October 16, 2019

Jim Hingeley
Jim Hingeley for Albemarle Commonwealth’s Attorney

Dear Jim,

As you may know, in early September I reached out to the League of Women Voters to request
they host an event for our respective campaigns to discuss our fundamentally different approaches to
the role, function, and law enforcement obligations of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Possible dates
and locations to conduct this forum were discussed, and confirmation was subject to conditions that
would ensure a setting conducive to the civil exchange of views Albemarle County voters expect and
deserve.

Earlier this week, my campaign team and I met with a representative of the League of Women
Voters to discuss debate terms before confirming attendance at the proposed October 17, 2019
candidate forum at the Lane Auditorium, located in the City of Charlottesville. As you know, out of
respect for the citizens qualified to vote in the November 5th election for Albemarle County
Commonwealth’s Attorney, I have repeatedly expressed my strong preference for this debate to occur in
the County of Albemarle. You have refused attendance at Albemarle County candidate forums, including
the Farm Bureau Albemarle candidates forum that occurred yesterday evening in Scottsville. Your
campaign has also failed to respond to repeated requests from my campaign to appear at a candidate
forum at a local organization affiliated with the local law enforcement you are seeking to lead.

My strong preference for an Albemarle County location is also informed by the tactics and plans
of your campaign supporters: Indivisible Charlottesville and other Charlottesville-based activist groups.
In recent days, several of my supporters -- including members of the Democratic Party -- have
expressed serious concern about the intention of your base Charlottesville supporters to commandeer
Thursday’s proposed forum in a manner calculated to disrupt and stifle the candid discussion of our
views. Incivility by your supporters at earlier forums may be attributable to the Hingeley-Tracci Debate
“Training Sessions” advertised by Indivisible Charlottesville on its website.1 ​While these tactics are
widespread in the City of Charlottesville, they have no place in the County of Albemarle or in Albemarle
candidate forums.​ A recent call from this organization affirmed the goals of your base campaign
supporters.2

https://www.indiv#isiblecharlottesville.org/events/debate-prep-session-albemarle-commonwealths-att
orney

2
​https://www.indivisiblecharlottesville.org/events/support-jim-hingeley-at-the-lwv-candidate-forum​;
see​ ​also​ ​https://www.facebook.com/events/2941056502588895/

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Robert Tracci

Friends of Robert Tracci ​·​ P.O. Box 121 ​· ​Covesville, Virginia 22931
 October 16, 2019
Page 2

In response to the tactics of your core supporters, a representative of the League of Women
Voters sent an e-mail to Indivisible Charlottesville yesterday stating the moderator’s willingness to
“close down the forum” if “ground rules” are not observed. While I appreciate this effort to maintain
order and decorum at this forum, recent online posts and the track record of your core group of
Charlottesville supporters leaves little room for optimism. In order to ensure the civility and decorum
upon which candid discussion depends, respect for the citizens of Albemarle County you seek to
represent, and to provide interested members of the law enforcement community an opportunity to
learn directly of your views, I propose our campaigns schedule a candidate forum at the Fraternal Order
of Police Thomson-Hall Lodge No. 5 in the County of Albemarle. I am amenable to appearing at this
forum on any evening from October 19 to election day other than October 22nd and 27th. I am also
willing to appearing on Saturdays before election day should you be available. John Darden, my
campaign manager, is available to assist with scheduling this forum.

As we head into the final weeks of this campaign, it is crucial that Albemarle County voters
obtain a better sense of your views, priorities, experience, and ideological approach to the office of
Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Another candidate forum before Albemarle County
voters in the County of Albemarle would greatly assist this effort.

Thank you.

Robert N. Tracci
Candidate for Re-Election
Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Robert Tracci

Friends of Robert Tracci ​·​ P.O. Box 121 ​· ​Covesville, Virginia 22931