The League of Women Voters to hold two Candidate Nights.
Originally posted August 29, 2025 in the FXBG Advance as an Opinion Piece.
For years the voters of Fredericksburg voted in May for the purpose of electing City Council, Treasurer, and the Sheriff to their respective offices. In 2022, then Governor Northam changed that – it became law that all elections for City and County offices would be in November. Fredericksburg changed its elections to November in the year 2023. This, it seems, has created a political furor that we have in the City this year.
Therefore, it is disappointing that a years’ long tradition has been violated. In the Editorial letter published in the Advance on July 14, 2025 written by Scott Vezina, the Fredericksburg Republican Chair, he claims that in March of 2023, Mayor Devine and Vice Mayor Frye both spoke about how hard the City had worked to keep the local elections non-partisan and their hope was to keep partisan politics out of the City elections.
What happened in the intervening years to change their minds and for most candidates to attend a partisan organization and seek their support?
Scott further claims in his article . . . “this is the second election in a row that non-partisan candidates have violated the City of Fredericksburg charter that requires local offices to run as non-partisan candidates. Furthermore, the Virginia Department of Elections states that, ‘Cities, either by charter or choice, have non-partisan city council and local elections.’”
According to a reading of the Fredericksburg Charter, there is in fact no mention of partisanship in local elections.
Let’s back up. In 2016 an overflow crowd met at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, now known as the Fredericksburg Branch and unanimously voted to have a League of Women Voters League in the Fredericksburg Area. This National, State and local organization has been around for 100 years. It is, and always had been, a “Non-partisan” organization.
The Presidents of the National, State and Local Leagues do not attend meetings unless all representatives are at the table. That includes the Republican, the Democratic, the Independents and other parties who have candidates who will be on the ballot in the next election.
We don’t condone either party inviting these candidates to their meetings whether for a question and-answer forum or just a meet and greet.
What we do support is the candidates separating themselves from any party and representing their own Wards. City officials should remember the people they represent.
The history of this City is to keep a blind eye to politics. Candidates cannot assume everyone in their district are a Republican or a Democrat.
The League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area will hold two Candidate Nights — one for the City Council and the other being a Meet and Greet for all local candidates. We endorse no candidate — we only bring to the City the hopes, dreams and aspirations of those wishing to seek office. May the candidates represent their Wards and Districts with the utmost integrity, and honesty.
- September 11, 2025. Fredericksburg Branch Theatre. 6:30 p.m.
City Council Candidates - September 29, 2025. Fredericksburg Branch Theatre. 6:30m p.m. Candidates Night Meet and Greet
By Cathie Fisher Braman
President League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area
