VCC Magazine Fall 2019

A ssociations AARPVirginia –804.344.3059 David DeBiasi, ddebiasi@aarp.org Alliance for Construction Excellence (ACE) Andy Porter, Chairman , 703.658.4383 Fraternal Order of Police, VA State Lodge John Ohrnberger, johrnb@aol.com Speech-Language-HearingAssociation ofVirginia (SHAV) Amber Handon, President • www.shav.org Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Dr. Brenda D. Long, Executive Director , 540.760.250 Virginia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy www.vamft.org Virginia Association of Realtors Terri Suit, CEO , o) 804.249.5702 c) 804.381.1222 Martin Johnson, Senior VP of Gov. Relations , c) 804.514.9830 Anthony Reedy, VP of Political Operations , 804.249.5719 Mary Lawson, Legislative Relations Director , 540.230.6310 Erin Barton, Deputy Legislative Counsel , 804.249.5033 Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Ray LaMura, President , 804.780.1776 Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs Chip Condon, President , 1.800.913.2727 Virginia Education Association –804.648.5801 Jim Livingston, President Kathy Burcher, Government Relations Virginia Motorcoach Association, Inc. Doug Douglas, Government Affairs , 434.376.1150 Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Scott Garber, President , 540.332.3885 Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Robert Bragg, President , 434.882.8238 Virginia School Counselor Association Emily Goodman-Scott, Chair ; Julia Taylor, Assistant Chair www.vsca.org Virginia State Firefighters Association Ken Brown, President , 804.971.7983 Voter Registrars Association of Virginia Allison Robbins, President , 276.328.8331 E ateries Rueger’s Restaurant & Bar 901 Bank Street, Richmond • 804.343.7300 (Inside The Commonwealth) S ervices Gus’s Shoe Repair 528 East Main Street, Richmond • 804.782.6959 www.shoerepairrichmond.com H otels Berkeley Hotel (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.780.1300 • 1200 East Cary Street, Richmond The Commonwealth (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.343.7300 • 901 Bank Street, Richmond Adjacent to General Assembly  Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown (Special Session rates available) 804.788.0900 • 555 East Canal Street, Richmond Linden Row Inn (Special Session rates available) 804.225.5841 • 100 East Franklin Street, Richmond

The Lighter Side of Lobbying The Five Jasons By Ken Jessup This incident caught me off guard, and I must say, it is so typical of being visually impaired. For many years I shared office space the new interns and invariably one particular lobbyist would have an intern named Jason. For over four years this went on, every year a Jason. I often joked about it and shared the story with friends always laughing at how my office mate found a Jason to intern for him. The story ended here for many years…. until the opening night reception of the 2012 Session. A few political consultants go together and sponsor receptions for legislators and staff during session. I was one such sponsor for the opening night reception. As I was introducing my client to various attendees, I saw the old office mate and just had to have my client meet him. Of course the conversation turned to the Jason story. I just learned that all the Jasons were the same guy each year! Vision impairment can really be a hoot at times! Ken Jessup worked as a lobbyist for over 20 years. He has represented a wide variety of clients, including people with disabilities. He currently serves a chairman for the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired. with a number of lobbyists. One office in particular always had a student intern. Each year I would show up to theVirginia General Assembly Session, introduce myself to all

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Editor’s note: In the January issue we plan to honor some of the significant people who have died in the year 2019. If you would like to include someone, please contact Bonatwood@capitolsquare.com .

V irginia C apitol C onnections , F all 2019

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