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{{Infobox Candidate
{{Infobox Candidate
| name = Wes Bellamy
| name = Wes Bellamy
| photo = Bellamy.jpg
| photo = 2018-Wes Bellamy.JPG
| caption = Wes Bellamy at his campaign announcement
| caption = Wes Bellamy (D)
| office1= Candidate for<br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| office1= Councilor<br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| district1 =
| district1 = At-large
| party1 = Democratic
| election1 = November 3, 2015
| election1 = June 11, 2013 primary
| party1 = Nonpartisan
| term_start1 = January 2014
| term_start1 =January 1, 2016
| term_end1 = December 2017
| term_end1 =December 31, 2019
| preceded1 =
| preceded1 = [[Satyendra Huja]] (D)
| succeeded1 = [[Sena A. Magill]] (D)
| office2= Vice-president (vice-mayor) <br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| district2 = Elected by and from council
| election2 =
| term_start2 = January 1, 2016
| term_end2 =December 31, 2017
| preceded2 = [[Dede Smith]] (D)
| succeeded2 = [[Heather Hill]] (D)
| birth_date = November 4, 1986<br/>Age {{age|1986|11|04}}
| date_of_death =
| birth_place =
| place_of_death =
| spouse = Ashlee Thompson
| children = 3
| residence = [[Tonsler Precinct (301)]]
| alma_mater = South Carolina State University
| profession = Teacher
| religion =
| website =
| vpapid = 223476
| vpap_donations =
}}
 
{{Infobox Candidate
| name = Wes Bellamy
| photo =
| caption =
| office1 = Democratic Primary Candidate for<br/>[[Charlottesville City Council]]
| election1 = [[2013 election]] - June 11, 2013 (lost)
| election2 =
| term_start1 =  
| term_end1 =  
| preceded1 =  
| succeeded1 =
| succeeded1 =
| office2=
| birth_date = November 4, 1986
| district2 =
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 =
| preceded2 =
| succeeded2 =
| office3 =
| district3 =
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 =
| preceded3 =
| succeeded3 =
| birth_date =  
| date_of_death =
| date_of_death =
| birth_place =  
| birth_place =  
| place_of_death =
| place_of_death =
| spouse =
| spouse =
| children =
| children =  
| residence =
| residence =  
| alma_mater = South Carolina State University
| alma_mater =  
| profession = Teacher at [[Albemarle High School]]
| profession =  
| religion =
| religion =
| website =  
| website =  
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}}
}}


'''Wes Bellamy''' is the founder of [[Helping Young People Evolve]] and a City Council candidate in the [[2013 election]]. <ref name="announce">{{cite web|title=Bellamy announces Council candidacy|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14281-bellamy-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 13, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref>
'''Wes Bellamy''' is a former member of City Council. <ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|when=January 4, 2016|id=732436}}</ref> He was elected to the [[Charlottesville City Council]] on November 3, 2015. He received the largest number of votes in the election. At the first meeting of the city council, the council elected him vice-mayor. <ref name="unofficial">{{cite web|title=2015 November General - Unofficial Results|url=http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2015%20November%20General/Site/Locality/ALBEMARLE%20COUNTY/Index.html|author=|work=|publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections|location=|publishdate=November 3, 2015|accessdate=November 3, 2015}}</ref> At age 29, Bellamy was the youngest councilor elected under the current form of city government (2 months 22 day younger than [[James Barr III]]).
 
:On [[March 30]], [[2018]], Councilor Bellamy told the [[Jefferson Literary and Debating Society]] that he would call upon Council to switch to a system where the mayor is directly elected by the voters, rather than current system in which the mayor is internally appointed by the City Council every two years. Bellamy said this transition would require a change to the City’s charter - but did not specify whether he believes the amendment would grant the mayor additional powers and responsibilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=City Councilor Wes Bellamy talks Aug. 11 and 12, local politics with Jefferson Society|url=http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2018/04/city-councilor-wes-bellamy-talks-aug-11-and-12-local-politics-with-jefferson-society|author=Geremia Di Maro|work=News Article|publisher=Cavalier Daily|location=|publishdate=April 3, 2018|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref>
 
