Heather Bell
hbell@ourvalley.org
City Council chambers erupted in applause Monday as council members unanimously voted on a resolution urging the Virginia General Assembly to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
If Virginia votes in favor of ratification it would make the Commonwealth the 38th state to do so, thereby finally making the proposed ERA a constitutional Amendment after being passed by Congress in 1972. A constitutional amendment requires ratification by a two-thirds states majority. Illinois became the 37th state to do so in 2018. Virginia could become the 38th and final necessary state to do so if it takes up the issue in its 2019 legislative session.
Several city residents attended Monday’s meeting to urge city council to pass the resolution in support of Virginia’s ratification.
“This should be one of the easiest votes of your entire term,” said Carol Colby. “It is time.”
Two council members, Robert Gropman and Naomi Huntington, made a motion to table the issue until a future meeting so the community would have more time to discuss it. However, Council member Jessie Critterton made an impassioned plea to move the vote forward.
“Radford has the opportunity to be a beacon of light,” said Critterton. “It is our time to stand up and do what’s right.”
The motion to table the issue failed on a three-to-two vote and council subsequently voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.
City Council also voted unanimously on the second of two required votes to create a new voting precinct in Radford, dividing the densely populated East Precinct into two. The former East Precinct had roughly twice the number of registered voters than the Central or West Precincts do. The new New River Precinct includes all areas east and north of Tyler Avenue where Tyler intersects with Rock Road. The polling place will be Grove United Methodist Church.
Council also voted Monday to amend the school board budget for the current year to accept Additional state and federal funds of $329,649.
