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V

irginia

C

apitol

C

onnections

, W

inter

2016

10

30

YEARS

2016

Cover of 2016 Red Book.

“Capitol

Connections is a

great resource for

visitors, students,

and businesses

during session and

back at home. Each

year, I share copies

with the school

districts and local

governments so

they have helpful

contact information

regarding their

state government.

Thanks for the great

books!”

–Delegate

Margaret B. Ransone

“Congratulations

and thank you for

being an invaluable

resource in

connecting citizens,

legislators and

staff for the past 30

years.”

–Delegate

Lamont Bagby

There is one resource document I use

daily during the General Assembly and

throughout the year—the Virginia Capitol

Connections Redbook. Don’t leave home

without it!

—Jim Dunn

Vice President, Bon Secours Richmond Health

System Advocacy and Community Affairs

“Congratulations

on the 30th year

of redbook! I

fondly remember

talking with David

and looking at

the redbook

at Republican

Conventions

many years

before I even ran

for the House

of Delegates.

Thanks for the

decades that you

have provided

this valuable

resource!”

–Congressman H.

Morgan Griffith

(VA- 09)

The Redbook without a doubt is one of

the best tools for the citizens to have in

Richmond and in the Home Districts

–Marty Hall, Chief of Staff, Delegate

Will Morefield

“The Redbook is

a staple in our

office. Everyone

in our office has

one on their desk

and we reference

it daily.”

–Senator

Richard H. Black,

13th District.

“The Redbook is an absolute compendium of who’s who

in Virginia politics. The current contact information under

one cover has made legislators accessible to me. The

Redbook started before the internet was a major point of

information, so it surely is historical in that it was one of

the first places that legislators’ contact information was put

under one cover, making them more accessible.”

–Dr. Edgar H. Thompson, Professor Emeritus, Emory & Henry College

“Capitol Connection’s Redbook has been

a handy and useful tool for legislators,

lobbyists, and the public. Many use it for

a quick reference as they move among

the legislative offices in the General

Assembly Building.”

–Senator Frank Ruff

“The Redbook has been a consistent source of important

information about State Government for 30 years. I

congratulate David Bailey and his team for this quality

publication.”

– John G. “Chip” Dicks

“Thanks, David. Your “little” red book

has come a long way since I last saw

it many years ago! Very impressive,

very thorough, and very informative.

Glad to know you are still making

this important tool available so that

ordinary people are empowered to

impact the political process in the

great Commonwealth of Virginia!”

– Linnéa Petty Hedgecock

Pastor of Administration,

Crossroads Church of Fremont

With each year, more people started asking

for copies, and more were printed. Companies and

individuals started underwriting the costs, with

well-placed advertising. Now at about a half a

million copies, the book is compared to, as Delegate

Rich Anderson put it:

“hotcakes.”

Says Delegate Vivian Watts: The book helps us

get to know our respected colleagues

“as well as

who to watch out for!”

Delegate Margaret Ransone

uses the book to plug her constituents into state government: It is

“a great resource for visitors, students, and businesses…”

she said.

Lobbyist David DeBiasi uses not only the current books; he archives

his old annotated copies

“for posterity.”

Consultant Donnie Ratliff

agrees: It is

“the most sought after, most used and most helpful

printed item in the General Assembly Building.”

And the book is more than just a convenience. Delegate Ken

Plum says it

“helps to make democracy better.”

Senator Richard

Saslaw likens the book to

“a roadmap.”

The addition of the photos especially was a hit. Delegate David

Toscano cited the year 2013, when the House welcomed 19 new

members, and the photos in the book were a lifesaver. Lobbyist

James Dunn says he never leaves home without it.

For a span of 30 years, there have been precious few glitches,

and the book always comes out by Session, even when a Second

Edition records later changes. It has been difficult to explain to some

consumers that the book is not published with taxpayer dollars. Its

availability is thanks to the generosity of David Bailey Associates

and the book’s sponsors. Only once was a name misspelled, and the

whole batch of books in error were tossed and replaced by a new

printing.

As we all know, technology has changed lightning fast in the

past 30 years. The book is no longer laid out on Bailey’s floor. The

legislators no longer have to be individually faxed with forms to fill

out, and papers to return. Photos are all digital and pages are scanned

and proofed much more easily.

And Sumpter Priddy, dubbed the “Dean of Lobbyists,” now

retired, can now enjoy retirement knowing what he put in motion

with:

“Bailey, why don’t you do it?”

Bonnie Atwood, a freelance writer with Tall Poppies Freelance

Writing LLC, is the winner of 30 national and state writing awards,

and represents legislative clients with David Bailey Associates. She

can be reached at

BonAtwood@verizon.net

.

30

YEARS

RED

BOOK

of

from page 8

V