Soon after the [[2015 election]], Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Virginia Board of Education which develops statewide education policies and graduation requirements. A controversy over several tweets Bellamy wrote from [[2009]] to [[2014]] led him to resign from his seat. <ref>https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-resigns-from-state-education-board-under-pressure-over-tweets/article_40d7a9d2-b744-11e6-9797-b363460e0964.html</ref>
 
==Biography==
Bellamy moved to the Charlottesville area in [[2009]] to work for the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]]. He left that position shortly afterwards. In [[2011]] Bellamy was hired as a substitute teacher for Albemarle County Schools. He was made full time in August [[2012]], according to the system.<ref name="AHS-resign" />
 
Bellamy was honored by the [[Daily Progress]] in [[2013]] as part of their [[Distinguished Dozen]] series. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Dozen: Bellamy helping city's poorest children reach potential|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/dozen-bellamy-helping-city-s-poorest-children-reach-potential/article_9c035b6c-6f5d-11e3-ae24-001a4bcf6878.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=December 27, 2013|publishdate=December 27, 2013|accessdate=January 7, 2016}}</ref>
 
He established the [[Helping Young People Evolve]] in [[2011]] and soon afterwards entered city politics.


{{election-stub}}
==Politics==
{{bio-stub}}
''see also [[Charlottesville City Council, 2018-2019]]''
*Bellamy unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for one of two open seats on the Council in the November [[2013 election]].
*Bellamy was elected to the [[Charlottesville City Council]] on [[November 3]], [[2015]].
::Tweets made by Bellamy came under fire in late [[2016]] and prompted many for him to resign from Council. In late December, he resigned from a teaching post at [[Albemarle High School]]. <ref name="AHS-resign">{{cite-progress|title=Bellamy resigns AHS teaching position|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-resigns-ahs-teaching-position/article_4e20d9c6-cbc4-11e6-95d8-d39962baaa5c.html|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=December 27, 2016|publishdate=December 26, 2016|accessdate=}}</ref>
*Bellamy did not seek election to a second term in the [[2019 election]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Councilors Bellamy, Signer will not seek re-election|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/councilors-bellamy-signer-will-not-seek-re-election/article_5f726620-51a7-11e9-815c-17b2febac82b.html|author=Nolan Stout|pageno=|printdate=March 29, 2019|publishdate=March 29, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019}}</ref>


==Election 2013==
===2013 election===
Bellamy unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for one of two open seats on the Council in the November [[2013 election]]. He placed 3rd in the June 11, 2013 Democratic Primary for City Council. <ref name="announce">{{cite web|title=Bellamy announces Council candidacy|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14281-bellamy-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 13, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="defeat">{{cite-progress|title=It's official: Fenwick to be on ballot for City Council|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/it-s-official-fenwick-to-be-on-ballot-for-city/article_926b3dd2-d547-11e2-bb67-0019bb30f31a.html|author=K. Burnell Evans and Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=June 15, 2013|publishdate=June 14, 2013|accessdate=June 19, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>


Bellamy tied with [[Bob Fenwick]] with 1,088 votes each in the June 11, 2013 Democratic primary. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Bellamy, Fenwick in dead heat; Szakos wins easily|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-fenwick-in-dead-heat-szakos-wins-easily/article_8f83c6c8-d30a-11e2-b6a7-001a4bcf6878.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=June 12, 2013|publishdate=June 12, 2013|accessdate=June 12, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>  
Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, [[2013]] at [[Tonsler Park]]. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. <ref>{{cite web|title=Szakos makes bid for second Council term official|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14085-szakos-second-term-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]].


Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, 2013 at [[Tonsler Park]]. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. <ref>{{cite web|title=Szakos makes bid for second Council term official|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/14085-szakos-second-term-announcement/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the [[National Ground Intelligence Center]].  
Bellamy tied with [[Bob Fenwick]] with 1,088 votes each in the June 11, 2013 Democratic primary. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Bellamy, Fenwick in dead heat; Szakos wins easily|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-fenwick-in-dead-heat-szakos-wins-easily/article_8f83c6c8-d30a-11e2-b6a7-001a4bcf6878.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=June 12, 2013|publishdate=June 12, 2013|accessdate=June 12, 2013|cturl=}}</ref> After a count of [[provisional ballots]], Fenwick edged Bellamy by five votes. <ref name="defeat" />


Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from [[Mark Brown]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Palmer, McKeel lead local candidates in fundraising|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/palmer-mckeel-lead-local-candidates-in-fundraising/article_c82be91e-cfe1-11e2-92b9-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Daily Progress Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=June 7, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>
Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from [[Mark Brown]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Palmer, McKeel lead local candidates in fundraising|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/palmer-mckeel-lead-local-candidates-in-fundraising/article_c82be91e-cfe1-11e2-92b9-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Daily Progress Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=June 7, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013|cturl=}}</ref>
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Bellamy also participated in a questionnaire on public housing conducted by the [[Public Housing Association of Residents]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Questionnaire for City Council Candidatesurl=http://www.pharcville.org/2013/06/04/phar-questionnaire-for-city-council-candidates/|author=|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=June 4, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>
Bellamy also participated in a questionnaire on public housing conducted by the [[Public Housing Association of Residents]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Questionnaire for City Council Candidatesurl=http://www.pharcville.org/2013/06/04/phar-questionnaire-for-city-council-candidates/|author=|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=June 4, 2013|accessdate=June 10, 2013}}</ref>


===2015 election===
Bellamy tried again for a seat on the city council in 2015, when three seats for the Democratic nomination were up.<ref name="2015bid">{{cite web|title=Bellamy enters race for Charlottesville City Council|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/20170-bellamy-enters-cville-city-council-race/|author=Lacey Naff|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=February 15, 2015|accessdate=February 17, 2015}}</ref>
Bellamy made his campaign announcement on February 15, 2015 at [[C'Ville Coffee]]. <ref name="2015bid" />
{{2015 election/City Council}}
====Audio of Bellamy's campaign announcement:====
{{MP3|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/cville/cm%2Fmutlimedia%2F20150215-Bellamy-Announcement.mp3}}
{{Candidate profile
|candidate=[[Wes Bellamy|Wes Bellamy (D)]]
|electionyear=2015
|office=Charlottesville City Council
|transcript=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20150901-Bellamy-interview.pdf
|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20150901-Bellamy-interview.mp3
|source=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/22302-wes-bellamy/
}}
==Committee assignments==
After being elected, Bellamy was assigned to: <ref>{{cite email|subject=RE: list of appointments|from=Paige Rice|sourceorg=City of Charlottesville|to=Sean Tubbs|repositoryorg=Charlottesville Tomorrow|senddate=January 7, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority]]
*[[Citizen's Advisory Panel]] (CAP)
*Cville Development Corp.
*[[Darden Towe Park]] Board
*[[Retirement  Commission]]
==Controversial tweets==
Tweets made from Bellamy's account between [[2009]] and [[2014]] were first published by activist [[Jason Kessler]] in late November and then published in other media outlets. <ref>{{cite web|title=Homophobic, sexist, anti-white language abundant in Charlottesville vice mayor's tweets|url=http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2016/11/wes-bellamy-charlottesville-twitter|author=Anna Higgins and Tim Dodson|work=News Article|publisher=Cavalier Daily|location=|publishdate=November 28, 2016|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref>
==Quotes==
In response to Tweets made from his account between [[2009]] and [[2014]]: "I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate things I posted to social media many years ago," Bellamy wrote. "Elected officials should be held to a higher standard, and while I was not in office at the time, in this instance I came up short of the man I aspire to be." ~ November 2016 <ref>{{cite web|title= McAuliffe 'horrified' by Board of Ed appointee's racist, sexist, obscene tweets
|url= https://www.dailypress.com/government/dp-nws-bellamy-tweets-20161129-story.html|author=TRAVIS FAIN|work=|publisher= DAILYPRESS.COM  |location=Richmond|publishdate=November 29, 2016|accessdate=November 29, 2019}}</ref>
<gallery perrow=5 caption="Wes Bellamy">
File:20170619-Bellamy.jpg|Wes Bellamy at June 19, 2017 City Council meeting
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:2013 candidates]]
[[Category:2013 candidates]]
[[Category:2015 candidates]]
[[Category: Current City Council]]
[[Category:Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen for 2013]]

