Video of Tim Kaine Speaking About Sharon Bulova

I wrote a piece earlier today about Gov. Tim Kaine and Rep. Gerry Connolly spoke at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College. As Gov. Kaine has now taken upon the role as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, I thought posting this video would allow people a unique opportunity to see the DNC Chairman speak about local politics in front of a crowd of people who know him well.

Gov. Kaine and Rep. Connolly Speak At Event for Sharon Bulova

Gov. Tim Kaine, Rep. Gerry Connolly, and a large number of local and state level elected officials made an appearance at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College in support of Sharon Bulova's candidacy for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The simple fact that there were elected officials from all levels of government up on stage reinforced that we need strong leaders at all levels who can help make the difficult decisions. Perhaps most importantly, the crowd was filled with people who had spent hours upon hours making phone calls and knocking on doors to remind people to vote on Tuesday (February 3). This is extremely important because it shows how people believe so strongly in Sharon's candidacy that they are willing to brave the cold (and on some days snow) and work hard to ensure that we elect the best candidate to lead Fairfax County while important decisions must be made.

Just like Sen. Mark Warner pointed out the other day, both Rep. Connolly and Gov. Kaine mentioned how Fairfax County has a history of being a well managed county and that Sharon Bulova has been a significant part of that. During his speech, Rep. Gerry Connolly reminded the crowd that we obviously want to elect Sharon Bulova so that the county will have solid leadership. He also reminded us, however, that this election will help to set the tone for the elections that are taking place in November since there has been so much attention given to the race. As was mentioned by several people in the audience afterward, this should provide extra motivation to make sure that Sharon wins this race by a big margin. Gerry then went on to introduce Gov. Tim Kaine who he described as a good "friend of local government" who is extremely knowledgeable about local issues all across the Commonwealth.

During his speech, Gov. Kaine also stressed the importance of local government and described how he meet both Gerry and Sharon when he was a member of the Richmond City Council and they were all at a conference for local elected officials. At a previous event I heard Kaine talk about this connection and how he believed that local government is truly about the interactions that you have with the constituents and a passion for providing solutions for the concerns of the local community. Sharon Bulova has illustrated that passion, excellent constituent service, and a vast knowledge of the issues facing Fairfax County during her over 20 years of service on the Board of Supervisors.

When it comes to specific reasons why people should support Sharon's candidacy, Gov. Kaine pointed out how she has been a leader on the most important issues to our region including transportation and our budget. In regards to transportation, for instance, she was instrumental in the discussions surrounding the start of the VRE. While we obviously still have a lot of traffic in Northern Virginia, establishing the VRE has lead to thousands upon thousands of people taking a train into work instead of adding to the congestion on our highways. He also pointed out that "you show your values by how you spend your money and Sharon has been a real lion on the budget and chair of the budget committee as well as serving as vice-chair [of the entire board]."

With all of the elected officials standing on stage with her, Sharon was up next and thanked everyone for all of the hard work they had been doing for her campaign. She then proceeded to remind everyone that despite the fact that there might be some winter weather facing us in the next few days, this is not the time to get apathetic. Fairfax County needs a chairman who will lead the County in the right direction and work hard on behalf of her/his constituents. She quickly went over her qualifications, which had been reinforced by Gov. Kaine and Rep. Connolly, and concluded by saying that her door will always be open for Fairfax residents.

Crowd Reacting to George W. Bush

I am attending various events today relating to what's currently taking place in the General Assembly and the upcoming special election for the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and will have write ups of those events in the next few days. For your viewing entertainment today, however, I have a brief clip that I shot with my video camera while at Barack Obama's inauguration. It shows the crowd's reaction to George W. Bush being introduced.

Tim Kaine's Statement on Michael Steele Illustrates Difference Betweens Democrats and the GOP

In his capacity of Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine released the following statement about Michael Steele becoming the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. While you are reading this statement and all the analysis about Steele becoming chairman, an interesting point to remember is that these men were the Lieutenant Governors of bordering states (Virginia and Maryland) from 2002 until 2005.

“My congratulations to Michael Steele on his election as chairman of the Republican National Committee. Together, we have the honor of leading our respective Parties during one of the most important periods in our country’s history. I look forward to working with Chairman Steele as we set out to put partisanship and the politics of the past aside to get our economy working again. The American people have sent a clear message that the challenges we face are too great for us to get bogged down by outmoded ideological divides. They have challenged us to work together to find practical solutions that will put this country back on the right track. President Obama and the Democratic Party are answering that challenge, and I hope Chairman Steele will join us.”

Another one of the first things that got my attention was the fact that it's rather interesting that a party chairman would issue a statement that calls for bipartisanship. After all, a party chairman is supposed to promote the agenda of a specific political party. When you stop and think about it, however, the Democrats have long been advocates of bipartisanship because they have realized that having a discussion with people from all sides of the political spectrum is one of the best ways to productive worthwhile legislation. It is Karl Rove and the Republicans who have advocated involving less people in the political discussion. So while this is simply a short little statement released by Tim Kaine, it is a good indicator of the different set of priorities each party holds.

Reaction to Sharon Bulova Event in Falls Church

I attended an event for Sharon Bulova last night in Falls Church that attracted about sizeable crowd of people who wanted to show their support for Sharon in the final days before the special election on Tuesday. In addition to all of the grassroots supporters who were in attendance, there were several candidates and elected officials making the rounds including Edythe Kelleher (current member of the Vienna Town Council and candidate for the House of Delegates), Ilryong Moon (at large member of the Fairfax County School Board), Rex Simmons (former candidate for the House of Delegates), and Sen. Mark Warner even called into the event in between votes on the floor of the US Senate.

One of the primary topics of discussion at the event was how important it is for us to have strong leadership at the local level. As a result of her experience as chair of the Fairfax County Budget Committee and positions on several regional boards, the people in attendance strongly believed that Sharon Bulova has the strong leadership ability that is needed to help our county face the tough financial crisis.

Sen. Mark Warner also discussed Sharon’s leadership ability when he called to talk to the crowd. After apologizing for not being able to be at the event in person (he had votes on the floor of the Senate, including one to pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program), Warner highlighted how it is extremely important to have good local government and claimed that “there are very few places around the country that have had as solid a government as Fairfax County.” He further emphasized that we need to elect Sharon Bulova because it is so important for local officials must have the ability to accept the responsibility of making the tough decisions necessary during the financial crisis that our country is facing.

“We’ve got to have people who are going to be responsible in government, who have a record of making the hard choices and the tough decisions. Sharon Bulova has done that, that’s why you’re all there. Fairfax County is as well regarded at the local level as any jurisdiction in the country and Sharon’s been a part of it. I’m very proud to support her and very produce to endorse her.”

