Tonight, Senate candidate Jim Webb and family members visited the Wise County, Virginia, fairgrounds for an informal meet-up with some of the Democratic party faithful at the VA/KY District Fair. And not only was I there but, yeah, I couldn't resist getting a few photos. So this isn't going to be a major policy-driven or fact-filled diary - just a photo-essay about what happens when one of our own comes 'home' to visit...
Above: va dare gets up close and personal with candidate Jim Webb
First off, let me say that Jim Webb is smart, articulate, and seems to be a genuinely warm-hearted person. I was already impressed with his credentials and curriculum vitae but I was not expecting folksy and friendly - most politicians come behind the wake of a professional entourage that's clearing the path of 'regular' people, so that the candidate gets straight to the 'important' folks. That was so NOT the style of Mr. Webb and his family. They came onto the fairgrounds like any other visitors but there
were many of us lined up to greet him.
Above: Jim with Wise County Supervisor Leland Branham (one of the finest public servants I've ever known).
Above: Jim and attorney Jerry Gray - one of the handful of attorneys in my region who will fight for local citizens struggling against the abuses of the coal industry - he represented me and my ex when we were hit with a SLAPP-suit by a strip-mining operation after we exercised our rights to file blasting complaints with the state's Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.
Above: Wise County Supervisor John Peace, Jim, and State Senator Phillip Puckett.
Above: Jim and SW VA Young Dem leader Brian Patton (also an attorney in Dickenson County - and no, I don't know if he's single or not but, yeah, he's a real cutie).
Above: Jim and my favorite computer-dude, Bob Robbins and his lovely wife.
Above: Jim being interviewed for ARC-TV, our local community cable-access channel.
Above: Jim and local Dem-activist Ronnie Shortt from Pound.
Above: Senator Puckett, Jim, and Dickenson County Democratic Committee chairman Danny Edwards.
Above: Carol Sue Gilbert, center in red (my apologies to the couple on the left whose names I did not get).
It wasn't all politics, all the time - it's a fair, for heaven's sake.
Above: Jim's wife Hong and daughter Emily. Young Emily has a career ahead of her in politics or public relations - she walked right up to me, offered to shake hands, and introduced herself. I taught her that it's okay for girls to FIRMLY shake hands - told her that doing so freaks out the guys who are expecting a limp wrist - heh! She's a very fast learner, that one.
Above: Emily and Jim's grandson Sean Hogan - proving their Democratic credentials by going with the BLUE cotton candy - heh, heh!
Above: Jim's cousins, Buck and Jewel Jones who live just south of us in the Alley Valley community of Scott County, Virginia, near Gate City - Jim, Hong, and the children are taking a wee vacation break with his cousins this weekend. (Lemme see, what was it that Felix said about how Jim couldn't / wouldn't know how to find southwest Virginia???)
Above: Senator and Mrs. Puckett.
And last but almost least - here's the Allen campaign staffer who's following Jim with a video camera even on his vacation... and, no, I didn't get his name.
Jim's working all weekend; here's the itinerary:
On Saturday morning, August 19, 2006, Jim will be meeting and visiting with folks in Russell County.
Also on Saturday, at 11:00 AM, Jim will be the guest at a rally sponsored by the Dickenson County Democratic Committee in Clinchco, at the Senior Citizens' Center.
Then, Jim will travel to Clintwood for the VFW District meeting, at 12:00 PM. The meeting is being held at the Clintwood High School, on Main Street.
Last word - thanks to Jim and his family for coming out to meet us - I'm looking forward to finishing the conversation we started about my career Navy son and his current deployment. Felt good to talk to someone who REALLY cares, you know?
Always the mountains,
va dare