On January 13, 2024, El Salvador’s vice president, Dr. Félix Ulloa, Jr., visited Woodbridge, one of his stops on his U.S. tour.

Since beginning his term in June of 2019, Ulloa has helped promote peace within Salvadoran communities in favor of seeking reverse migration of people back to his country.

In his visit to Woodbridge, which took place at El Ranchon Steakhouse at 13638 Richmond Highway., He highlighted the many successes that have occurred so far with his administration. With zero homicides in more than 300 days, Ulloa promoted the policies of the current Salvadoran president, Nayib Bukele, in the upcoming term.

During his meeting, Ulloa met with multiple community leaders, including Manassas Councilwoman Sonia Vasquez Luna and Prince William County Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega. An open meeting with the public then followed.

According to Fred Cooper, Vega’s chief of staff, both politicians hope to continue decreasing gang and crime rates. And with El Salvador recently opening overseas electronic voting for the first time, Ulloa hopes to encourage voters abroad to re-elect Bukele in the 2024 election.

Ulloa has visited various states in his U.S. tour, including Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, and Nevada. He is still traveling and meeting with public officials following his journey here.

As the Virginia Presidential Primary on March 5 approaches, residents in the state can cast their votes early today, Friday, January 19, 2024. Virginia will hold a dual presidential primary this year, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party hosting primaries on the same day.

In a dual primary system, voters can choose between voting in the Democratic Party Primary or the Republican Party Primary. While all qualified voters are eligible to participate in either primary, they cannot vote in both.

It’s important to note that choosing a party’s primary does not equate to party registration, as Virginia does not have party registration requirements.

The Republican primary ballot will feature six candidates, including Chris Christie. However, he dropped out, Ryan L. Binkley, Vivek Ramaswamy (he dropped out, too), Donald J. Trump, Ron D. DeSantis, and Nikki R. Haley. On the Democratic side, three candidates will appear: Marianne Williamson, Incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr, and Dean Benson Phillips.

Early voting, the in-person option, is available until March 2. Registered voters can visit the general registrar’s office in their respective jurisdictions, present their ID, and cast their ballot.

Stafford County Registrar Anna Hash said that while in-person voting rules remain unchanged mainly, she noted a change in the law regarding absentee ballot returns. Witness signatures are no longer required, but voters must now provide their birth year and the last four digits of their Social Security Number on the envelope.

The objective is to ensure a smooth and accessible election, with preparations aligning with standard practices, adds Hash.

In Manassas, Voter Registrar Susan Reed highlighted extensive training for Election Officials, testing on voting machines and electronic poll books, and readiness. She also encouraged registered Virginia to become Election Officials.

In Prince William County, they’ve been training those poll workers for early voting and election day. Elections office spokeswoman Thalia Simpson said rigorous testing and training are standard for every election in Prince William County. She added that voting equipment undergoes thorough functionality and accuracy tests, and every election officer completes a two-hour training class to stay updated on laws, policies, and processes.

The location of the general registrar’s office for all jurisdictions can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections website here. Additionally, a list of acceptable forms of identification can be accessed here.

“One of the bills to watch for Virginia’s 2024 legislative session — legislation that would have repealed the 2021 law tying the commonwealth’s vehicle emissions standards to California’s — died in a Senate committee this week,” reports Morgan Sweeney at The Center Square. “Senate Republicans attempted to persuade the committee not only of the infeasibility of California’s electric vehicle laws for Virginia due to EVs’ higher price tags, mechanical flaws and lack of demand, but of the injustice of allowing California’s policies to dictate Virginia’s.”

“A Virginia Senate committee narrowly defeated legislation Wednesday that would expand the circumstances in which a drug dealer could be charged with felony homicide in connection with a user’s death,” reports WTOP-FM. “The bill, a priority of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and fellow Republicans, was pitched as a deterrent to criminals that would save lives amid the rising tide of overdoses deaths, particularly those attributable to fentanyl. But the Democrats on the committee who voted it down voiced skepticism that stiffer penalties, rather than an approach focused on substance abuse treatment, would effectively address the root causes of the issue.”

“The Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee recommends legislation to boost teacher pay, following the committee’s first meeting of the 2024 legislative session,” reports Morgan Sweeney at The Center Square. “SB 104, sponsored by longtime senator and committee member Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, would deeply impact teachers’ livelihoods in the commonwealth and require an ongoing commitment from the state. It seeks to raise Virginia teachers’ salaries to at or above the national average.”

Virginia Senator Danica Roem (D-30, Gainesville, Manassas) is encouraged about her bill to reform the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) fees.

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Manassas City Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger is attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 92nd Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The three-day conference brings together over 250 mayors nationwide to discuss challenges, share best practices, and engage with federal officials.

Davis-Younger, a first-time attendee, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to network and participate in informative sessions addressing various concerns, from poverty and homelessness to AI. The meeting includes conversations with national leaders, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Davis-Younger will also visit the White House on January 19.

Davis-Younger, a Democrat, is up for re-election this year and will finish her first mayoral term on December 31, 2024. No one has announced a campaign to unseat her, though it’s still early in the local election cycle.

Democrats Mark Wolfe, Pamela Sebesky, and Tom Osina are also up for re-election this November.

In Dumfries, Vice Mayor Monaé Nickerson has been appointed to lead the National League of Cities (NLC) 2024 Small Cities Council. This is her second one-year term in this role. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor-Elect David Sander of Rancho Cordova, CA.

As a member of NLC’s Small Cities Council, Vice Mayor Nickerson will work with local leaders to encourage collaboration, networking, and the development of resources and programs beneficial to communities with similar demographics, sizes, or locations. The council aims to ensure that cities, towns, and villages across the country have access to ideas and resources to thrive.

The leadership of this year’s council includes Chair Jan Arbuckle, Vice Mayor of Grass Valley, Calif.; Vice Chair Mary Sarver, Mayor Pro Tem of Grandview, Texas; and Vice Chair Gabrielle Nelson, Councilwoman of Port Wentworth, Ga.

Nickerson is serving her second term on the town council.

The Center Square: “Former President Donald Trump is far and away the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, but new polling digs into why the former president dominates when it comes to the working class.”

“The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll of 2,573 likely voters, conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights, shows Trump’s support is highest among Republican voters making less than $50,000 and those without a college degree.”

DeShundra Jefferson, chair at-large of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors, delivered her first remarks Tuesday, January 9, on the State of the County. She was elected in 2023 and assumed office on January 1.

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