After Sen. Warner said goodbye so that he could make his way back to the Senate floor, Sharon picked up right where he left off by once again stressing the importance of having local leaders who have to ability to work with federal officials in order to help our community through tough situations. She then pointed out that it is extremely important to remind people about the special election and to make sure they get out to the polls because it does matter who is the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. After laying out some points that she’s mentioned in previous speeches, Sharon thanked everyone for coming to the event and let everyone know that as Chairman her door would always be open to Fairfax County residents and that she looks forward to continue working for, and with, the community.

All in all, I thought the event went extremely well and I was very pleased to see that Sharon, Sen. Warner, and the other people in attendance realize that we need strong leadership at all levels of government in order to help our country go in the right direction. Because I share that sentiment and believe Sharon Bulova has those abilities, I encourage voters in Fairfax County to cast their ballots in support of Sharon on Tuesday, February 3.

Charniele Herring, Ariel Gonzalez, and the 46th HoD District

After getting sworn into office on Monday, Charniele Herring has hit the ground running. She was immediately assigned to the Courts of Justice committee and the Militia, Police and Public Safety committee which is an important development because it ensures that her constituents will have a voice in the House when it comes to some of the most important issues facing the Commonwealth. In an email to her supporters, Charniele pointed out some of the action that she has taken during the last week.

One my first acts was to sign on as a co-patron of Delegate David Englin's middle-class tax relief bill, HB 2588, which provides financial relief to hard-working Virginians. I am proud to be working with Delegate Englin to ease the burden families are facing in these troubled economic times.

The Courts of Justice committee is one of the busiest committees in the House, but I have enjoyed putting my legal expertise to work. On Friday morning in the Militia, Police and Public Safety committee we heard several bills regarding registration of sex offenders and changes to the Code regarding punishments for crimes against children. My many years as an advocate for children and victims of sexual violence have proven to be hugely beneficial in voting on these important measures to protect our children from predators.

I am pleased to see that Charniele has now been sworn in and, more importantly, the residents of the 46th have a voice in the House of Delegates. Although she has only been in office for a week and has already been working hard on behalf of Alexadria, it appears as though some people are still upset with the way the special election took place. For instance, Ariel Gonzalez, who ran against Herring in the primary, has already sent out a press release announcing that he is considering another bid.

"Over the next several weeks, I will travel to all corners of our district, listening to voters and sharing my ideas about taking Virginia in a new direction," said Gonzalez, an attorney, community volunteer, and member of the Alexandria Early Childhood Commission. "During last year's caucus, I was fortunate to have the opportunity meet many of the voters of the 46th, hearing their priorities, their views, and their ideas to bring the Commonwealth into a new era. This 'listening tour' will be a continuation of that process, and I am looking forward to benefiting from the perspective of our district's hardworking citizens. At the conclusion of this process, I will make a decision as to whether I am the best candidate to represent the interests of the 46th district in Richmond. I look forward to seeing many of you on the campaign trail."

Since Herring hadn't even been in office for a week when Gonzalez made his announcement, it appears as though Gonzalez's motivation for primarying her isn't about her leadership ability but the short timing around the special election. In his press release he even stressed the extremely low voter turnout as part of the reason he was considering another bid. While I strongly believe that primaries focusing on a positive message can strengthen the Democratic Party, I sincerely hope that he illustrates that last year's primary isn't his only motivation for running again.

Interview With Kerry Donley, Candidate for City Council

While a lot of people are focused on the Special Election to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly as chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, there is another important election this weekend in Northern Virginia. On Saturday the 31st there will be a caucus to select the Democratic nominees for the Alexandria City Council. There are seven candidates running for six slots on the ticket. When you consider that all of the current members of the Council are Democrats, this is a very important caucus for Alexandria and Northern Virginia in general.

I recently took part in a phone call with one of the candidates – Kerry Donley. As some of you may already know, Kerry served on the City Council in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and served as Mayor of Alexandria from 1996 to 2003. He was also the Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 2003 to 2005. As a result of the current economic crisis having an impact on the City of Alexandria, however, Kerry wants to return to the Council to use his experience in local government and the business world to help ensure that Alexandria continues to be a fabulous place for people to live.

His past experience does seem to suggest that he would be an excellent member of the City Council. For instance, Kerry pointed out how there was some infrastructure investment during his previous time on the Council and as Mayor and they were able to improve Alexandria’s bond rating from AA to AAA. They were also able to solve the issues surrounding the zoning in the Potomac Yard area, they resolved the controversy surrounding the traffic issues on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (and that project is now about 70% constructed), and they redeveloped the public housing program.

To help address the economic situation now, Kerry believes that Alexandria needs some new developments so that the city can expand its tax base and he strongly supports creating a mixed use development in the Landmark Mall area. The development would be in an urban village very similar to the Clarendon and Ballston communities in Arlington. This would allow for people to work, live, and shop in their local community which would help to build a sense of community as well as increase the tax revenue for the local government.

Kerry is optimistic about there being support for the urban village concept as it is already before the planning commission, but he’s also realistic about how it will take some time for the process to truly begin. There are still some issues surrounding transportation that would need to be addressed and it could be in the six month range before the zoning matters are even resolved. After that, they would need to bring all players to the table (both private and public) to address the major issues of the project so that the development can begin as soon as credit becomes available.

When addressing the current economic situation, there is going to be some difficult budget decisions to be made. However, there are three big jobs of local government which Kerry says need to receive their proper attention and funding -- public safety, public health, public education. Of these issues, the primary one we talked about during the call was public education. During his previous time on the Council and as Mayor they constructed a new library and the first new elementary school in an extremely long period of time. There was also a 100 million reconstruction to TC Williams, which is the city’s only high school (some of you may recall that this is also the school that was featured in the movie “Remember the Titans.”) Kerry also pointed out that 85% of funding for Alexandria’s schools is local in nature which is a relatively large portion, especially when you consider the financial issues that are currently facing the local economy. He suggested that there could be some work done on funding formula to get more state money for the local system. Above all else, it is important for the school system to continue providing students with a high quality education that allows them to go onto receive a higher education and/or obtain a job that pays a living wage.

Turning to the campaign side of the conversation, Kerry is confident about his chances in the caucus on Saturday the 31st but stressed that he needs every vote possible. Since the campaign is anticipating about 3000 to 3200 voters (past caucuses have seen 2500 to 3000), the final tallies will be close. When I asked him why people outside of Alexandria might want to pay attention to the race, he pointed out how Northern Virginia’s various communities do depend on one another. A traffic jam in Alexandria, for example, could have an impact on people who live in Vienna or Clifton. It is therefore in the best interests of all of NOVA for there to be elected officials who believe in investing in solid infrastructure. Kerry also pointed out that he is a past chair of the Northern Virginia Board of Transportation and did a lot of work in other jurisdictions as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, so he has built relationships with officials all across our community that are based on mutual respect.

