Distributed Free Each Friday Since 2009 November 2, 2018 www.pcpatriot.com Locally Owned And Operated 22,099 Countians can cast ballots on Tuesday By MIKE WILLIAMS The Patriot Since the early-50's only four men have represented the sprawling "Fightin' Ninth" District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives. One of them - Morgan Griffith - wants to keep it that way in Tuesday's election, while Anthony Flaccavento tries for a second time to add his name to that short list. The Ninth - which runs from the tip of Virginia past Bristol, to a portion of Alleghany County to the north and to Martinsville in the East - has swung back and forth from Republican to Democrat control ever since Morgan Griffith Anthony Flaccavento William C. Wampler Sr. first won election to a single term in 1953. and consulting firm owner from Flaccavento's 116,400. Democrat Pat Jennings defeat- Abingdon, Flaccavento lost in Griffith has won easily every ed Wampler in 1955 and held the his effort to knock Griffith out two years since with margins of seat in Congress until 1967 when early. The race wasn't close with victory of 72 percent and 69 per- WEEKEND WEATHER Wampler made a comeback. Griffith winning with 61 percent Wampler would hold onto the of the vote - 184,882 to See ELECTION, page A2 SATURDAY SUNDAY district until the election of 1982 Mostly sunny, with a high near Sunny, with a high near 56. when an upstart lawyer from 52. Northwest wind 9 to 13 Abingdon - Rick Boucher - upset mph, with gusts as high as 21 Sunday Night - A chance of the incumbent Wampler by a mph. Chance of precipitation is rain after 2am. Partly cloudy, mere 1,218 votes out of over 20%. with a low around 40. Chance 150,000 cast districtwide. Saturday Night - Mostly clear, of precipitation is 30%. Boucher would go on to hold with a low around 35. the seat for 28 years until he was defeated in the 2010 election by Griffith. The Salem lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates won by 4.8 percent of the vote that year. In 2012, Flaccavento made his first bid for Congress. A farmer Pulaski Elks Lodge offers free Veterans Day concert Nov. 11 The Pulaski Lodge of the Benevolent and tary veterans are warmly invited to enjoy this con- Protective Order of Elks will again honor the Men cert. As well as citizens, family members, friends and Women who have served and protected our and any residents of the community. This is a spe- Nation with a special honorarium concert on cial concert with musical recognition in song that November 11th. will bring back memories and quicken the heart of This year's concert will be at the Pulaski Theater. all. Admission is free, but limited to the house seating This is a wonderful opportunity enjoy the capacity. The concert begins at 2 PM. Doors will ambiance, the music, and see all the hard work the open at 1:30. Theater staff will be operating their friends of the Pulaski Theater have done. But most excellent concession stand with something for of all be there to help the Elks honor our citizens of every taste. the community who have served and protected our All present serving, discharged, and retired mili- great county. Page A2 - The Patriot - Friday, November 2, 2018 Election County’s Continued from page A1 cent. Currently Republicans hold a 235-193 majority in the House with economic seven seats vacant. Observers such as the non-profit, non-partisan Ballotpedia organization have identified 79 House "battleground" races - 70 held by Repubicans and nine by Democrats. To win a majority, Ballotpedia figures Democrats need to have a net gain of 23 development Republican seats. According to historical analysis, Democrats are well-positioned to gain seats, according to Ballotpedia. team expands From 1918 to 2016, the president's party lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections. In what Ballotpedia termed "wave elections," the president's party lost 48 seats. Only twice since 1918 has the newly elected president actually effort to Turkey gained seats in the mid-term elections - in 1934 (Franklin Roosevelt) and in 2002 (George W. Bush). Economic Development Team Director Michael Solomon visit- Democratic leaders have for months been predicting a "blue wave" Visits Turkish Embassy to Begin ed the Turkish Embassy and dis- in next week's election, however, some observers believe that wave Shaping New Business cussed business cultivation may not materialize in light of recent news concerning the Supreme Relationships with Companies opportunities with top Turkish Court and immigration, and see Republicans holding control of the Looking to Make Foreign Direct commercial attachés. The aim House. Investment into U.S. was to gain connectivity to While in this area at least, Democrats seem energized behind Today the Pulaski County Turkish companies looking to Flaccavento, Virginia's Ninth District is not viewed - even by Board of Supervisors