6th
District
Blog
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Editorial: Vote for Pratt in the 6th
Posted Oct 20 at 9 AM
Roanoke Times-
The former dentist will better serve the district.
In Virginia's 6th House District, we recommend voters choose Carole Pratt to be their new delegate.
The district includes all of Bland County plus parts of Wythe, Pulaski, Giles and Tazewell counties.
Incumbent Republican Anne Crockett-Stark has represented the district for four years. She is the sort of lawmaker who focuses on constituent services. She might be less wonkish than many, but we have rarely seen a legislator more devoted to her people. If someone in her district has a problem, she gets to work on it immediately and finds answers.
When it comes to voting on bills, though, she is a loyal Republican and offers little by way of leadership. She contributes to the obstructionism that has prevented the commonwealth from moving forward in recent years.
Pratt offers more. She, too, is devoted to the community. A dentist, she practiced for more than 30 years locally. She now is retired but continues working to keep her neighbors healthy with the National Rural Health Association. She would be a strong advocate for rural health care in the General Assembly.
But her interests go further. Indeed, the breadth of her vision makes her a more attractive candidate than Crockett-Stark. Pratt recognizes the economic need in her district and wants to push for economic development and assistance in the capital.
She rightly condemned Crockett-Stark for joining Republicans in rejecting $125 million worth of federal unemployment assistance. The unemployment rate in her district is well above the rate for the commonwealth.
Yet Pratt is no mere partisan. She emphasizes the need for consensus building across party lines, especially in defense of rural districts like hers.
Voters in the 6th should send Pratt to Richmond.
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Candidates state their cases in forum
Posted Oct 12 at 9 AM
Melinda Williams, Staff Writer
10-09-2009The state budget, jobs, electric rates and healthcare were all issues local candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates were asked to address Wednesday night during a forum held at New River Community College.
Sponsored by The Southwest Times and Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, the candidate’s forum was designed to give the public an opportunity to ask the candidates questions and learn more about them prior to the Nov. 3 general election.
Participating in the event were incumbent Sixth District Del. Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-Wytheville) and her opponent, Democrat Carole Pratt; and incumbent Seventh District Del. Dave Nutter (R-Christiansburg) and his opponent, Democrat Peggy Frank.
After each candidate was given an opportunity to make a three-minute opening statement, the candidates each had three minutes to respond to one question submitted to them in advance: “The massive state budget cuts have been big news lately due to revenue shortfalls. What is your plan for increasing state revenue?”
Pratt said the first thing she would do is “invest in the jobs we already have here.” She called homegrown jobs “the heartbeat and backbone of the community.”
Pratt called for putting the Commonwealth’s money where “we can get the biggest bang for our bucks:” early childhood education and reading skills, a transportation plan that will create jobs immediately and address the area’s structurally-deficient bridges, put money into programs that work such as free clinics, invest in the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to promote economic development, and a “Virginia is for Lovers” license plate.
Crockett-Stark said this is the worse time to raise taxes in order to increase revenue. So, she suggested adjusting state regulations that are harmful to retail business and agri-business, letting businesses keep more of their money in order to grow, keeping more money in the consumer’s pocket to spend in their own locality, increase the state’s use of transportation stimulus funds to stimulate the economy.
The incumbent Sixth District delegate said the Commonwealth already has a transportation plan in place and a “lock box” needs to be placed on the transportation fund “before we do any new taxes.”
Crockett-Stark went on to say “this isn’t the year for bells and whistles. We can buy new shoes, but they don’t have to be the top name brand. We need to fund our needs and put our desires on hold.”Frank said raising taxes at this time would be “wrong” because the nation is in the worst economic recession since the 1930s, the New River Valley has been faced with 1,000 announced layoffs through June of 2009 and national unemployment is approaching double digits.