At the end of our conversation I was impressed with Kerry Donley’s ideas and his past experience. He has proven to be a productive member of the Alexandria City Council and I encourage those of you who are registered in Alexandria to vote from him at the caucus on Saturday, January 31.

Karl Rove is Upset the Obama Administration Is Working So Hard

In a sign of how desperate the Republican Party has become, Karl Rove wrote an editorial which criticized the Obama Administration for allowing a relatively large number of people to have offices in the West Wing. He even went as far as to criticize the fact that the old office he had would be divided up into four cubicles to allow more people to address the critical issues facing our country. Rove claims that this is a bad thing because it means that the Obama Administration is apparently trying to centralize power.

If you actually stop and think about the situation, however, Rove is actually quite wrong. President George W. Bush was known for relying on a very small inner circle of advisers and rarely reaching out to people who might disagree with his opinion. It therefore makes sense that people like Karl Rove would be rewarded with having an office that could be divided into four parts. By allowing more people to have offices in the West Wing -- and, at least in theory, therefore be closer to the president -- Obama is actually opening up the discussion on policy and helping to ensure that he makes the best decision possible. With our country currently facing an economic crisis and engaged it two wars overseas, it is a good thing that Obama isn't relying solely on an inner circle of people who will simply rubberstamp everything he idea he puts forward.

What is perhaps the most noticeable sign of desperation is the fact that Rove criticizes Obama for his tendenacy to work late. The criticism doesn't come because he believes Obama might need to spend more time with his family or something along those lines, but that this means that some of his staff might have to work late hours as well. In other words, Rove doesn't like the fact that the Obama Administration is going to be putting in a lot of hours to address all of the problems that George W. Bush caused when he was president.

I don't know about you, but I actually like the fact that President Obama and his staff will be working hard to make sure our country is heading in the right direction. If Rove truly has a problem with that, then he should have thought about it before he helped Bush destroy our Constitution while leading our country into economic troubles and an unjustified war.

Ken Cuccinelli Has Troubling Financial Connections

There have been many discussions among progressive activists about how Ken Cuccinelli is extremely out of touch with his district. The primary reason people believe he was reelected in 2007, for example, is that he ran a campaign that was able to trick people into thinking that he was actually a politician who fell within the realms of the mainstream. As more and more attention is being devoted to the 2009 statewide elections, it appears as though even many Republicans are worried about Cuccinelli being their nominee for Attorney General.

Loudoun Insider, for instance, wrote a post over at Too Conservative claiming that Cuccinelli would "be a certain loser in November" and that "he is nothing but a slick politician with a cadre of often ethically challenged minions." He then went on to talk about how Ken's campaign has some questionable financial connections that have come to light as a result of his recent filings with the State Board of Elections. Ken took a $60,000 donation from a woman who lives in Roanoke, for instance, but claims he couldn't get any information on her employement. As Loudoun Insider points out, it is very interesting that he would receive such a large donation but wouldn't be able to get basic information from the woman even though everyone involved in setting up donations knows that you have to get employment information. He also reports that rumors circulating about donations to Ken's campaign from that area make the donation even more interesting.

If any of this or any of the other connections Loudoun Insider discussed do turnout to result in ethical violations, it could be extremely harmful to the Republican Party and not just Ken's candidacy. This is because the Commonwealth has been trending towards elected common sense Democrats who are truly invested in improving the lives of the general public. Having one of the statewide candidates be involved in questionable campaign tactics would simply reinforce the concept that the Republican leadership seems to have nothing but their own interests in mind.

Mayor Dwight Jones Endorsed Brian Moran

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have had several conversations with Brian Moran about issues surrounding working families and poverty. He has proven to be extremely knowledgeable on some of the potential ways to address these issues and clearly has a very impressive record of working for working families. What is also extremely important is how passionate he is about bringing about real progress in these areas. This is important because when you combine his strong record with the fact that he is passionate about the topic, I am confident he would work hard to address the issues of poverty if he's elected governor.

Apparently I'm not the only person who has noticed this because Mayor Dwight Jones mentioned this in a statement today when he endorsed Brian for governor.

“Brian has a long, proven record of fighting hard for working families in Virginia,” Jones said. “I’ve known Brian for more than a decade and worked side-by-side with him in the legislature. We’ve fought for equal rights, quality education and equal opportunity for everyone.”

Mayor Jones is the former Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and Delegate from Richmond City. He and Moran worked together on a number of initiatives in the General Assembly, including raising the minimum wage.

“Dwight Jones is a man of character who always does what’s best for working people,” Moran said. “I’m proud and honored to have his support. Richmond is our capital city and I share Mayor Jones’s commitment to strengthening Richmond’s economy, protecting communities and making sure everyone has equal opportunity in this great city.”

Especially with the current economic situation Virginia is facing, we need a governor who will look out for the best interests of working families. In the early stages of the campaign, and throughout his career in public service, Brian Moran is making a strong case that he is the candidate who will do just that if elected.

Appeals Court Says Private School Can Descriminate Based On Sexual Orientation

It appears as though members of the extreme right aren’t just content with taking the basic right to get married away from people, but they have now moved on to claiming that members of the GLBT don’t even have to basic right to receive an education at certain schools. Perhaps the saddest part is that according to an article in the LA Times, a California Court of appeals has agreed with the extreme right on the issue.

After a Lutheran school expelled two 16-year-old girls for having "a bond of intimacy" that was "characteristic of a lesbian relationship," the girls sued, contending the school had violated a state anti-discrimination law.

In response to that suit, an appeals court decided this week that the private religious school was not a business and therefore did not have to comply with a state law that prohibits businesses from discriminating. A lawyer for the girls said Tuesday that he would ask the California Supreme Court to overturn the unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal.

The appeals court called its decision "narrow," but lawyers on both sides of the case said it would protect private religious schools across California from such discrimination suits.

Even though there was no evidence that the girls had disrupted the classroom in any manner and that they were simply “best friends,” the Court still claimed the discrimination was acceptable because it fit a precedent laid out by a case involving the Boy Scouts of America. That case claimed that the Boy Scouts wasn’t a business, but a social organization, and therefore didn’t have to worry about following the Unruh Civil Rights Act. By claiming that this private school, and private schools aren’t exactly the cheapest thing to attend, isn’t a business the appeals court was essentially saying that organizations can deny people their basic civil rights as long as they give the courts any unjustifiable reason to claim they don’t have to follow the Civil Rights Act.

Thankfully the two students haven’t let the situation ruin their lives as they are both now in college and are receiving a high quality education. Fortunately, they also realize that they need to stand up against discrimination and help ensure that nobody else is denied an opportunity for education simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Hopefully the California Supreme Court will also realize that this shouldn't happen.

Big Event for Sharon Bulova Tomorrow

It appears as though Mark Warner realizes the importance of having the right people in charge of our local governments and will be the guest of honor at an event for Sharon Bulova tomorrow night in Falls Church.

