Despite threatening wind and rain, about 180 people showed up for the Prince Edward Democratic Committee’s (PEDC) Fish Fry fundraiser at the Farmville Farmers’ Market on September 9. They enjoyed Pattie Cooper-Jones’s signature fish, fries, and hush puppies, along with assorted sides and desserts. Candidates served the delicious food. With the leadership of Howard Armistead, chair of the event, PEDC members sold 250 tickets. PEDC Chair Patsy Watson, meanwhile, exhorted attendees to work together to overcome voter suppression and voter apathy, including volunteering to work at the polls in the Tuesday, November 7 election.

She also introduced candidates and incumbents: Pattie Cooper-Jones (BOS 801), Odessa Pride (BOS 401), Peter Gur (BOS 101), Lynette Coe (P. E. Clerk of Circuit Court), Donna Nunnally (P. E. Treasurer), Megan Clark (P. E. Commonwealth’s Attorney), Edna Goldman (P. E. Commissioner of Revenue), Robert Goldman (P. E. Sheriff), Josh Blakely (VA House of Delegates District 50), Trudy Berry (write-in candidate for VA Senate District 9), and Dan Tomlinson (write-in candidate for VA Senate District 10). Other guests included Maggie Snoddy (Vice Chair of the Buckingham County Democratic Committee, who spoke of the dangers of bad actors acquiring access to public office); Patricia Harper-Tunley (Chair of the Lunenburg Democratic Committee and the 5th Congressional District); and Levar Stoney (second term mayor of Richmond and the Advisory Board of the US Conference of Mayors).