CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — Del. Tom Garrett and Del. Ted Griffin were in Albemarle County on Thursday evening, taking questions and sharing their positions during a forum on the Democrat-led redistricting amendment.

“Everybody should have their voices heard, their votes counted,” Garrett told the media before the event. “Sometimes you win elections, and sometimes you don’t, but that shouldn’t negate your ability to be heard in a free society where we report to have a representative democracy.”

The forum, presented by the Albemarle County Republican Committee, came one day before early voting will begin for the referendum on the redistricting amendment on April 21. The event featured Garrett, who represents the 56th District, and Griffin, who represents the 53rd.

Garrett and Griffin presented the GOP’s argument against the redistricting efforts. Garrett reiterated his argument that “if it was wrong to draw line to disenfranchise people under Jim Crow … it was, right? How is it not wrong to draw lines to disenfranchise people now?”

“We’re discriminating just like we discriminated in order to get an outcome,” he added. “It’s only different based on the criteria against which we are describing, and I think it’s indefensible.”

Griffin echoed Garrett sentiment and ridiculed the proposed new district map, comparing the shape of the districts to different animals and cartoon characters.

“We have the constitution, as Tom says,” Griffin said. “It says, they need to be geographically together, and what they have done is put five districts starting in Fairfax County.”

The Northern Virginia area was a common target of the two delegates, with both asserting the area’s representatives were jockeying for further control in Richmond while not understanding the issues facing rural voters in the commonwealth.

At one point, when moderator Marshall Pattie, a Professor of Management at JMU who lives on a 70-acre farm, shared how he would live in the new 7th District, which stretches from Rockingham County to Fairfax, he questioned how a representative from Fairfax could adequately represent him.

“I just want to be clear, he is not. He will not,” Griffin responded. “If you’re worried about how he’s going to get from one end of the district to the other, do not worry. He will not come because his whole base is going to be in Fairfax County.”

Albemarle Republican Committee Chair Phil Riese opened the meeting by sharing that the committee had reached out to the Albemarle County Democrats, who he said were not interested in co-sponsoring the event. The Republican Committee reached out to Del. Amy Laufer, who Riese said didn’t respond until Wednesday, stating she could not attend.

Laufer told Cville Right Now on Wednesday that she was “hoping to virtually participate for a segment of the forum.”

“She told the local media that she was, ‘Working in Richmond and unable to attend events that are in person during the work week,'” Riese said during the event. “I think it is interesting that two of her colleagues, who have the same job as her, are able to attend in person with us tonight.”

Riese later added the committee reached out to Del. Katrina Callsen, who represents Charlottesville, and State Sen. Creigh Deeds, both of whom responded saying they could not attend.

Ultimately, the forum served as an opportunity for the GOP’s supporters to spread the word about the upcoming referendum, with Riese closing the event by sharing the location of polling places to the attendees. Garrett said before the event the GOP is taking this grassroots approach due to the party lacking the funds the Democrats have.

“We don’t have the money they have,” he said. “I mean, it’s ironic to me that we hear about the big money party, and if you are journalistically honest enough to look at who spends how much in Virginia elections, it’s two or three to one the opposite of the narrative. So we’re gonna work harder and be here. 
I know that I think all the local delegates and state senator were invited, and they’re too busy to be here. And so we’re working harder, as usual, and I think that that should speak to the voters as well.”