Please Join
The Honorable Mark Warner
For a Reception With
Sharon Bulova
Democratic Candidate for Chairman of the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Thursday, January 29, 2009
6 pm - 8 pm
Reed Smith LLP Office
3110 Fairview Park Drive Suite 1400, Falls Church

Due to the short amount of time and limited occupancy, please contact Jamie Smith at:
peter.jamie.smith@gmail.com or
703-503-2009 with your RSVP.

Contribution Levels:

Co-Host: $1000.00
Benefactor: $500.00
Sponsor: $250.00
Individual: $150.00

To contribute by check, please make your contribution payable to "Bulova for Chairman"
Please mail this form to:
Bulova for Chairman, P.O. Box 19, Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Creigh Deeds Works To Close Gun Show Loop Hole

There has been a significant amount of discussion about how Creigh Deeds was able to lead a bipartisan coalition to have a bill that would close the gun show loop hole make its way out of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. This is important because this has been a long standing controversy in an attempt to balance second amendment rights with the safety of the general public. Creigh appears to have found a way to at least get a good compromise going, but it will be very tough to have the legislation passed by the full Senate. Even if that task is accomplished, I don't see it making its way through the Republican controlled House of Delegates.

Despite the tough uphill battle facing the bill, this is one situation that shows how Creigh has the ability to get productive discussion going on the tough issues. The media has picked up on this move, which also helps to prove another point -- he's the only Democratic candidate for governor who is in the General Assembly and therefore is able to get a lot of earned media attention. He will need a lot of his action in the GA to get covered, however, if he wants people to remember it once Terry McAuliffe starts buying increased ad time and Brian Moran has his grassroots supporters reminding voters of his positive record in the House of Delegates.

Jill Biden to Teach At Northern Virginia Community College

The Northern Virginia Community College has announced that Dr. Jill Biden will be teaching two English classes at the college's Alexandria campus. When you consider that Dr. Biden spent over a decade teaching at the Stanton/Wilmington campus of Delaware Technical and Community College, it shows that she has a dedication to community colleges. She even highlighted this fact in a statement she made earlier today.

"I am thrilled to return to the classroom to continue working with community college students, whom I greatly admire and enjoy teaching," Jill Biden said in a statement. "I have always believed in the power of community colleges to endow students with critical life skills, and I am pleased that I can make a difference by doing what I love to do, teaching people who are excited to learn."

Northern Virginia Community College, or NOVA as it's called by people in Northern Virginia, is a valuable resource to Virginians. There's a wide range of students there, including students just taking a few jobs to gain the necessary skills to enter the workforce; people who are going for their Associate's Degree; and people who are trying to save money during their first two years of college. Above all else, NOVA is a prime example of how proper investment in a community college can allow community residents to improve their lives. In an Administration that has promised hope for the future, it's fitting that Dr. Biden would be teaching at a community college that has such a great reputation of allowing people to receive a higher education at an affordable cost.

Election Day Info and Volunteer Info In Fairfax County Special Election

I've had a number of people ask me about when the Special Election for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is going to take place and how you can get more involved in the campaign. With just a week left before the election, here is some of the information that I have received about the election which will be held on Tuesday, February 3rd countywide at your regular polling place. Also similar to regular Election Days here in Virginia, the polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and you can get more information about polling places by following this link.

For those of you who are looking to get involved with Sharon Bulova's campaign before Election Day, the FCDC website says that there will be phone banks every day. There will also be canvassing this weekend and on election day (see the FCDC website for more information). According to the campaign, there are also ways to volunteer if none of the aforementioned times work for you.

If you have volunteers who are willing to phone bank this weekend regardless of where they are in the county always try to schedule them to go to the phone bank at 7600 Colshire Dr, 4th Floor, McLean, 22102, 12am – 5pm on Sat and Sun, 5pm – 9pm on Mon, and 9am – 7pm on Tues. There will be a predictive dialer (a computer that only has you talk to live people instead of waiting for dialing and ringing) and many phone lines available at this location and we should work to fill it as much as possible first to maximize or efforts.

For more information or to schedule volunteers contact Caroline Brooks at c.mck.brooks@gmail.com, 703‐503‐2009

With low turnout expected, any time you can devote to knocking on doors or making phone calls will be extremely helpful. The Bulova campaign has done a good job of getting grassroots activists involved in the campaign so far through phone banking and canvassing opportunities and it appears as though the campaign also realizes that the grassroots can really help turnout voters on Election Day -- February 3 -- as well. They have setup four "hubs" for Election Day activity (the Bulova campaign HQ in Fairfax Station, the McAuliffe campaign HQ in McLean, FCDC office in Falls Church, and the Don Beyer Volvo in Alexandria).

It appears as though canvassers will be sent out of these locations and there will be some GOTV phone calls made from them as well. However, I have also heard that volunteers who might not be able to travel to these locations should get in touch with the campaign about doing their own local action. If you're unable to volunteer, the important thing to remember is that you can still take an active role in your local government by casting a ballot on February 3 at your normal polling place.

Senate Passes Expanded Absentee Ballot Measure

Senate Bill 810 just passed the state senate down in Richmond. This is a huge development because if it's signed into law it would allow people to cast an absentee ballot without having to give a reason. With the threat of long lines often resulting in people deciding not to take part in their democracy, it is good that law makers are making an effort to make it easier for citizens to have their voice heard.

In addition to potentially strengthening our democracy and encouraging citizen participation, I think it also goes a long ways in illustrating the priorities of the two major political parties in our state because the bill passed on almost entirely along party lines. Only three Republicans believed that it is important for the government to promote active involvement in our democracy. The rest of the Senate Republicans voted against making it easier for registered voters to cast their ballot.

While this party line vote makes it clear which party is truly looking after the best interests of the general public, it also raises some questions about the bill's fate. When you consider that the House of Delegates is controlled by the Republicans -- many of whom are more conservative than their Senate counterparts -- it looks like the bill might not survive the House. It's for that reason that members of the House of Delegates need to know how important this bill truly is for civic participation.

No matter how important this bill is, it will be hard to get the Republican Delegates to set aside their partisan agenda. I therefore encourage everyone to call their delegate and let them know that you support SB 810 because it strengthens our democracy. Since the entire House of Delegates is up for election this year, it'd be worth reminding your Delegate that this is an issue that could very well influence who you decide to vote for in November.

UPDATE: As Kenton pointed out last week, a similar bill didn't even make it out of Committee when considered in the House of Delegates. This really isn't good for SB 810's chances, but I still encourage everyone to let your Delegates know where you stand on the issue. Our elected officials need to know that Virginians want productive legislation to be put ahead of partisan agendas.

