Progressive Voters Guide Powered by Progress Virginia
Sandra Barefoot-Reid photo
Democrat

Sandra Barefoot-Reid

Website Facebook

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Sandra Purkey Barefoot-Reid is facing a challenge from Lucy Meredith Moses in the race for Goochland County School Board District 1.

Incumbent School Board Member Sandra Barefoot-Reid was appointed as the Board Chairperson in 2023. She has three children and her husband and she share thirteen grandchildren. She has worked in several areas, including credit management, lumber brokerage, agriculture, legal assisting, secretarial, bus driver, and Human Resources for Goochland County Schools.

During her time on the School Board, Barefoot-Reid has committed herself to accountability and integrity. She has done so by supporting the sound funding and building of the new Goochland Elementary School and ensuring that all other schools remain at the top of their game. This work helped to ensure that all five Goochland schools were acknowledged as Apple Distinguished Schools for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. Additionally, she earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Barefoot-Reid has committed herself to safety in Goochland schools. She promoted student safety by voting for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sheriff’s Department and the schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked to “protect the children and staff” and proved her commitment to this principle.

Barefoot-Reid has proven herself an advocate for teachers and staff. She voted for promoting a salary scale that is competitive with surrounding communities to continue hiring the best qualified and diverse teachers and staff. She also voted for bonus payments for employee service during COVID for all employees. She voted to restore health insurance and benefits for bus drivers and cafeteria staff and voted for the maximum raise possible for all employees while being fiscally responsible and staying within budget constraints.

In contrast with her opponent, Barefoot-Reid has been a strong voice for inclusivity and understanding. She voted to promote community involvement to identify and eliminate bullying behaviors and discrimination. She voted to encourage open discussions on cultural diversity to reduce social divisions and voted to ensure GCPS’ no discrimination policy is enforced at all levels.

Challenging Barefoot Reid is Lucy Meredith Moses, a teacher. Moses believes that education on inclusivity and diversity is inappropriate in schools. She uses coded language that falls in line with Republican book-banning and forced outing policies. She denies the autonomy of students and children and wants to police every aspect of their learning.

Given her record and positions as a public school advocate, Barefoot-Reid is the progressive choice in this race.

Goochland County

Not in Goochland County? Click here to choose your customized guide.

Election Day November 7, 2023
Find Drop Box Locations
Ballot Drop Boxes

Senate District 010

State Senator

No Recommendation

Republican Delegate John McGuire is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 10th State Senate district. Delegate McGuire has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. He is anti-abortion and received a 100% score from the Family Foundation. In the 2023 General Assembly, he introduced legislation to prohibit public funds from going towards abortion services for low-income people. He also patroned a bill aimed at removing ballot drop boxes, one of several attempts of his to make voting less accessible. Delegate McGuire co-patroned a bill that would require the forced outing of students by principals or their designees.

Because McGuire is running unopposed, there is no recommendation in this race. We encourage you to show up and vote by writing in a candidate. Remember, there are still other races in this year’s elections.

Republican Delegate John McGuire is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 10th State Senate district. Delegate McGuire has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. He is anti-abortion and received a 100% score from the Family Foundation. In the 2023 General Assembly, he introduced legislation to prohibit public funds from going towards abortion services for low-income people. He also patroned a bill aimed at removing ballot drop boxes, one of several attempts of his to make voting less accessible. Delegate McGuire co-patroned a bill that would require the forced outing of students by principals or their designees.

Because McGuire is running unopposed, there is no recommendation in this race. We encourage you to show up and vote by writing in a candidate. Remember, there are still other races in this year’s elections.

House of Delegates

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.

House District 056

Delegate

No Recommendation

Former Congressman Thomas Garrett is a Republican, and he is the sole candidate for this race. He served in the House of Representatives from 2017-2019, representing Congressional District 5. He left Congress after campaign finance violations and other allegations. Garrett does not support common sense gun legislation, and he is endorsed by the NRA. His campaign site refers to him as 100% pro-gun. He is also anti-abortion, and he promises to support any legislation that restricts the reproductive right to abortion.

There is no progressive recommendation for this race. We encourage you to write-in a candidate of your choice. Remember, there are other races this election.

Former Congressman Thomas Garrett is a Republican, and he is the sole candidate for this race. He served in the House of Representatives from 2017-2019, representing Congressional District 5. He left Congress after campaign finance violations and other allegations. Garrett does not support common sense gun legislation, and he is endorsed by the NRA. His campaign site refers to him as 100% pro-gun. He is also anti-abortion, and he promises to support any legislation that restricts the reproductive right to abortion.