She said she believes Virginia will “grow” its way “out of the recession,” so her primary focus in the House of Delegates will be to create jobs and grow the economy. She supports increased funding for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to allow the New River Valley to compete with Tidewater and Northern Virginia regions for economic development. She also called for more partnerships between local colleges/universities and local businesses because “education is the long-term key to our economy,” she added. She said she would encourage local businesses to provide goods and services to area colleges and universities and for research faculty to take their products to the market. She added that she will work “tirelessly” to pull the area out of the recession.
Nutter acknowledged the financial situation in Virginia is “pretty bad.” He pointed out that about two-thirds of the governor’s budget cuts are “one-time fixes.” He said borrowing out of next year’s stimulus money to fix cuts in education this year is just creating a “giant structural hole” in the second year’s budget. “So we’re going to have a lot of problems.”
He said some tough choices are going to have to be made because “we’re not going to be able to add anything new – a whole lot. What we’re going to have to do though is prioritize, and it’s going to get very difficult.”
Nutter said investments must be made into programs that will stimulate the economy and “we must draw a bright line in the sand for not raising taxes on anything, period.” He stressed a need to look at regulations that will hinder economic and business growth and the need to put money back into Virginia’s interstate rest areas because the state is spending more money on tourism, but closing rest areas is the equivalent of “putting up a big sign saying ‘you’re not welcome.’”
Before addressing questions from the audience, each candidate also was given the opportunity to ask their opponent a question.
Crockett-Stark asked Pratt, whom Gov. Tim Kaine appointed to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in 2007, what she has done as a member of the committee to bring businesses and jobs to the “empty” Commerce Park on Route 100.
Pratt said the board meets quarterly, but she noted it is a “tough time” to get “big projects” to come to this state or any other state. She said the best use of the Commerce Park is to market it to smaller businesses so the area doesn’t rely so much on one business to support the area’s economy and jobs.
She acknowledged the committee is having difficulties drawing business to the Commerce Park, but with federal funding to improve the runway at the adjacent airport she anticipates seeing some “diversified” businesses locating in the park.Pratt asked Crockett-Stark if she would consider taking a forum such as Wednesday’s into each area of the district.
Crockett-Stark said forums are planned in Wytheville and Bland County. She said she has always had an open-door policy, has met with governmental bodies and other organizations, and has gone into each area of the district to keep her constituents informed on what the legislature is doing.
She said she feels she has always had an open forum with the public and she is willing to participate in any forum organized by “an appropriate group.”
Nutter asked Frank if she would vote to put a tax increase on the governor’s desk.
Frank said with the economy the way it is right now she doesn’t see how any type of tax could be increased at this point.Frank asked Nutter why he rejected federal stimulus funds for unemployment insurance given the number of layoffs in the area over the past year.
Nutter said he is “glad to help set the record straight” in that regards. He said the house and senate unanimously voted to increase unemployment benefits to “historic proportions.” He said he didn’t vote on a “permanent tax increase on every job in Virginia” that would be paid for by the employer to extend benefits to people who work less than 15 hours per week because “under the plan a high school student who worked over the summer could qualify for unemployment benefits while going back to school.”
He said the unemployment fund “is not an entitlement program” and he isn’t going to “play Russian Roulette with every job in Virginia with the hopes of adding an additional permanent tax increase to the unemployment tax insurance fund.”He added that the best form of unemployment insurance is to “get people back to work and make it easier for employers to hire people.”
Responding to questions from the public, none of the candidates said they would support an increase in the gasoline tax to pay for transportation.
Frank said she wouldn’t raise any taxes now. She said she would fund transportation by building jobs and businesses to increase revenue for the state.
Nutter said transportation revenue comes from gas tax and car sales, both of which are down now. He said about $400 million to $500 million in bond money will soon be freed up to apply to transportation “so we can start making some movement forward.” Nonetheless, he said getting people spending money is the key and the best way to do that is to keep burdens off the consumers and businesses.