Washington Post Endorses Sharon Bulova

In an editorial published yesterday, The Washington Post endorsed Sharon Bulova for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Citing her experience as an advocate for issues important to the region and as chair of the Budget Committee, the Post claims that Sharon is the candidate most qualified to lead the county while it's facing tough decisions regarding the budget and other economic issues.

In discussions I've had with people on both sides of the aisle about this endorsement, most people were quick to point out that the editorial did take shots at both candidates. While the Bulova campaign might have wanted a stronger endorsement, I actually think this made the piece more credible in the long run. Many people are tired of candidates making themselves out to be perfect and don't really believe it when they read an editorial that suggests that they are. Since this editorial clearly examines the positives and negatives of both candidates, many people are likely to view it as based in reality and therefore more trustworthy.

When you get down to the basics, the endorsement also reached a lot of potential voters who might not have even realized that the election was taking place. The piece therefore serves as a reminder that there is actually an election and what was being discussed during the campaign. Of course it definitely doesn't hurt her campaign that the reminder comes in the form of an endorsement of Sharon Bulova.

Interestingly enough, the Post mentioned that Sharon will need to be able to combine her ability to build coalitions with an ability to make tough decisions. This is something that she drove home during a speech she made over the weekend in McLean. For those of you who are interested, here's the video of that speech.

Photoblogging: Wee Hours of Inauguration Morning

I took this photo during the early morning hours on Inauguration Day. This photo shows people walking by the Washington Monument on their way to the National Mall to see President Barack Obama take the oath of office.

President Obama Repealed Global Gag Rule

Most Americans realize that George W. Bush promoted policies that have significantly harmed our country's reputation abroad. While most people associate this decline in Americans standing with the War in Iraq, his extreme social policies have also resulted in the United States losing credibility. As Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned on her website, the Global Gag Rule is one prime example of Bush's social agenda backfiring.

For the last eight years, the Bush Administration imposed the global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, that restricted U.S. funding to organizations that provide basic health care and family planning services the poorest families in the world. The result has been more unintended pregnancies, more maternal complications and injuries, less information about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and more – not fewer – abortions.

The global gag rule has also prevented foreign non-governmental organizations from using their own, non-U.S. money to lobby their own governments for changes in laws concerning abortion or legal abortion services. In the United States, we hold these rights dear and would not stand for another government imposing such restrictions on our rights to free speech and democratic involvement. The global gag rule has damaged U.S. credibility in the international arena and hampered the participation of women in the political process in their own countries.

Thankfully, President Obama has already issued an executive order ending the gag rule. This move will help to illustrate how the United States is willing to improve the lives of the world's needy and actually practices what it preaches.

There's no doubt that members of the right will try to use this executive order to attack Obama, but they would be extremely wrong to do so. You see, by repealing the gag order Obama isn't promoting abortion. In fact, US funding cannot go towards performing or promoting the use of abortions. This executive order doesn't change that, but simply doesn't hoodwink organizations that teach that there are options other than abstinence only education. To suggest anything to the contrary on this particular issue would merely be a political stunt.

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Not too surprisingly, President Barack Obama (I love being able to write that) used his first weekly radio address as president to talk about the economic situation that is currently facing our country.

Miles Grant on Eisenburg's Retirement

Del. Al Eisenburg made a speech on the floor of the House of Delegates today that announced he wouldn't be running for reelection. Al has represented the 47th District for a number of years and has be hailed by many for the service that he has given to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Miles Grant, who is a Democrat running for Del. Eisenburg's seat, had the following to say after he heard about Eisenburg's announcement.

“Anyone who hopes to follow the Arlington Way knows Al Eisenberg helped pave it. From his years on the Arlington County Board to his time under President Clinton as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy to his leadership in the Virginia General Assembly, Del. Eisenberg has established a remarkable record of public service. He has always put Arlington first, representing his constituents and their values, fulfilling his promise to uphold the highest standard of public service.”

Big Event for Sharon Bulova This Weekend

With the special election to replace Gerry Connolly as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors rapidly approaching, the campaigns are really kicking it into gear. The signs are up all over the county, phone calls are being made, and doors are being knocked on. It is good to see that all the activists on both sides of the aisle are making a significant amount of effort to make sure people are aware of the important election on February 3.

One of the big events coming up for Sharon Bulova's campaign is one that will be held at the home of Supervisor John Foust this weekend in McLean. The event will be held on Sunday from 4 to 6pm and will be co-hosted by Supervisors Penny Gross, Cathy Hudgins, Jeff McKay, and Linda Smyth. It should be a great event as I hear that many local activists are going to be in attendance to show their support for Sharon's candidacy.

For more information about the event you can contact Jamie Smith at (703) 503-2009.

Brian Moran, Grassroots Politics, and the Netroots Nation Event

Voters here in Virginia have showed that they respond well to candidates who embrace grassroots politics. In 2006, Jim Webb and his “brigades” came from behind to defeat the establishment’s candidate in the primary and then overturned a double digit deficit to defeat one of the GOP’s rising stars in the general election. Just a few months ago, Virginia responded to Barack Obama’s grassroots campaign by going Democratic for the first time in over four decades. Brian Moran seems to understand this concept and has been running a grassroots style gubernatorial campaign.

One of the key portions of Brian’s grassroots activity has been reaching out to the netroots community. I’ve also noticed that he realizes that netroots activists aren’t just looking for a candidate who is willing to give them an interview every now and then, but that we actually want a candidate who will take part in an ongoing conversation that will lead to leadership in our government that will actually look out for the best interests of the general public. Every time I’ve talked to him, for instance, he makes a point of emphasizing that he wants to work on issues addressing poverty and economic justice which are issues that I am extremely passionate about.

On Monday evening Brian made an appearance at the Netroots Nation event in Arlington. As he made his way around the room, it became very apparent that he wasn’t just there to shake hands but actually wanted to hear what the bloggers there had to say. The conversations I heard him have ranged from talk about how the planning of Arlington has done a lot to help build a sense of community to talk about environmental issues. Perhaps more importantly, he didn't dismiss people who had views that differed from his but actually listened to their point of view -- something that Barack Obama has been suggesting that political leaders need to do more often.

Among the bloggers in attendance, there was also a lot of discussion about how Brian’s campaign just launched a tool on its website that will help organize grassroots activity. As people were pointing out, this is a great way to combine netroots activity with activity in the “offline” world. Bloggers also were talking about how impressed they were with the fact that Brian took the time to attend the Netroots Nation event when there were several other celebrations going on at the same time. This was noteworthy because many of the other events had big name celebrities and some high dollar donors in attendance, which essentially illustrates who Brian Moran views grassroots activists to be an extremely important part of his campaign.

With all that in mind, here are a few photos of Brian talking to various bloggers at the event. (The lighting wasn't too great for taking photos, but I managed to get a few decent shots.)