There is no progressive recommendation for this race. We encourage you to write-in a candidate of your choice. Remember, there are other races this election.

House District 057

Delegate

Susanna Gibson photo
Democrat

Susanna Gibson

Website Facebook Instagram (Twitter)

Virginia’s new 57th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Henrico County and parts of Goochland County. With almost 63,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in either direction. 

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Susanna Gibson and Republican candidate David Owen are facing each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 57th House of Delegates district. This is an open seat with no incumbent in the race.

Susanna Gibson is a nurse practitioner and a public health expert who graduated from University of Virginia and Columbia University. She has been working in Richmond as a physician for almost 15 years, and through this experience, she has become familiar with the realities of the healthcare system. Gibson wants to apply this knowledge to her role as Delegate to fight for families and community members in Virginia.

Susanna Gibson is passionate about reproductive health and education, which started at a young age while volunteering and shadowing at the UVA Teen Health Center. She believes that women must have control over their own bodies, access to affordable quality healthcare, and make their own healthcare decisions in consultation with their healthcare providers. She is committed to ensuring that Virginia does not move backwards on reproductive rights and will use her professional knowledge to explain the damage that will be done to women, families, and communities if women are unable to work or care for their loved ones.

Gibson also wants quality education for all students, which requires an environment that engages students and cultivates them as they prepare for next steps, including higher education. She wants to create a culture that rewards and trusts teachers rather than setting them up to be seen as untrustworthy and devious, as Governor Youngkin’s failed tip line attempted to do. She also believes that college should be accessible to students and affordable to their families, because no one should have to forgo college or drown in debt because of the current system.

Gibson believes in commonsense gun violence prevention measures. On children experiencing gun violence she has said, “Our children should not have to practice active-shooter drills at school and live with the real fear of being harmed by someone with a weapon intended for a war zone.” Gibson believes that Virginia should invest in community-based programs such as gun buyback programs, increased street-lighting, and other evidence based programs that have been shown to reduce gun violence.

Gibson’s medical expertise informs her opinion on how mental health and substance abuse should be handled. She believes that those who need resources should have access to them, as it improves the quality of life of everyone in communities. She also believes that the response to substance abuse should be met with treatment rather than incarceration and punishment. She advocates for more education and acceptance regarding mental health and hopes to introduce legislation to increase the number of Drug Courts in Virginia, as they save considerable costs and help communities.

Susanna Gibson is facing Republican David Owen. Owen is a native Virginian who graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He worked as a construction engineer, and he was part-owner of Boone Homes for 20 years before he and his partners sold the company. He does not support police reform, or legislation that allows communities to hold police accountable. He promotes teaching inaccurate history and anti-trans policies.

Susanna Gibson is the progressive choice for this race, as she is an expert in public health, supports investments in public education, and advocates for mental health.

District Offices

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below county races on your ballot.

District #1 District Offices

District #1 School Board

Sandra Barefoot-Reid photo
Democrat

Sandra Barefoot-Reid

Website Facebook

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Sandra Purkey Barefoot-Reid is facing a challenge from Lucy Meredith Moses in the race for Goochland County School Board District 1.

Incumbent School Board Member Sandra Barefoot-Reid was appointed as the Board Chairperson in 2023. She has three children and her husband and she share thirteen grandchildren. She has worked in several areas, including credit management, lumber brokerage, agriculture, legal assisting, secretarial, bus driver, and Human Resources for Goochland County Schools.

During her time on the School Board, Barefoot-Reid has committed herself to accountability and integrity. She has done so by supporting the sound funding and building of the new Goochland Elementary School and ensuring that all other schools remain at the top of their game. This work helped to ensure that all five Goochland schools were acknowledged as Apple Distinguished Schools for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. Additionally, she earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Barefoot-Reid has committed herself to safety in Goochland schools. She promoted student safety by voting for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sheriff’s Department and the schools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked to “protect the children and staff” and proved her commitment to this principle.

Barefoot-Reid has proven herself an advocate for teachers and staff. She voted for promoting a salary scale that is competitive with surrounding communities to continue hiring the best qualified and diverse teachers and staff. She also voted for bonus payments for employee service during COVID for all employees. She voted to restore health insurance and benefits for bus drivers and cafeteria staff and voted for the maximum raise possible for all employees while being fiscally responsible and staying within budget constraints.

