Jennifer McClellan’s leadership skills in Virginia will be critical in Washington

politician, yet media pundits and political operatives questioned her expertise, Ms. Ross said. In her own environment, Rep. McClellan faces the same hurdles in the very contentious 435-member House.

Rep. McClellan is a valuable vote for the Democrats.

The slim margin for control of the House makes even a vote of one or two a crucial difference. “The old trick of controlling votes is delicate,” Ms. Ross said. Rep. McClel- lan’s leadership skills in the Virginia legislature may go a long way in helping her achieve success here in Washington.

Atop Rep. McClellan’s list early this month was a bipartisan appearance with fellow Democrats and Republicans from Virginia making a pitch to the General Services Administration, the federal government’s realtor, to choose Springfield, Virginia, from the sites under consideration, for construction of a new national headquarters for the government’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, known as the FBI.

Today, the FBI is located here, in the heart of the nation’s capitol, a few blocks from the White House, Capitol Hill and the U.S. Supreme Court. All are in the area known as the National Mall, known for the Smithsonian Museum buildings and a variety of related historical museums and monuments.

Taxpayers would spend several hundred million dollars to construct the new FBI building. It would also generate thousands of construction jobs and create employment opportunities.

Virginia is in a scramble with Maryland, as both states have sent their top politicians to make their respective cases for selection. With a competition as stiff in this month’s final rivalry between the nation’s colleges for rank as the top college for basketball athletics, Rep. McClellan is being called upon by fellow Virginia politicians on the home stretch to draw upon her legislative experience in making deals and negotiating, say observers.

Helping win the FBI headquarters move would also help solidify Rep. McClellan’s newest employment credentials should she decide to run in the next term for Virginia governor.

For now, she helps Democrats walk a fragile tight rope of political power in the U.S. House of Representatives, as Republicans lead the chamber by a slim two votes.

That majority includes George Santos, the rookie Republican from New York whose touted résumé helped win the election last fall. In the end, his resume was

Learn About the Future of Transportation in the Richmond Region

full of falsehoods that have prompted fellow Republicans in New York to urge him to resign. Another rookie, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, has also come under fire for embellishing the facts in his résumé. Both new national politicians had aggressively embraced and supported former President

Donald Trump. The added troubles for the Republican House leadership, complicate the party’s efforts to control the already unruly House.

Rep. McClellan has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee and is taking on daily calls from her constituents for help on a va- riety of topics with which she can advocate as the member of Congress in Washington from Richmond.

Reginald Stuart was a daily newspaper reporter for 23 years at The New York Times, and he worked for more than two decades as a news talent scout for Knight Ridder Newspapers.

Please take notice that the School Board of the City of Richmond will conduct public hearings to receive public comment on the renaming of Ginter Park Elementary School, John B. Cary Elementary School, Binford Middle School, and George Wythe High School.

A public hearing will convene at Ginter Park Elementary School, 3817 Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond, VA 23227, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 6pm to 7pm.

A public hearing will convene at Ginter Park Elementary School, 3817 Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond, VA 23227, on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 6pm to 7pm.

A public hearing will convene at John B. Cary Elementary School, 3021 Maplewood Ave, Richmond, VA 23221, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 6pm to 7pm.

A public hearing will convene at Binford Middle School, 1701 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23220, on Monday, April 24, 2023 from 6pm to 7pm.

A public hearing will convene at George Wythe High School, 4314 Crutchfield St, Richmond, VA 23225, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 6pm to 7pm.

For information regarding the Public Hearings, please contact Dr. Shadae Harris, Chief Engagement Officer, at 780-7845.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the Clerk of the School Board no later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting at (804) 780-7716 or prichard@rvaschools.net. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling the Americans with Disabilities Act Office TTY Relay Center at 711.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2023 FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, 2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, AND ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is undertaking a Five (5) Year Consolidated Planning process to determine Housing and Community Development needs and the best use of resources to address those needs across the commonwealth.

The planning process will also result in the development of an Annual Action Plan which will outline the prioritized needs and the use of available resources analysis of impediments to fair housing. The anticipated federal housing and community development resources include the Community Development Block

Catherine.Farnsler@dhcd.virginia.gov.

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to attend the effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations.

To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com. EOE M/F/D/V

Stories by Fred Jeter