I'm Going Downtown for the Inauguration

I am braving the cold and the crowds and will be downtown for the inauguration today. Once I'm home and have been able to warm up and relax a little bit, I'll post some photos, my analysis of the event, and perhaps even some video. I'll also have some analysis of the Netroots Nation event that I attended yesterday.

Bowerbank on Martin Luther King

Jon Bowerbank released the following statement about Martin Luther King, Jr. What I like about this statement is that it honors the great civil rights leader but also looks forward to the history making events of this week and briefly touches on the fact that we still have some challenges that our country is facing. The call for "unity and hard work" truly is a small token that illustrates the spirit of the great man that our country honors today.

"Tomorrow we inaugurate the first African American President of the United States. It is fitting that today we honor one of the men who made this historic event possible. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to the National Mall forty-five years ago and proclaimed a dream of unity, change and action in the world. Tomorrow, on this same National Mall, our country will take a step towards realizing this dream, as we come together to change America through progressive action. In Virginia, we know firsthand the many challenges our country faces today - we need better jobs, alternative energy solutions, and investment in our aging infrastructure. The task is daunting, but as Dr. King taught us, with unity and hard work there is no challenge we cannot overcome."

Del. Paula Miller Named Legislator of the Year by Virginia's Professional Fire Fighters

The Virginia Professional Fire Fighters is a group that has a tremendous amount of respect from people on all sides of the political spectrum. When combine that with the fact that fire fighters put their life on the line to serve our community and support candidates who truly care about public service, you can see why it's a big deal to be named Legislator of the Year by Virginia's Professional Fire Fighters. In a statement released earlier today Del. Paula Miller shared her reaction to receiving the award.

"It is an overwhelming honor to be recognized by Virginia's Professional Fire Fighters as their Legislator of the Year," said Del. Miller. "As a reporter, I spent countless hours watching and reporting on the work of these brave men and women whose dedicated service to their communities is unmatched. Now as a state lawmaker, I have the opportunity to help ensure that our frontline responders receive the credit and full benefits they deserve."

At the Conference, Del. Miller announced she will be introducing Hometown Heroes Legislation during the 2009 General Assembly Session. The legislation will ensure that public safety professionals receive death benefits in all instances where their death is a result of work related service.

"I am carrying the Hometown Heroes legislation to guarantee that in the event any of our brave men and women in public safety who give their life to the citizens of the Commonwealth in the direct line of duty, receive the proper death benefit. It's the least we can do for our Hometown Heroes who serve so proudly."

I am pleased to see that Del. Miller isn't simply trying to use this for political points but is actually standing up for the first responders during her time in the General Assembly. Her actions are a good step in the direction of protecting fire fighters which, in turn, is also making our Commonwealth safer. So congratulations and thank you to Del. Paula Miller.

Creigh Deeds Works With Tim Kaine on Environmental Issues

With Brian Moran resigning from the House of Delegates, it leaves Creigh Deeds as the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate that is still in the General Assembly. While there could be some setbacks because he won’t be allowed to fundraise while the GA is in session, he also seems to be well on his way to using the session as a way to show how he’s an effective legislator. In a statement earlier today Creigh announced that he will be joining Gov. Tim Kaine in an initiative to make Virginia greener.

One step in the process will be that Creigh will introduce a bill in the Senate “on behalf of the Governor” that will make Virginia a more attractive state for organizations that produce products used for clean energy. He’ll also introduce legislation that would give tax exemptions to people who install residential renewable energy systems. Both of these concepts are likely to be embraced by environmental activists, many of whom vote in Democratic Primaries.

The fact that Creigh is working so closely with Gov. Kaine on this issue is also likely to give him extra attention in the press. Perhaps that is why he stressed this collaboration in the following statement he made earlier today.

"What Governor Kaine has done, and what we need to continue doing in the coming years, is to put together a state strategy for bringing green jobs and the energy research of the future right here to Virginia. As we address the challenges of this economy and put in place a recovery package that gets us moving again, green jobs for hard-working, middle-class families are going to play a big role.

The work that Governor Kaine has begun on alternative and renewable energy will create the jobs not just for tomorrow, but for the next 100 year. These are good-paying jobs for Virginia's working families that can't be shipped overseas. In these tough economic times, we need to protect the middle class by providing the green energy jobs of the future today."

In recent weeks there seems to be a stiff competition between Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe for support among activists in their home base of Northern Virginia. If Deeds is able to continue being a strong leader in the General Assembly, however, then the other candidates will be forced to pay more attention to his candidacy. This would be extremely beneficial to Creigh’s campaign and might even him to pick up support from people who had previously ruled out his candidacy.

Rep. Rick Boucher Endorsed Jon Bowerbank for LG

Jon Bowerbank announced earlier today that he has received the endorsement of Congressman Rick Boucher. This is a big endorsement because Boucher is a popular Member of Congress who ads even more legitimacy to Bowerbank's grassroots campaign. The following is part of what Rep. Boucher had to say about why he's supporting Jon's candidacy.

"Jon Bowerbank is a long-time friend of mine, and I am pleased to endorse his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. As an entrepreneur in Russell County, Jon has demonstrated his ability to create high paying jobs. He has two decades of experience meeting the challenges of the energy sector. Jon's commitment to economic development, finding energy solutions, and investing in our infrastructure will be an asset to Virginia when he is elected Lieutenant Governor.

Jon Bowerbank is a candidate who will appeal to a broad range of Virginians in our urban and rural areas. His experience and background make him the ideal Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2009."

What I really liked about this endorsement is that the announcement focused on the need to produce "innovative energy solutions." Jon highlighted how he has he owns an energy services company and Rep. Boucher is "a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and a Senior Member of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee." These facts highlight how they both have similar priorities and suggest that Boucher's endorsement is worth paying attention to.

Creigh Deeds Supports Ban on Smoking in Restaurants

With the tobacco lobby being powerful here in Virginia it seems like there is always a lot of discussion about some sort of legislation relating to tobacco. During the last two sessions of the General Assembly the debate has been over a potential ban of smoking in public restaurants and it looks like the idea has now reached the gubernatorial campaign. Creigh Deeds recently issued this statement which stating that he believes Gov. Kaine made the correct move by pushing for the ban.

"Governor Kaine is right to push for an end to smoking tobacco in Virginia restaurants and I will be supporting passage of his legislation in the Senate.

"The scientific evidence is clear: secondhand smoke has a significant and devastating effect on the health of non-smokers. The evidence in restaurants is particularly compelling. The level of secondhand smoke exposure for non-smokers is at least twice as high in restaurants as it is in homes and offices with smokers. Food service workers have a 50 percent higher chance of dying of lung cancer, due in part to secondhand smoke exposure."

"In the face of such clear and compelling evidence, we must act to address this significant threat to public health. I urge my colleagues, in both parties and in both houses of the legislature, to join me in supporting this important legislation."

