CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – There is an election every year in Virginia, and even though there is a lot of attention on the gubernatorial election between Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears and former Seventh District Congressional Representative Abigail Spanberger.  However, there is also a lot of activity in the local governance of both Albemarle and Charlottesville.  Sally Duncan, a local historian is facing off in a democratic primary against Dave Shreve, a local economist in the Jack Jouette District for the Albemarle Board of Supervisors.  In addition, Scott Smith, a retired businessman and engineer is a Republican running against Democrat Fred Missel, who works for the University of Virginia in a general election contest for the Samuel Miller seat in Albemarle.  Ned Galloway, the incumbent in the Rio District, according to Neil Williamson, President of the Free Enterprise Forum, has filed his paperwork to run for reelection as of May 1st, but he has not formally announced his candidacy and there is no Republican candidate that has announced candidacy in that district.  In Charlottesville, ranked choice voting is in play as the current Mayor and Vice Mayor, Juandiego Wade and Brian Pinkston are running as a ticket, but the third entrant in the race Jen Fleisher, a local health official, is hoping to be ranked number one on several of the ballots.

The Free Enterprise Forum, a nonpartisan civic engagement research organization, is hosting two candidate forums over the next two weeks.  On May 21st, at Journey Middle School, Neil Williamson, and former WINA Morning News Host Jane Foy will moderate a candidate forum sponsored by current Jack Jouette District Supervisor Diantha McKeel, between candidates Dave Shreve and Sally Duncan.  The forum will begin at 5:30pm.  Then the following Wednesday, May 28th, there will be a city council candidate forum hosted by Sean Tubbs of the Info Cville Newsletter and Neil Williamson, featuring candidates Juandiego Wade, Brian Pinkston, and Jen Fleisher.   That forum will be held at 6pm at the Hillsdale Conference Center.  You can hear more about the forums and the candidates below as Neil Williamson joined the WINA Morning News.