Former governor Mark Warner was honored by the Democratic Party of Virginia this evening at a reception at the Boar’s Head Inn. The event drew a large audience of popular (conventionally or otherwise) Liberals: elected officials, high school and college politicos, the Grishams, and me and my fellow tree-hugging non-smoking corduroy-owning companion. As Bob Gibson wrote in his Daily Progress column yesterday, Charlottesville has become quite the hotspot for politicians. The previous day, Gibson wrote that Warner told Darden students he would announce his candidacy for either the Senate in ‘08 or the Governor race in ‘09 in a matter of days.
The announcement did not come tonight, but Warner told the audience he would be in a race before the weekend.
Though I don’t know his platform yet, I was pleasantly surprised to learn he’s against the new speeding fines. Pedal to the metal, Warner!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Tagged as: Albemarle County, Campaigns, Charlottesville, Events, Government, Mondays
Apparently I catered the thing after this thing (but the Paynes made it there); he seemed to be leaning towards running for Senate from what I heard.
That was the suckiest reception I’ve ever been to (the Boar’s Head one). Seriously, for an event to charge $120 a head and then have a cash bar with overpriced drinks (they cost more at the reception than they do at the Boar’s Head bar), I have to wonder what the hell is wrong with the low-budget organizers.
No wonder we can’t win elections — our receptions are lame and the guests wear Birkenstocks.
dems disappoint me: Don’t give up hope yet. The event was a fundraiser, not a five-course dinner (though Wendyaannn the hors d’oeuvres were great). I wouldn’t have minded spotting some Birks to gawk at, but all I saw was business attire and a couple of not-yet-retired-but-should-be bridesmaid dresses. Let this be a lesson to everyone: people *always* complain about cash bars. My complaint: Bowman’s spirits at the cash bar. When planning high-profile events, charge enough to account for an open bar, and upgrade from shelf liquor. If price is that much of a concern, do away with one of the floating apps, serve beer/wine only, and close the bar half hour to the end of the event.
I was way more disappointed about Mark Warner announcing his candidacy on Youtube. Sabato notes that it’s easier to prepackage a message in such a delivery, but I prefer the unscripted, often telling responses politicians give to news reporters. Are they patient? Funny? Charming?