Pratt said the gas tax is counter-intuitive plan for funding transportation because as gas consumption goes down the revenue stream goes down. She said a bond referendum would be a good means of meeting transportation needs since Virginia has a “triple A bond rating” and has been voted one of the best states in the nation to do business.Crockett-Stark said Virginia already has a transportation plan in place and a bonding issue to fund it. She said she is opposed to tolling because it would hurt the trucking companies transporting goods. Helping businesses develop will give the state the revenue to fund its transportation program.
Several citizens asked what the candidates would do to keep electricity affordable in Southwest Virginia given the number of rate increases Appalachian Power has received over the past year.
Pratt said, “people sitting at this (candidates) table” helped make the laws that “entitled” APCo to receive rate increases. She said the time has come for people to do things for the right reason, not just because they’re entitled to do so. She asked “the APCo’s of the world” to tighten their belts too and not take every rate increase their entitled to just because of that entitlement.
“If people would do the right thing by their constituents we’d be a whole lot better off,” she concluded.
Crockett-Stark said she invited the State Corporation Commission to Wytheville to hear from her constituents during one of the rate increase requests and she also spoke against the increases in Richmond. She noted that the SCC cut the amount of APCo’s requests each time so the SCC’s input in the situation has been good in that respect.Frank said she keeps having people ask her how they’re going to be able to keep their houses heated in winter and cooled in summer with the repeated increases and current economic situation. She said if APCo has a right, but not an “absolute right” to the increases, the company should be taking into account the economic climate and not ask for so many increases or delay seeking increases until the economic picture improves.
Nutter said society has reached a point where energy and the environment are clashing. He said the public is going to have to decide whether it is willing to relax some of the environmental mandates placed on businesses in order to cut back on the number of rate increases needed to pay for those mandates.
He said he fought against the rate increases, but those types of policy questions are going to have to be addressed.
The audience also asked the candidates how they expect to get anything done in Richmond if they are returned to office or are elected to office for the first time.
All agreed the only way to get anything done is to work together “across the aisle” regardless of party affiliation.
http://www.southwesttimes.com/news.php?id=4029
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House races promise fall fireworks
Posted Sep 09 at 2 PM
By Mason Adams
Roanoke Times
Tuesday, September 08, 2009The party in control of the House of Delegates will play a key role in drawing state and congressional district lines after the 2010 census.
Labor Day signals the launch of campaign season, when local House of Delegates races that have quietly simmered through the summer emerge for the final sprint to Election Day.
This year, Western Virginia voters will see plenty of options, as there are major-party or independent challengers in nearly every district.
But just because Democrats and Republicans have a candidate in most districts, that doesn't mean they'll all receive financial support. With the national recession, fundraising is down and each party's House caucus has only a limited pool of money with which to support candidates.
But while money is down, the stakes are higher than usual: The party that controls the House after this fall's elections will play a key role in drawing state and congressional district lines after the 2010 census.
House Republicans hold 53 seats and two independents caucus with them. Democrats need to win five new seats for parity and six for a majority.
While party leaders will always watch for "sleeper" candidates who outperform expectations, they're focused largely on a small selection of races that will offer them the most bang for their buck. Most of those are open seats or those that offer challengers a demographic advantage.
Periodic campaign finance reports can offer some insight. Although money doesn't always translate to votes, the reports give a snapshot that shows how much help a candidate is receiving from supporters, business interests and his or her party. The next reports are due Sept. 15.
As of Labor Day, it looks like bull's-eyes have been placed on an open seat in a suburban Roanoke Valley district; two New River Valley districts with Republican incumbents; and districts in Lynchburg and Danville currently represented by a Democrat and a Republican, respectively.
The 17th District is currently the biggest focus for both Democrats and Republicans in Western Virginia. The seat became open when Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke, unexpectedly announced his retirement at the end of this year's General Assembly session.
The 17th went heavily for John McCain in last year's presidential race, but it was much closer in the past two elections for governor.
The Republican nominee, Botetourt County lawyer Bill Cleaveland, beat four other candidates in a June primary. Since then, he's based his campaign largely upon his 30 years of experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney and substitute judge.
The Democratic nominee, Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason, jumped in the race early and has done well raising money. She has been hampered, however, by her membership on a local governing body whose members often seem at odds with one another.
