning from Put Schools First referendum, can lead on voting reforms for the rest of the state.

From the Times Dispatch:

Gov. Ralph Northam has signed Senate Bill 750 from Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, which requires Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney to present a fully funded school facilities modernization plan to City Council by Jan. 1, 2019, or say it can’t be done.

The bill — structured as a change to the city’s charter — passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates without a single vote in opposition.

Like other pieces of signed legislation, the charter change takes effect July 1. That gives Stoney six months to present a plan. If the mayor presents a plan, City Council would have 90 days to take action on the plan.

This is a welcome result for the 85 percent of Richmonders who voted for the referendum this past November.

Oregon Hill’s State Senator Sturtevant deserves credit for bring the bill forward and nursing it through the General Assembly.