virginia wine council 2015 election recap &...

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 grape-production 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!

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

Silver Sponsors

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!

Blue Bee CiderCharlottesville Wine & Country Magazine (Ivy

Publications)Chatham VineyardsChestnut Oak WineryDouble A Vineyards

Gadino CellarsGranite Heights Vineyards

Ingleside VineyardsMountainRose Vineyards

Narmada Winery

Rebec VIneyardsRosemont Winery

Shenandoah Hard CiderTom Payette

Twin Oaks Tavern WineryThe Vineyard at Point Breeze

Vint Hill Craft WineryVirginia Mountain Vineyards

Virginia Wine Lover Magazine (Vista Graphics)

The Winery at Bull Run

Associate

VWC- WE THANK YOU!

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

Individual

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


Elections Senate Key Races

In the battle of the 10th 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 11th 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%.


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.


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.


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).


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.


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


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


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

Thank you for your support!

www.VirginiaWineCouncil.org

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