Revision as of 23:51, 1 January 2020

Wes Bellamy
2018-Wes Bellamy.JPG
Wes Bellamy (D)

District At-large
Party Nonpartisan
Election November 3, 2015
For term to start January 1, 2016
Term End December 31, 2019
Incumbent Satyendra Huja (D)
Succeeded by Sena A. Magill (D)

Vice-president (vice-mayor)
Charlottesville City Council
District Elected by and from council
Term Start January 1, 2016
Term End December 31, 2017
Preceded by Dede Smith (D)
Succeeded by Heather Hill (D)

Biographical Information

Date of birth November 4, 1986
Age 37
Spouse Ashlee Thompson
Children 3
Residence Tonsler Precinct (301)
Alma mater South Carolina State University
Profession Teacher
Campaign $ VPAP
Contributions $ VPAP
Wes Bellamy

Democratic Primary Candidate for
Charlottesville City Council
Election 2013 election - June 11, 2013 (lost)

Biographical Information

Date of birth November 4, 1986
Campaign $ VPAP
Contributions $ VPAP

Wes Bellamy is a former member of City Council. [1] He was elected to the Charlottesville City Council on November 3, 2015. He received the largest number of votes in the election. At the first meeting of the city council, the council elected him vice-mayor. [2] At age 29, Bellamy was the youngest councilor elected under the current form of city government (2 months 22 day younger than James Barr III).

On March 30, 2018, Councilor Bellamy told the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society that he would call upon Council to switch to a system where the mayor is directly elected by the voters, rather than current system in which the mayor is internally appointed by the City Council every two years. Bellamy said this transition would require a change to the City’s charter - but did not specify whether he believes the amendment would grant the mayor additional powers and responsibilities.[3]

Soon after the 2015 election, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Virginia Board of Education which develops statewide education policies and graduation requirements. A controversy over several tweets Bellamy wrote from 2009 to 2014 led him to resign from his seat. [4]

Biography

Bellamy moved to the Charlottesville area in 2009 to work for the National Ground Intelligence Center. He left that position shortly afterwards. In 2011 Bellamy was hired as a substitute teacher for Albemarle County Schools. He was made full time in August 2012, according to the system.[5]

Bellamy was honored by the Daily Progress in 2013 as part of their Distinguished Dozen series. [6]

He established the Helping Young People Evolve in 2011 and soon afterwards entered city politics.

Politics

see also Charlottesville City Council, 2018-2019

Tweets made by Bellamy came under fire in late 2016 and prompted many for him to resign from Council. In late December, he resigned from a teaching post at Albemarle High School. [5]

2013 election

Bellamy unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for one of two open seats on the Council in the November 2013 election. He placed 3rd in the June 11, 2013 Democratic Primary for City Council. [8] [9]

Bellamy announced his candidacy on March 13, 2013 at Tonsler Park. Just a month before, he had declared he would not run this year, but changed his mind. [10] He is originally from Atlanta, and moved to the area to take a job at the National Ground Intelligence Center.

Bellamy tied with Bob Fenwick with 1,088 votes each in the June 11, 2013 Democratic primary. [11] After a count of provisional ballots, Fenwick edged Bellamy by five votes. [9]

Bellamy raised $3,828 between January 1 and May 29, 2013. His largest campaign contribution was $500 from Mark Brown. [12]

Bellamy also participated in a questionnaire on public housing conducted by the Public Housing Association of Residents. [13]

2015 election

Bellamy tried again for a seat on the city council in 2015, when three seats for the Democratic nomination were up.[14]

Bellamy made his campaign announcement on February 15, 2015 at C'Ville Coffee. [14]


Candidates Votes %
Wes Bellamy (D) 4,688 29.67
Kathleen M. Galvin (D) incumbent 4,590 29.05
Mike Signer (D) 4,309 27.28
Anson Parker (R) 1,208 7.65
Scott Bandy (I) 691 4.37
Write-In 312 3.0
Source: State Board of Elections[15]


Each voter could vote for up to three candidates.

