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I
t was spring of 1986 at the Virginia State House. Reconvened Day
had ended, so it had quieted down a little at Chicken’s. Chicken’s,
in case you’re fairly new here, was the cozy two-room eatery on
the first floor of the Capitol, back in the day. That’s where legislators,
lobbyists, reporters, and sometimes tourists, gathered for hot coffee,
sausage biscuits and apple pie. The Capitol was a bustling place, with
Carmella Bills stationed at the information table, pages running in and
out of the bill room, and newsmakers wandering informally in and out
of the Capitol newsroom. There were no mobile devices, not even cell
phones. No metal detectors. No bag inspection.
David Bailey, a new lobbyist on the scene, sat with two veteran
lobbyists at the high stools at those round tables, surrounded by
decorative plates from every corner of the Commonwealth hanging on
the white plaster walls. The three, David Bailey, Sumpter Priddy, and
“Judge” Williams were drinking coffee and chatting as they shuffled
paperwork from the General Assembly Session. Back then, paper or
conversation was THE source of all information.
David Bailey’s clients, the Virginia State Firefighters Association
and the Virginia Conference United Methodist Church, depended
on him to keep up with the What, Who, When, Why and How of
everything at the legislature. He pored over his copy of the familiar
blue and white directory published yearly by the C & P Telephone
Company. This was THE best source of portable information, and all
the lobbyists found it to be very helpful.
“I’m trying to get the date of the next Session,”
he said.
Sumpter Priddy known for responding quickly with his own
unique wisdom gleaned from years of working on behalf of the Retail
Merchants Association:
“It’s already begun.”
Everyone who works in that sausage factory known as the
legislative branch of government knows what that means. There is no
real rest. There is always work to be done, and it is only the early birds
who succeed.
David Bailey contemplated his 60-year-old colleague’s advice
and stapled more 3 X 5 index cards into his directory. He was
supplementing each page with additional information about the
legislators, and he told his friend that he wished somebody would
publish a book with more of the facts already included.
“Bailey, why don’t you do it?”
It was quintessential Priddy. The
solution was in motion even before the problem was fully articulated.
If there is anyone almost as quick as Priddy, it is Bailey.
“I’ll do it if you buy the first one hundred,”
he said.
“Put me down for a hundred.”
And that was the birth of the Virginia Capitol Connections, later
to become known as “The Redbook.” It is a pocket sized listing of
the Session calendar, the names and contact information of both
Legislative and Executive officials, district maps, and just about
everything else that an advocate or legislator needs to have in the palm
of his hand.
Bailey got the book out that first fall. He remembers laying it
out on his living room floor. The process was relatively simple that
year, because it was not an election year. Later, he had help, most
notably from printer Bill Groome and graphic designer John Sours.
The book evolved into one with photos of each official (suggested by
Speaker Bill Howell in 2003), their legislative aides, spouses’ names,
birthdays, and much more.
By
Bonnie Atwood
30
YEARS
RED
BOOK
of
V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2016
8
See
30 Years of Red Book
, continued on page 10
“The Redbook is one of
the most prized resources I
receive each session; I really
don’t know what I would do
without it! Thanks to David
Bailey Associates and all of
the sponsors who make it
possible.”
–Senator Bill Carrico
“Red book—what a great
resource for everyone.
Thank you David Bailey!”
–Delegate Will Morefield
“The Red Book is clearly
the go to publication for
the Virginia fire service
when reaching out to our
legislators in the General
Assembly.”
– Jeff Flippo,
President Virginia State
Firefighters Association.
“Receiving the current Red
Book is a welcomed custom at
each legislative session. It’s a
great service for constituents,
especially those who may
be visiting the General Assembly
for the first time, and the
publication is much appreciated
by members and staffs.”
–Delegate Daun Hester
“The Redbook has
been so helpful to my
organization and myself,
especially at events so we
can put names and faces
together and know who
we are talking to! I really
appreciate that David
Bailey and Associates
takes the time each year to
put this valuable resource
together.”
–Renée Zando
School Counseling Director
“The VA Capitol Connections
Redbook is an essential
resource for connecting with
our elected officials. All of
the key information is right
at your fingertips!”
–Susan G. Magliaro, Ed.D
Professor, Educational
Psychology Director,
VT-STEM Virginia Tech
“Redbook plays a
significant role in
helping us get to
know each other as
honestly “respected
colleagues”—as well as
who to watch out for!”
–Delegate Vivian Watts