cross-posted from Washington Post online

By Rosalind Helderman |  June 30, 2009; 4:48 PM ET  | Category:  Rosalind Helderman

The Democratic Party of Virginia has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine to the Federal Election Commission, related to deficiencies in the party’s financial disclosure forms dating to 2006.

The FEC reports that they found problems with DPV’s financial disclosure forms through routine reviews of their filings. The FEC said it sent DPV 31 different requests for additional information related to its 2006 filings, of which the party failed to respond, responded inadequately or responded late to 16. Problems included mathematical discrepancies and some excessive or impermissible contributions.

According to the settlement agreement which you can read here (http://eqs.nictusa.com/eqsdocs/29190281428.pdf), DPV acknowledged it had reporting problems in the past but said it had hired more experienced staff and rectified problems. They also agreed to hire a compliance specialist and attend an FEC conference.

Leigh Anne Collier, who took over as the party’s interim director just last week, says the party has paid the fine, which was due June 28, and overhauled its process for complying with FEC guidelines. That included bringing on a new accounting firm and other new staff.

"We wanted to put all of this behind us," she said. "We have paid the fine and have completely revamped our system, and we’re happy with the system we’ve put in place."

You can read all the documents related to this issue here (http://eqs.nictusa.com/eqs/searcheqs?SUBMIT=continue).

Such settlements only become public at the end of a rather lengthy period of negotiations with the FEC. The fine is low, but it’s altogether bad timing for DPV, which is gearing up now to support the Creigh Deeds campaign for governor.

To wit, Republican Party of Virginia spokesman Tim Murtaugh offers this response: "Without having looked into it fully, it sounds significant and particularly negligent and cheating is never allowed."

I am excited to announce that Leigh Anne Collier will be filling in as Interim Executive Director through November.  Leigh Anne should be a familiar face to many of you – she served as Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Operations from March 2008 through this past February.

I encourage you to reach out to her as she gets settled back in with the DPVA.  Her contact information is below:

Leigh Anne Collier
Interim Executive Director
Email: leighanne@vademocrats.org
Phone: 804-644-1966 ext 225

I know she is looking forward to working with all of you to elect Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon and take back the House of Delegates this November. 

Regards,
C. Richard Cranwell
Chairman, DPVA

• Take exit 238, follow signs toward Colonial Williamsburg
• Take a right at the 2nd traffic light onto Rt. 132
• Go straight through 2 traffic lights
• Make the next right onto Scotland St.
• Go 3 blocks to Richmond Rd
• Go through the light turn left to parking on Stadium Drive

Business to be conducted includes:

• Elect Party Officers
• Adopt Resolutions (Word doc, click here)
• Elect three members to the 2009-2013 Resolutions Committee
• Vote on the recognition of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) as a caucus

The Unity Rally will be held immediately following the conclusion of the State Central Committee Meeting at noon on the front lawn of the William and Mary Alumni House (map, click here).

cross-posted from DemRulz

Chairman Richard Cranwell and Northern Virginia elected Democrats addressed a rally today in Annandale, down the road from the Republican gubernatorial candidate’s announcement.  Cranwell praised all three Democratic candidates, recalled the successes of the Warner and Kaine administrations (best managed state in the country, etc.), and made it clear that the GOP candidate opposed those progressive efforts.  Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple in particular pointed out GOP opposition to adequate funding for education.  Cranwell said that the GOP candidate was trying to reinvent himself as a moderate, but it won’t work.  Cranwell, who is running for reelection as state party chair will be attending events around the Commonwealth today to tell the truth about the GOP ticket.

Join us

During this public rally, Chairman Cranwell will talk about what Democrats stand for — and how that compares to the misguided vision that Bob McDonnell and the right-wing Republicans have for Virginia. Help us start the campaign season with a bang by joining fellow Democrats from across Northern Virginia for our grassroots kick-off.  We need to send a message that we are building on the success of 2008 and are focused as a united party.

RSVP to join fellow Democrats at this great event.

• WHAT:  Grassroots rally with Chairman Cranwell
• WHEN:  Saturday, March 28th at 11:00 am
• WHERE:  Mason District Park (6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003; map, click here)

The Virginia Democratic Party (DPVA) Central Commitee met in Charlotesville on December 6th for its quarterly meeting and marked our 2008 Victories – carrying Virginia for the first time in 44 years and thus helping to elect President Obama, electing Mark Warner and having two Democratic Senators for the first time since 1970, and electing Glenn Nye, Tom Periello, and Gerry Connolly and having a majority (6-5) in Virginia’s House of Representatives delegation for the first time since 1990. 

Your hard working members of the State Central Committee in Lee District:  representing the 8th Congressional District – Steve Bunn, Pixie Bell (Secretary DPVA), Hugh Robertson and Susie Warner; representing the 11th Congressional District – Al Mc Aloon.

The Commitee endorsed resolutions supporting a number of voting issues, including early voting, college student voting, and restoration of voting rights to former offenders.

We also endorsed bipartisan redistricting.

Contact your members of the general assembly and urge them to support these efforts.  Virgina General Assembly Contact information.

The Commitee also adopted a motion to elect the State Central Commitee at Congressional District Conventions in the spring of 2009 and elect State Party Officers at the first Central Commitee meeting in June 2009.  Additional guidance to District Commitees regarding this process will be circulated shortly. 

We were happy to hear from 2009 Governor candidate Senator Creigh Deeds, Delegate Rosalyn Dance of Petersburgh for Governor candidate Delegate Brian Moran, potential Governor candidate Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Governor candidates Jody Wagner and Jon Bowerbank, and Attorney General candidate John Fishwick.  (Delegate Steve Shannon is also running for Attorney General.)  Delegate David Toscano welcomed us to Charlotesville and reminded us of the importance of winning back the House of Delegates in 2009.  (See voting issues above.)

There are 14 fellowship positions available. Each comes with a $500 stipend and parking will be provided. Candidates must be able to commit to no less than 20 hours per week, January 12-February 28. Availability and flexibility will be weighted equally to qualifications and references during the selection process.

*One applicant may be chosen as the Leader’s Fellow. This person would staff the Rules Committee, work closely with the Leader’s Chief of Staff, lead the group of Fellows and may have additional responsibilities.

The deadline to apply is Monday, November 24th at 5:00 p.m. No extension requests will be granted.