Audio of Bellamy's campaign announcement:

<play audio>http://s3.amazonaws.com/cville/cm%2Fmutlimedia%2F20150215-Bellamy-Announcement.mp3 </play audio>


Candidate Profile Resources
Candidate Wes Bellamy (D)
Office Charlottesville City Council
Election year 2015 election
Logo-small25.jpg Candidate interviews by Charlottesville Tomorrow
Candidate interview transcript
Candidate interview audio

<mp3player>http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20150901-Bellamy-interview.mp3</mp3player>
Source website


Committee assignments

After being elected, Bellamy was assigned to: [16]

Controversial tweets

Tweets made from Bellamy's account between 2009 and 2014 were first published by activist Jason Kessler in late November and then published in other media outlets. [17]

Quotes

In response to Tweets made from his account between 2009 and 2014: "I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate things I posted to social media many years ago," Bellamy wrote. "Elected officials should be held to a higher standard, and while I was not in office at the time, in this instance I came up short of the man I aspire to be." ~ November 2016 [18]

References

  1. Web. Charlottesville City Council meeting minutes, .pdf, Council Chambers, City of Charlottesville, January 4, 2016.
  2. Web. 2015 November General - Unofficial Results, Virginia State Board of Elections, November 3, 2015, retrieved November 3, 2015.
  3. Web. City Councilor Wes Bellamy talks Aug. 11 and 12, local politics with Jefferson Society, Geremia Di Maro, News Article, Cavalier Daily, April 3, 2018, retrieved October 16, 2019.
  4. https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/bellamy-resigns-from-state-education-board-under-pressure-over-tweets/article_40d7a9d2-b744-11e6-9797-b363460e0964.html
  5. 5.0 5.1 Web. Bellamy resigns AHS teaching position, Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 26, 2016
  6. Web. Dozen: Bellamy helping city's poorest children reach potential, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 27, 2013, retrieved January 7, 2016.
  7. Web. Councilors Bellamy, Signer will not seek re-election, Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 29, 2019, retrieved March 29, 2019.
  8. Web. Bellamy announces Council candidacy, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 13, 2013, retrieved March 14, 2013.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Web. It's official: Fenwick to be on ballot for City Council, K. Burnell Evans and Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, June 14, 2013, retrieved June 19, 2013.
  10. Web. Szakos makes bid for second Council term official, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 14, 2013, retrieved March 14, 2013.
  11. Web. Bellamy, Fenwick in dead heat; Szakos wins easily, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, June 12, 2013, retrieved June 12, 2013.
  12. Web. Palmer, McKeel lead local candidates in fundraising, Daily Progress Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, June 7, 2013, retrieved June 10, 2013.
  13. Web. [ Questionnaire for City Council Candidatesurl=http://www.pharcville.org/2013/06/04/phar-questionnaire-for-city-council-candidates/], June 4, 2013, retrieved June 10, 2013.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Web. Bellamy enters race for Charlottesville City Council, Lacey Naff, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 15, 2015, retrieved February 17, 2015.
  15. Web. 2015 November General, State Board of Elections, November 4, 2011, retrieved July 28, 2016.
  16. E-mail. Paige Rice, City of Charlottesville. "RE: list of appointments." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. January 7, 2016.
  17. Web. Homophobic, sexist, anti-white language abundant in Charlottesville vice mayor's tweets, Anna Higgins and Tim Dodson, News Article, Cavalier Daily, November 28, 2016, retrieved December 27, 2016.
  18. Web. McAuliffe 'horrified' by Board of Ed appointee's racist, sexist, obscene tweets, TRAVIS FAIN, DAILYPRESS.COM, Richmond, November 29, 2016, retrieved November 29, 2019.

External Links

Facebook page for campaign