Friends of the Foundation
“I am so proud of the work this organization has done over the last decade, and I know that the momentum we have built together will lead to lasting reform in Virginia. For me, this has never ever been about left versus right, it’s always been about right versus wrong.”
LEIGH B. MIDDLEDITCH JR.
Put simply, we wouldn’t be here without Leigh. In late 2013, he spearheaded this entire initiative by assembling a like-minded group of bipartisan leaders from across the Commonwealth to educate elected officials and the general public about the current broken system of redistricting in Virginia. After drafting both the Articles of Incorporation and the Foundation Bylaws, OneVirginia2021 was born.
Nearly a decade later, Leigh remains a vital resource and guiding light for the Foundation as we continue his legacy to reform this unfair, outdated and discriminatory practice of gerrymandering.
Virginians from across the political spectrum who want tangible and lasting redistricting reform owe him a debt of gratitude for his tireless work and foresight to bring change in 2021 and beyond. His resolve and quiet leadership are an inspiration to our Board and the thousands of supporters statewide who remain incredibly grateful for his efforts over the years.
“Working with the OneVirginia2021 Foundation for the past decade has been a labor of love, and I’m thrilled by the progress we have made together. All Virginians should want a fairer, more equitable way forward for drawing electoral district lines, and through the Foundation's educational resources, we can become a more informed and more effective electorate.”
Photo Credit: Bob Harper
JUDY FORD WASON
For nearly a decade, the OneVirginia2021 Foundation and the larger redistricting reform movement has been privileged to work alongside Judy Ford Wason.
A longtime board member, Judy has been instrumental in bringing people from all political persuasions together to discuss and agree upon the importance of reform to our current outdated and discriminatory system of drawing district lines.
Her longtime expertise in federal and state government relations has served as a primer to those of us fortunate enough to have worked alongside her. Further, Judy’s philanthropy and selfless dedication have moved us forward in ways we never imagined.
Today, the OneVirginia2021 Foundation salutes one of our most staunch and loyal supporters, Judy Ford Wason. We thank her for her many years of support of an equitable way forward for all Virginians.
“I was 29 when I first remember reading about gerrymandering. It seemed ridiculous to me in 1980 that politicians were legally able to manipulate their voting districts for their personal advantage. I'm now about to turn 70 and they're still doing it.
Thanks to years of work by many great people at the OneVirginia2021 Foundation, we are closer than ever to curbing this appalling practice.”
Jim Fernald
When the OneVirginia2021 Foundation was just getting off the ground, we needed a leader, and Jim Fernald stepped up to be the first President of the Board of Directors. Jim brought his communications expertise and deep roots in the Charlottesville community to work for redistricting reform. He oversaw the Foundation as it grew from a fledgling effort to a statewide movement.
Even after the end of his tenure on the Board, Jim has continued to be a valuable ambassador for fair, nonpartisan redistricting. He is a respected voice on the issue and we are grateful that he remains vocal on our behalf.
“Transparency is the ethical opposite of secret self-dealing and a political goal worth fighting for. After seven years of hard work by citizens with leaders like Charlottesville's Leigh Middleditch, we are seeing the value of many efforts for reform through good government happening. Virginians value transparency over skullduggery. It is the right thing to do.”
BOB GIBSON
Bob Gibson has dedicated his life to nonpartisan public service, as the communications director and senior researcher at the UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the executive director of the Center's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and as a political writer, columnist and editor at the Charlottesville Daily Progress. He has long been a champion for nonpartisan redistricting reform and has been a part of the OneVirginia2021 Foundation family since the beginning.
We are so lucky to have Bob’s expertise, integrity, and commitment in this movement. He is an invaluable resource and steadfast advocate for making Virginia a better and more equitable place.
"Because the outcome of redistricting can shape state and national policy debates for years, public awareness of the process is important for a healthy democracy."
ben williams
Ben first worked for the OneVirginia2021 Foundation as an extern from William & Mary Law School for two semesters, writing memos on constitutional law and analyzing redistricting litigation in Virginia and other states. His work ethic and curiosity made him invaluable to our small staff!
After graduation, Ben stayed in the redistricting world. He was a legal analyst at the Princeton Gerrymandering Project before moving to Denver to become a Policy Specialist in the Elections & Redistricting program at the National Conference of State Legislatures. We thank Ben for his work in demystifying redistricting for people in all walks of life and we can’t wait to see what his future holds.