House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County, touted Mason as a candidate with good name recognition who already has a "good campaign on the ground."
Armstrong's Republican counterpart, House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, agreed that Mason is running an aggressive campaign, but thinks that in the end voters will favor Cleaveland's "leadership style" over Mason's.
The 7th District features a rematch of a 2007 campaign, with Democrat Peggy Frank, an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Pulaski County, again challenging incumbent Republican Dave Nutter of Christiansburg.
Armstrong said that Frank received almost no caucus support in 2007 yet still managed to come within four points of Nutter on Election Day. Through June 30, the caucus already had given $25,700 to Frank, helping her to outraise Nutter for the filing period. Armstrong said the caucus has yet to make its final decisions on which races to support, but Frank is under close consideration.
Griffith had a harsher assessment of Frank's chances: "I just don't see it happening."
The 6th District pits retired Pulaski County dentist Carole Pratt against four-year incumbent Anne Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville.
Democrats hope that voters will go with Pratt based on economic issues, particularly in a year where the recession will likely lead many to vote based on their wallets.
"The most salient thing down there is the unemployment rate is high, the economy is off," Armstrong said. "Yet Annie B. [Crockett-Stark] won't do anything to spur economic development."
Pratt's early fundraising was strong: By the end of the most recent filing cycle, Pratt had about twice as much money on hand as Crockett-Stark.
But Griffith said that Democrats have again miscalculated.
Both Crockett-Stark and Nutter "have worked hard in their districts. They work very hard for their people and they're not just one-dimensional," Griffith said.
The 14th and 23rd districts offer races where Democrats and Republicans, respectively, believe they have a chance to turn out the incumbents.
The 14th District has leaned Democratic in national races, but Republican incumbent Danny Marshall of Danville has managed to retain his seat, even against a well-funded challenger two years ago. Democrats hope for another shot this year with former Danville Mayor Seward Anderson, giving him nearly $35,000 through June 30.
Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping to reclaim Democrat incumbent Shannon Valentine's seat in the 23rd District. Valentine, of Lynchburg, won a special election for the seat in January 2006 after Gov. Tim Kaine named Republican Preston Bryant -- who had held the seat for 10 years -- to a Cabinet post.
Lynchburg City Councilman Scott Garrett, who won the Republican nomination over a fellow council member, will likely receive substantial party support in a district that GOP leaders would like to win back.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/218119
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Pratt goes downtown
Posted Aug 16 at 9 PM
Mark Sage
Wytheville Enterprise: News
Fri Aug 14, 2009 - 04:44 PMBy WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff
Recognizing the value of locally owned businesses, 6th District Democratic candidate Carole Pratt visited Wytheville’s downtown earlier this week. The retired dentist from Pulaski County also met with officials at Wythe County Community Hospital as part of her health issues platform.
“Economic development, education and health issues are my key priorities,” Pratt remarked. “They are all so interrelated. It all starts with a good, solid education.”
The Medical College of Virginia graduate recently received the endorsement of the Virginia Education Assoc.
“I’m really proud to get that endorsement,” Pratt commented.
Unanimously nominated for the Virginia House of Delegates by the 6th District Democratic Committee, she will face Republican incumbent Anne B. Crockett-Stark of Wytheville in November. Pratt launched her Local Business Listening Tour last week in Pulaski and visited the Bland County Fair.
Pratt plans to visit downtowns in Giles and Tazewell counties in the coming weeks.
The 6th District includes all of Bland County, the Max Meadows Precinct, East Wytheville Precinct, West Wytheville Precinct and the Black Lick Precinct in Wythe County. It also covers two precincts in Tazewell County and parts of Pulaski and Giles counties.
Commenting on the layout of the 6th District, Pratt remarked, “I support bi-partisan redistricting and if elected I will work to ensure the districts are better designed.”
According to Pratt, visiting with home-grown, locally owned businesses will provide her with additional information on the challenges and opportunities facing these businesses. It also will help equip her to represent them in the House of Delegates.
