Sporting a new look, the venerable Almanac of Virginia Politics: 2006 is now available. The Almanac was originally published by Flora Crater and the Women’s Activist Fund “as a way to empower citizens – especially women and other minorities – realizing that voters need to have concise and comprehensive information on the actions of their representatives in government.” As the editors and publishers advanced in age, they found it difficult to continue putting out the annual volume which focuses on Virginia’s state legislators. Now, the publication is a project of George Mason University. According to George Mason, “Larry Sabato…has called [the Almanac] ‘an enormously useful volume for any election watcher in the Old Dominion.’”

The Almanac’s new editor is Dr. Toni-Michelle Travis, associate professor of government & politics and the director of the African-American Studies program. It is published by the Kendall Hunt Publishing Company which says that the 2006 edition “provides raw data for political analyses of Virginia’s legislators. Data from the 2005 legislative session is combined with the latest results from the November 2005 election, and personal and political information is provided for each legislator. This timely and unique publication provides for those seeking to grasp the components of Virginia’s legislative politics and pertinent information about each legislator, and serves as an essential reference tool.”

With a new home, the 2006 volume is physically larger, has a glossier cover, and includes analysis of the 2005 elections and a synopsis of bills sponsored and passed by each legislator. It also includes new elements, such as ratings of legislators by major interests groups and overlays of state legislative districts with congressional districts. The publication is also physically larger. According to Travis, “It looks different from Flora’s version.” Now that the 2006 edition is out, preparation for the 2007 edition is underway as the General Assembly is still wrapping up its work. Travis says that “I begin to write the next edition so I can discuss key legislation.” The 2006 Almanac can be purchased via the George Mason bookstore.