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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Nov. 8, 2024
Virginians expand tax exemption for select military spouses
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly
Virginians overwhelmingly voted to approve a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday’s ballot that will expand a property tax exemption to surviving spouses of all service members who've died “in the line of duty.”
The property tax exemption available now is only for the spouses of service members who are either 100% disabled or who were “killed in action” — which is a specific Department of Defense term that means the death occurred at the hands of enemies.
“Right now, we have service members who die in the line of duty, for instance, a training accident,” said State Sen. Jeremy McPike (D–Woodbridge), who sponsored the amendment. “Those surviving spouses … they don't get anything.”
Analysis: Money wasn't deciding factor in Richmond mayoral race
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
In Richmond, Dr. Danny Avula won the mayoral contest by carrying six of the city’s nine council districts (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th) and securing nearly half of the citywide vote in a five-candidate race.
Top fundraiser Harrison Roday – who raised $1.2 million (about $50,000 more than Avula and more than three times as much as second-place finisher Michelle Mosby, according to the Virginia Public Access Project) – finished third, with about 13% of the popular vote.
VCU political science professor Alex Keena said that shows money isn’t everything, particularly in local politics – a sentiment University of Richmond law professor Hank Chambers echoed on VPM News’ live election night broadcast.
“The key is that you need to have at least enough money to get your message out,” Chambers said. “It’s not necessarily the case that having more money will mean that you win, but having enough money to make sure that voters know who you are and know what you’re about is the real key.”
In other news:
- Rep. Gerry Connolly announces cancer diagnosis after winning re-election (The Associated Press)
- Why have only two Virginia localities adopted ranked-choice voting? (Virginia Mercury)
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