Pratt and her husband, Dr. Richard Mansell, owned and operated a general dentistry practice in Pulaski County from 1976 to 2008. Both are still licensed dentists but are retired.
She has served her community as a family business advocate. Pratt is a former president of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and chaired the New River Economic Development Alliance and Virginia’s Small Business Advisory Board.
Pratt is a member of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board and Pulaski Encouraging Progress, the county’s economic development organization.
“Unemployment rates in our district have doubled in the last year,” she pointed out, “and our current delegate voted to reject over $125 million in federal stimulus money that would help Virginia families hardest hit by the economic crisis. We need a representative who fights for us, not party bosses, in Richmond.”
Health care in rural Virginia is a particular concern of Pratt’s. She is one of 11 National Rural Health Association Fellows in the U.S. and is working to establish a database of rural health professional education programs.
Pratt is a member of the Pulaski Community Hospital board of trustees. She is a former chairman of Virginia’s Board of Health and former vice chairman of the Virginia Medicaid Board.
“As a hospital board member,” Pratt said, “I have spent decades helping members of our community. I understand the need for quality rural health care and I will continue working to bring outstanding providers to Southwest Virginia.”http://www.swvatoday.com/comments/pratt_goes_downtown/news/5791/
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VEA Endorses Pratt
Posted Aug 03 at 10 PM
The Virginia Education Association has endorsed Carole Pratt, candidate for the House of Delegates.
The organization, which represents hundreds of educators in the 6th district, cited Pratt’s candor and commitment to improving public education from pre-kindergarten through adulthood as the basis for its support.
A product of Virginia public schools and universities, Pratt will continue to be a tireless advocate for an education system that equips all of our children to compete.
This endorsement is especially important because the VEA endorsed the incumbent, Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark, in 2007.
Pratt serves as a Pulaski County Public Schools Education Foundation board member and is a past chair of the New River Community College Education Foundation.
http://newrivervoice.com/archives/3071#more-3071
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CAROLE PRATT TO HEAD TO WISE TO PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE AREA MEDICAL CLINIC
Posted Jul 24 at 7 PM
This weekend, unlike every other from now until the election, Carole Pratt will not be knocking at your door or attending your local barbecue. Carole will be volunteering this weekend in the Remote Area Medical Clinic, one of America’s largest free clinics. Pratt, a hospital board member, dentist, and National Rural Health Fellow will volunteer for the 10th consecutive year. The clinic is an annual event, staffed by hundreds of health care professionals donating their time. Volunteers expect to see 1,500 patients over the next 4 days from all over the county. All care is free and people start lining up a day before the clinic opens.
“I have spent my career providing health care to Southwest Virginians, and I have seen firsthand the effect that a lack of affordable, accessible, and available health care has on our communities; this clinic is an important attempt to compensate for this lack of health care,” Carole said. The families of our district have been hit hard by this economic crisis, and I encourage everyone in need of care to join us in Wise this weekend.
Campaign manager Eric Hyers added, “Carole’s campaign for delegate is an extension of her lifelong efforts to give back to her community and improve the lives of those around her. Carole is conducting her campaign in a way that reflects her core values. When she decided to run, she made two things very clear; she would not campaign on Sundays, and she would clear her schedule go to Wise for this clinic.”
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Pratt to Face Crockett-Stark in November June 9th, 2009
Posted Jun 10 at 11 PM
Carole Pratt was unanimously nominated by the 6th District Democratic Committee, and will face Republican incumbent Anne Crockett-Stark in November.
“It is a high honor to be nominated, and I welcome the opportunity to bring a fresh spirit of cooperation and support for working families and home grown businesses all around our region,” Pratt said. “I look forward to spreading my message of always putting the interests of this district first.”