Senator Deeds has supported efforts to ban smoking in restaurants in previous years. In 2007, he voted for the Virginia Smoke Free Air Act, Senate Bill 1161 (Bell), and last year supported the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act, Senate Bill 501 (Locke/Northam).

While Creigh's support of the ban is noteworthy, I believe it's more important to notice that by supporting this bill he is stepping out against one of strongest set of lobbyists in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With that being said, I'd really like to see our elected officials propose legislation that would address the reasons people decide to start smoking. If people never start smoking, after all, we wouldn't need to worry about putting forward a ban on smoking in restaurants AND there could be thousands, if not millions, of people who also live longer and healthier lives.

Playing Tag

I suppose I'll take Vivian Paige up on her offer to play a little game of tag. Here are 7 random things that you might not know about me.

1) I started college at Longwood University as a musical education major with a concentration in jazz saxophone, but graduated from GMU with a degree in history.

2) I am a life-long resident of Fairfax County, Virginia.

3) I have more respect for Republicans who stand up for their beliefs than Democrats who sit on the sidelines. (Note, this is because I believe everyone has a responsibility to stand up for what they believe in)

4) My favorite movie used to be Field of Dreams, but now it's Milk.

5) I was confirmed in the United Methodist Church and even sang in the church choir as a kid and for a year in my early twenties, but Judaism, Buddhism, and other religions and philosophies have strongly influenced my spiritual beliefs.

6) I started my first blog several years ago because I believed there needed to be more opportunities for people to read analysis of current events and what goes on "behind the scenes" in politics.

7) Of the people from my high school that I talk to now, I hardly ever talked to any of them while we were actually in high school.

Gerry Connolly on Secretary Peters Approving Rail to Dulles

Throughout the campaign last year Rep. Gerry Connolly repeatedly talked about how he was looking forward to bringing his passion for local politics to the federal level. He often stressed how his past experience has been about being directly accountable to his constituents and how he wanted to bring that accountability with him to Congress. Not even a week into his first term we have a prime example of how his time as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will help him when addressing certain issues.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has decided to give final approval to the rail to Dulles plan. This is important to note because Gerry frequently dealt with the last Congressional delegation and state leaders in regards to this plan during his time as Chairman of the Board. The symbolism of the plan receiving official approval so quickly after Gerry Getting sworn in might is a great reminder of how Gerry is combining his experience of being a Senate staffer years ago and his local activism in community organizations and local government.

With that in mind, here is part of Gerry's statement on Secretary Peters giving the plan final approval.

“The 23.7-mile Dulles Rail Project promises to transform commuting patterns in the Dulles Corridor and across the entire region, Connolly said. "At the same time, it will add hundreds of new jobs to the local labor market over the five-year life of the project and pump billions of dollars into our economy.”

The 11th District Congressman said the positive economic impact on our region is expected to total more than $4.5 billion over the next five years, including direct expenditures on salaries, goods, and services, and tertiary expenditures on housing, food, retail purchases, and other services.

The Dulles Rail project was one of Connolly’s top priorities during his 14-year tenure as Fairfax County Board Chairman and district supervisor. Noting that the project was first discussed 47 years ago, Connolly said, “The Dulles Rail Project underscores the long and arduous process of building a transportation project of this size.”

Gov. Kaine on Obama's Economic Recovery Package

Gov. Tim Kaine released a statement today about President-elect Obama's economic recovery package. While this could be viewed simply as a statement supporting the candidate who Kaine supported during the campaign, I think it also signals how Kaine and the other Democratic governors can help the Obama Administration by taking the lead in promoting his policies in their states. Of course if we want the Federal government to also represent what's best for the American public, we'll also need the governor's to let Obama know what their consituents are saying.

For those of you who are interested, here's Kaine's statement:

"I was pleased to join President-elect Obama today as he announced his proposed economic recovery package.

“Virginians, like the rest of the nation, face a challenging economic landscape. Hardworking families and businesses have had to tighten their belts as they look towards an uncertain future. State Government has not been immune to these challenges. Over the past two years, Virginia’s government has worked proactively to manage the budget in this difficult time. We have found savings in every area of state government. And we have made the tough decisions to keep the budget balanced without any general tax increase and without compromising core services.

“President-elect Barack Obama’s Economic Recovery Package will ensure that governors will not have to make even deeper cuts – cuts that will only serve to exacerbate the severe economic straits we are already facing. Virginians and the rest of the nation will greatly benefit from investments in infrastructure, healthcare and education. We will be able to restore funding to important transportation projects, and work to solve the transportation problems plaguing our state. We will be able to invest in broadband projects that will help Virginia keep its competitive edge. And we will be able to further improve our schools and healthcare systems at a time when they desperately need it.

“By providing these much needed federal investments to states, we will be able to better stem our national recession and allow other sources of investment to take root and succeed in turning our economy around. The proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan put forth by President-elect Obama will be good for our Commonwealth and our country. I applaud the President-elect on his plan, and look forward to working with him to move Virginia and our nation forward."

Moran Campaign Combines Inauguration and Online Organizing

If you're hoping to get a ticket to Obama's inauguration it appears as though there's a new way to potentially receive one. Brian Moran's campaign will be putting together a drawing for tickets to the historic event. I think this is a good move on the Moran camp because it helps to reinforce all the work that he did for Obama during the 2008 election. It also shows that he is extremely interested in activating grassroots activists and is taking advantage of online resources in order to do so.

With that in mind, here's the announcement from the Moran campaign for those of you who are interested.

Win a ticket to history and help organize Virginia

This January 20th, America will make history. We’ve all worked so hard for so long to make this a reality – if you’re like me, you can’t wait. Barack Obama knew that what mattered most were the grassroots – everyday Americans building a better future for themselves and their kids.

Unfortunately, there won’t be nearly enough tickets to the inauguration for every Virginia volunteer and grassroots organizer to go. That’s why I’m going to give away inauguration tickets to dedicated Democratic leaders who sign up on our website. If you sign up today, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a ticket to President-elect Obama’s swearing in, and we’ll let you know the winners by January 16.

In a few weeks, our campaign for Governor will launch a groundbreaking new online system to help organize Virginia for my campaign in 2009 and keep Virginia Democrats organized going forward. I’ve worked all over Virginia, fighting for Virginia Democrats. I’ve knocked doors, made phone calls, and held rallies for nearly a decade. But I bet you’re as tired as I am of building a statewide network for Virginia Democrats only to dismantle it after every election. Once the technical work is completed, this new social networking system will help Democrats organize Virginia for my campaign, all our other campaigns for that November, and beyond.

And don’t forget – grassroots leaders who sign up now for the drawing to go the inauguration will be invited to a sneak peek when the new Organize.BrianMoran.com launches. Sign up today!