and the establish a U.S. presence. Tim Kaine Pulaski County Economic "We would like Turkish com- Democratic leaders - as one of those "battleground" races that might Democrat tip the balance of power in the House away from Republicans. Development Authority (EDA) panies to do business in Pulaski Given President Trump's continued huge popularity in the district expanded their business and County, Virginia," stated and past races in which Griffith won - including 2012 against industrial recruitment efforts to Mustafa Koca, Chief Flaccavento - another Griffith win is expected. the Republic of Turkey. Pulaski Commercial Counselor. "What But, the "Fightin' Ninth" isn't called that for nothing. Who knows, County, hosting the title of we have learned of Pulaski this could be another upset in the making. Southwestern Virginia's Center County sounds most promising Polls open Tuesday at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Remember to of International Business, is fur- and we would like to try and set bring your IDs. ther extending its welcoming up a trip to come visit the county In Pulaski County 22,099 people are registered to vote. and supportive community for in hopes of developing meaning- Registrar Kathy Webb says all polling places in the county's 12 international companies to ful partnerships." precincts remain the same as in the last election: Turkey. Turkey is defined as an emerg- • Belspring (Belspring United Methodist Church) The County's economic devel- ing market economy by the • New River (Riverlawn Elementary) opment team traveled to International Monetary Fund • West Cloyd (NRV Fairgrounds) Washington D.C. to meet and (IMF) and is among the world's • Draper (Draper Vol. Fire Dept.) discuss recruitment strategies developed countries according to • South Pulaski (Central Gym) with leading international busi- the CIA World Factbook. It is • Newbern (Dublin Lions Club) ness tacticians, as well as one of the world's newly indus- • Dublin (Dublin Lions Club) Turkey's Office of the trialized countries with the • Hiwassee (Hiwassee Vol. Fire Dept.) Commercial Counselor. While world's 17th-largest nominal • Snowville (Snowville Elementary) in D.C., County Administrator gross domestic product (GDP) • Massie (Central Gym) Jonathan D. Sweet and and 13th-largest GDP by pur- • Walker (NRV Fairgrounds) Economic Development • Robinson (Central Gym) See TURKEY, page A3 According to Webb, Pulaski County will again use its optical scan machines and paper ballots. Corey Stewart Also on next Tuesday's ballot is the race for U.S. Senator and two Republican Constitutional amendment questions. Incumbent U.S. Senator and former Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine is seeking re-election to another six-year term. He is challenged by Republican Corey Stewart and Libertarian Matt Waters. Kaine is a heavy favorite for re-election. There are two Constitutional questions: 1 - "Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a par- tial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flood- ing, if flooding resiliency improvements have been made on the property?" Yes or No 2 - "Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who had a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be amended to allow the surviving spouse to move to a dif- ferent primary residence and still claim the exemption?" Yes or No Matt Waters Libertarian The Patriot - Friday, November 2, 2018 - Page A3 The Patriot • 540-808-3949 Pulaski County photo In Front of the Republic of Turkey’s U.S. Embassy, Washington D.C. – October 25, 2018 (From left to right. Michael Solomon, Economic Development Director; Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator; Selman Kurt, Commercial Counselor-Turkey, Mustafa Koca, Chief Commercial Counselor-Turkey; Keith Segerson, CEO and John Giambalvo, Innovation Strategies) Turkey Continued from page A2 chasing power parity. The coun- Pulaski County home. east; and Iraq and Syria to the try is among the world's leading "The logistics of and connec- south. The country is encircled producers of agricultural prod- tivity to existing local and by seas on three sides, with the ucts; textiles; motor vehicles, regional foreign-owned enter- Aegean Sea to the west, the transportation equipment; con- prises and OEM's, along with Black Sea to the north, and the struction materials; consumer their supply chains, makes Mediterranean Sea to the south. electronics and home appliances. Pulaski County one of the most The Bosphorus, the Sea of "In looking at Turkey's main commonsensical locations to Marmara, and the Dardanelles, industrial sectors, they are very locate new U.S. based opera- which together form the Turkish similar to what Pulaski County tions," stated John Wyatt, Chair, Straits, divide Thrace and has historically produced as well Economic Development Anatolia and separate Europe as where we have evolved to in Authority.