Local Democrats are excited about their chances to regain a Delegate seat. Tom Brewster, 9th Congressional District Democratic Chair, said, “Carole has created a buzz throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and 6th District with her enthusiasm and energy. Carole has a long history of fighting for better and more accessible health care that extends to all areas of our diverse Commonwealth. If elected, she will continue the fight in the General Assembly. Carole already has the experience, and she will hit the ground running come January.”
Pratt also launched her campaign’s Web site.
newrivervoice.com/archives/2837 -
Pratt Running for 6th House District Seat
Posted Jun 06 at 4 PM
On Monday, Democrat Carole Pratt tossed her hat into the political ring as she announced her plans to run for the 6th District Virginia House of Delegates seat. The announcement came in front of Martin’s Pharmacy in downtown Pulaski, and Pratt was sure to mention the importance of small local businesses in today’s economy.
In fact, Pratt’s primary mantra was about the economy and jobs in her area, and she announced her dismay at the vote by Republicans in the House of Delegates that rejected $125 million in federal economic stimulus money for unemployment. Pratt said such stimulus money was much needed in this area and she would have voted for the acceptance of the money.
Republicans balked at accepting the funding saying it would create a future unfunded mandate for the state to have to pay. But Pratt said that the $125 million would only cost the state a penny per day per worker. Pratt, a retired Pulaski dentist and active community member, handed out pennies to the assembled crowd to illustrate her point and told recipients of the penny to look at the penny occasionally to remember the beginning of her campaign.
Pratt was introduced by Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, who said he fully endorses Pratt in her run against two-term incumbent Republican Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark.
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Carole Pratt announces candidacy for Sixth District
Posted Jun 06 at 4 PM
PULASKI – In announcing her candidacy for the Sixth District House of Delegates seat, retired Pulaski County dentist Carole Pratt vowed Monday to “never forget where I come from and the people I serve.”
Pratt said she intends to run a “different” campaign than is typical, and she kicked it off Monday by handing out money to the approximately 80 people attending her announcement at Martin’s Pharmacy in Pulaski.
No, she didn’t hand out thousands or hundreds of dollars to each person. She didn’t even hand out a dollar. It was a penny – a single penny that she noted, “most people won’t even stoop to pick up if they drop one on the street” because “a penny won’t buy anything anymore.”
Pratt asked everyone to hold on to the penny and bear with her as she explained its importance in her campaign.
She noted the work that U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) and his colleagues “have been doing in Washington to help us with this economic crisis.” She said they “managed to craft an economic recovery plan that will ease the pain of those hardest hit,” but the current Sixth District delegate (Anne B. Crockett-Stark) voted to refuse “$125 million in federal money aimed at helping our out-of-work friends and neighbors.”
That, she said, is why she has chosen to oppose Crockett-Stark in the November election. Crockett-Stark (R-Wythe) already announced her plans to seek re-election.
Pratt said she chose to enter the race this fall because she was “perplexed” by the decision to pass on the federal funds.
“Unemployment in our district has roughly doubled over the past year,” she added. “One out of ten men and women of our region’s workforce are out of work through no fault of their own.”
Pratt said the federal funds “refused because those who voted against it said, among other things, that if made permanent, it would be too expensive.
“Friends, it would cost a penny a day per worker,” she continued. “The current delegate voted with a majority of others to say ‘no’ to $125 million dollars for extension of unemployment benefits for our friends and family, people in this crowd today, because it would cost a penny a day.”
Pratt said she would have accepted the money if she had been the Sixth District’s delegate.
“I would be in Richmond making the case that every one of those $125 million dollars should come to this district!
“So if you are perplexed, too, and if you want to send someone to represent you in Richmond who will wake up fighting for you and go to sleep at night fighting for you, join us in this campaign. Keep your penny in your pocket or in your purse or on your night stand. Look at it often between now and November 3. Think about what it means. Tell your neighbors. And if all works out the way we plan on Election Day, you can bet your last cent that I will never forget where I come from and the people I serve,” she said.
Boucher was among those who turned out to support Pratt Monday.
Pratt is the wife of retired dentist Rick Mansell and the daughter of Bill Frank and Peggy Pratt.
