By Ruthann Carr
Correspondent
The Democratic Crab Fest fundraiser Saturday (Sept. 28) brought out office holders, those running for office and those contemplating it.
About 250 people gathered at Fluvanna Board of Supervisor Mozell Booker’s (D-Fork Union) pastoral, lakefront property to eat crab, munch on corn and sup with the like-minded.
Senator Mark Warner jawed with the crowd before and after his address.
Asked if he thought the recent whistleblower complaint about President Donald Trump would lead to impeachment, Warner said it’s important to get all the facts.
Warner brought up another concern.
“Six days after talking to the Ukrainian President, he (Trump) talked to Putin,” Warner said. “Getting clarity on this is difficult. For example, the transcript raises more questions…. It’s important the committee stays bipartisan.”
The fundraiser was a joint effort between the Fluvanna Democratic Committee and the Lefty Lunch Ladies.
Su Wolff, of Lefty Lunch Ladies, stood on the stage and thanked everyone for their support.
“On a serious note, this year, as we did last year, at this time we would like a moment of silence to think about how our families, our communities, our country and the world need to return to civility, caring, and kindness,” Wolff said, as the crowd grew quiet for a minute.
At the Democratic tent they sold “Take America Back Again” hats for $15.
Booker greeted guests and proudly pointed out her grandchildren.
Democrat Kim Daugherty, who is running against incumbent Republican Denver Riggleman for the 5th Congressional District seat in 2020, talked to people as they cracked into their crabs.
Democrat Mike Asip’s run against incumbent Republican Lee Ware for state delegate in the 65th District will be decided Nov. 5.
Asip caught up with Booker’s daughter, Kimberly Hundley. Hundley teaches in the Williamsburg School system where Asip had once been the middle school principal.
Jon Richardson kept up with his 16-month-old son, Ash, while his wife, Jennifer performed co-hosting duties. Richardson said he and his wife hope to shift the local Democratic demographic “toward the millennial.”
“It’s difficult because they feel disenfranchised because of the politics on the national level,” then Richardson role-played an imaginary conversation between a millennial and a politician in power:
“‘Oh, you’re buried in student loan debt? Oh well, come out and vote anyway.’”
Democrat Jennifer McClellan, is the state senator for the 9th District which primarily covers the city of Richmond. McClellan was just signing in when she stopped to talk. She introduced herself as a state senator, describing the job she currently holds, but said she’s considering another position.
“I’m thinking of running for governor in 2021.”
When asked about her views on the Gov. Ralph Northam’s black-face scandal, she pivoted.
“I’m more focused on the future,” McClellan said. “I’m 100 percent focused on taking back the (state) majority and doing the work. And I’m out here now to fire up some Democrats and eat some barbeque.”
