Protect private property: Vote yes on Question 1

    

Virginia Farm Bureau board member Thomas Graves shows his support for Question 1. (Photo by Kathy Dixon)

     With all the recent political ads, you may wish the election was already over. But hang in there, because we still have a couple of months to go.

     While you’re deciding the big issues, like who to back for president of the United States, I want to help make at least one voting decision easier for you.

     When you go to the polls Nov. 6, vote “Yes” on the referendum called Question 1.

     Why? If you and enough other people vote “Yes,” it will amend the state’s constitution to ensure that private property cannot be taken using eminent domain and then given to another private owner.

Legislation was signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell on July 16 to place the proposed constitutional amendment on this fall’s ballot. The amendment specifies that eminent domain cannot be used unless it is for a true public use and further ensures just compensation for the landowner, including the opportunity for lost access and lost profits to be considered as part of that compensation.

The language in the amendment also clarifies what is a true “public use” and specifies that no more land than is necessary can be taken.

How can anyone oppose that?

It’s like one of my coworkers said: “Whatever property you own or rent, if this passes, you can rest assured that your private property rights will be forever enshrined in the constitution.”

Let’s make our forefathers proud by voting “yes” on Question 1.