In contrast with her opponent, Barefoot-Reid has been a strong voice for inclusivity and understanding. She voted to promote community involvement to identify and eliminate bullying behaviors and discrimination. She voted to encourage open discussions on cultural diversity to reduce social divisions and voted to ensure GCPS’ no discrimination policy is enforced at all levels.

Challenging Barefoot Reid is Lucy Meredith Moses, a teacher. Moses believes that education on inclusivity and diversity is inappropriate in schools. She uses coded language that falls in line with Republican book-banning and forced outing policies. She denies the autonomy of students and children and wants to police every aspect of their learning.

Given her record and positions as a public school advocate, Barefoot-Reid is the progressive choice in this race.

District #2 District Offices

District #2 Supervisor

No Recommendation

Incumbent Supervisor Neil Spoonhower is an avowed Republican. His policy positions are not overtly awful, but he touts typical Republican talking points that suggest he is more interested in cutting taxes and regulations than in taking a hard look at what’s necessary to ensure successful and sustainable development.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

Incumbent Supervisor Neil Spoonhower is an avowed Republican. His policy positions are not overtly awful, but he touts typical Republican talking points that suggest he is more interested in cutting taxes and regulations than in taking a hard look at what’s necessary to ensure successful and sustainable development.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

District #2 School Board

No Recommendation

Incumbent School Board Member Karen Horn has served on the board since 2018. Her policy positions are vague but allude to popular Republican dog whistles. It is difficult to discern her actual stances, but we were able to find a letter addressed to Governor Northam during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that uses Republican language that frames efforts by the government to curb the spread of the virus as “government overreach”. Because of this, we cannot recommend her as a progressive choice.

Horn’s opponent, Karen Wirsing, is no better. She would join the Republican onslaught against public schools and libraries and proudly considers herself a conservative and non-union teacher.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

Incumbent School Board Member Karen Horn has served on the board since 2018. Her policy positions are vague but allude to popular Republican dog whistles. It is difficult to discern her actual stances, but we were able to find a letter addressed to Governor Northam during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that uses Republican language that frames efforts by the government to curb the spread of the virus as “government overreach”. Because of this, we cannot recommend her as a progressive choice.

Horn’s opponent, Karen Wirsing, is no better. She would join the Republican onslaught against public schools and libraries and proudly considers herself a conservative and non-union teacher.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

District #3 District Offices

District #3 Supervisor

No Recommendation

Republican Tom Winfree is a political newcomer. He does not have a website or any socials, so we could not find any policy positions or statements.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

Republican Tom Winfree is a political newcomer. He does not have a website or any socials, so we could not find any policy positions or statements.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

District #4 District Offices

District #4 Supervisor

No Recommendation

There are two candidates in this race: Incumbent Republican Charles Vaughters and Democratic challenger Steven Schawaroch. Vaughters lists only vague priorities that, while not terrible, lack enough substance or information to know what he really means. Schawaroch is similarly vague, but he seems to lean mostly on business acumen to make his case, which is not a telltale sign of a progressive candidate.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

There are two candidates in this race: Incumbent Republican Charles Vaughters and Democratic challenger Steven Schawaroch. Vaughters lists only vague priorities that, while not terrible, lack enough substance or information to know what he really means. Schawaroch is similarly vague, but he seems to lean mostly on business acumen to make his case, which is not a telltale sign of a progressive candidate.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

District #5 District Offices

District #5 Supervisor

No Recommendation

Jonathan Lyle, Chairman of the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, is running as an Independent. Lyle does not have a website or any social media and does not list any policy positions, but we were able to find on John McGuire’s Facebook account promoting Lyle as a “low-tax, individual freedom, limited-government conservative”. Given the allusions to Republican policy and his association with a hard-right candidate like McGuire, we cannot consider Lyle a progressive.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

Jonathan Lyle, Chairman of the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors, is running as an Independent. Lyle does not have a website or any social media and does not list any policy positions, but we were able to find on John McGuire’s Facebook account promoting Lyle as a “low-tax, individual freedom, limited-government conservative”. Given the allusions to Republican policy and his association with a hard-right candidate like McGuire, we cannot consider Lyle a progressive.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

District #5 School Board

No Recommendation

By law, school board races are non-partisan. In spite of this, Ellen Robinson proudly aligns herself with Republicans and is endorsed by organized efforts to attack trans kids in schools.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

By law, school board races are non-partisan. In spite of this, Ellen Robinson proudly aligns herself with Republicans and is endorsed by organized efforts to attack trans kids in schools.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.