Thanks for all you did in 2008. Let’s get rolling on 2009.

Your Friend,
Brian

John Fishwick Will Not Run For AG

John Fishwick had been running for Attorney General as a Democrat but has decided to end his candidacy. This might be a good thing for those who were nervous about Democrats having a primary in all three statewide races because this leaves Steve Shannon as the only Democratic candidate for AG. The following is the statement he released yesterday.

It has been a tremendous opportunity to explore the chance to run for Attorney General of Virginia. I have been encouraged by the significant support for my belief that Virginia needs an Attorney General who will fight for the people. Many have urged me to run and have contributed to this effort and for that I am very grateful. I have raised over $160,000.00 from over 80 donors in two and a half months, and my supporters have made it clear to me that I would be able to raise the necessary resources for this race.

For me, the process of exploring a race for Attorney General has first considered what contribution I can make to the people of Virginia through this office; and then, how does that potential contribution compare to the important work I believe I accomplish through my law practice where every day it is my privilege to fight for those who often have no way to help themselves.

And while this has been an extremely difficult decision, I have concluded that for now my role should remain in the aggressive private practice of law, fighting against injustice and for people whose lives and livelihood depend on that representation.

Accordingly, I will not run for Attorney General. I make this decision only after the most difficult deliberation. And I make it with the most sincere appreciation for those who have pledged their incredible support and who continue to urge me to run.

I look forward to continuing my active involvement within the Democratic Party and to the future consideration of elective office.

Sharon Bulova Asks for Your Vote

League of Conservation Voters Endorses Sharon Bulova for Chairman

The Fairfax League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Sharon Bulova for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The FLCV enthusiastically endorses Sharon Bulova to be the next Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Sharon has a long history of supporting the environment and protecting our quality of life. She is a champion for the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) that provides transit options to augment the Metro system. She understands that Fairfax is effected by issues across the region and Virginia such as air pollution and interstate trucking, and has provided leadership on the Governors Commission and COG. She has chaired the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee for 17 years and has the knowledge to guide us through lean budget times as we face unprecedented economic challenges.

The FLCV conducted a thorough endorsement process that includes candidate interviews, reviewing voting records, and analyzing questionnaires.

An interesting sidenote is that the League of Conservation Voters also endorsed Mike McClanahan, who ran against Pat Herrity for the Springfield Supervisor seat back in 2007. This is worth noting because Pat has now had two opportunities in less than two years to get the organization's endorsement, but has failed to do so on both occasions. Sharon Bulova, on the other hand, got FLCV's endorsement in 2007.

Also, while the organization usually endorses Democrats, it has endorsed Republicans who made it clear that they were the better candidate on environmental issues. In 2007, for example, FLCV endorsed Joan Dubois for Supervisor in the Dranesville District. So when it comes down to it, the endorsement was one that could have been up for grabs but FLCV clearly believes that Sharon Bulova is the candidate who has demonstrated good long term plans on how to address environmental issues.

Terry McAuliffe Says He'll Continue His Campaign

Not too surprisingly, it looks like Terry McAuliffe is going to be continuing his campaign for Governor. In his announcement, I think he has the right message her by focusing on the economy and job development. I have criticized Terry in previous posts for not having a concrete message that he's been promoting. If, as he claims he'll do in this video, he announces some productive plans for creating jobs that pay a liveable wage and addressing our economy, then he could prove to be more than just a good fundraiser. With the other candidates showing they're willing to aggressively go after Terry's candidacy, these next few weeks will be crucial in deciding who controls the message received by the general public surrounding Terry's campaign.

Sharon Bulova Office Opening (With Video)

I went to the office opening for Sharon Bulova over in the in Fairfax Station/Burke Center area. For those of you who don't know, Sharon is running for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Since the former Chairman, Gerry Connolly, was elected to Congress and there is going to be a special election to take over the chairmanship. Sharon is the Democratic candidate.

There was a good showing of people at the event including Del. David Bulova, Sen. George Barker, Supervisor John Foust, and School Board Member Ilryong Moon (my apologies if I missed any elected officials). Perhaps the most important aspect of this event was that they were allowing people to celebrate Sharon's candidacy but were also getting some important volunteer work done as well. They had people making buttons (that included union printed labels), road signs were being handed out for a sign blitz, and people were signing up to help knock on doors and make phone calls.

The emphasis on field activity even made its way into the casual conversations that people were having amongst themselves. One big topic being discussed, for instance, was how to motivate people who volunteered for Obama to remain involved in the political process and support Sharon's candidacy as well. I was very pleased to see this topic of conversation because it shows that not only do the people there know the field campaign is going to be crucial in this campaign, but they also realize that the support grassroots activists can be very beneficial.

After the crowd had some time to mingle and make a few buttons, Sharon Bulova gave a brief speech that touched on how we need to make sure that Fairfax County has good leadership and heads in the right direction. She also points out how even though this is going to be a relatively short campaign, it's going to be very intense and there a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure Sharon comes out on top.

Democrats Have Good Chance of Winning Race for AG

Aznew recently wrote a post over at Blue Commonwealth that looked at Creigh Deeds’ bid for Attorney General in 2005. He was analyzing the piece in regards to Creigh’s gubernatorial campaign this year and lays out some very interesting facts in the process. Aznew’s analysis essentially showed that Creigh did better than recent Democratic candidates running for Attorney General but just fell a few hundred votes short – a margin which is incredibly small in a statewide election.

Still, Deeds’ near win in 2005 radically reversed a distinct negative trend in Democratic efforts to capture the office. After prevailing in the contest for AG three consecutive times, the last two by landslide, in 1981, 1985 and 1989, Democratic performance went quickly downhill. In 1993, 1997 and 2001, the Democratic candidate earned 43.9%, 42.4% and 39.9%, respectively.

Deeds, in stark contrast, reached 49.5%, the most since [Mary Sue Terry won for the third time in 1989].

Aznew went on to point out that this strong showing could be extremely beneficial to Creigh because he can build upon the foundation he built in 2005 when running his gubernatorial campaign this year. While his analysis suggests that things could be looking good for Creigh due to his strong showing in 2005, I think it more importantly shows that the Democrats have a good chance to win the Attorney General’s office.

This is important to remember because while we have controlled the governor’s mansion and have won two of the last four races for Lt. Governor, it’s the race for Attorney General where Democrats need to really step it up. As Aznew pointed out, however, Creigh came very close in 2005 and there’s a good chance that a solid Democratic candidate could be our next Attorney General now that momentum has been shifting recently in favor of Democrats in statewide campaigns.

It’s my personal opinion that we have that candidate in Del. Steve Shannon. In case you missed it the first time, here’s a video of Steve discussing why he’s running for AG. Although it’s relatively short, I think it establishes a foundation of the good he’d do for our Commonwealth if he’s elected Attorney General.

Brian Moran Suggests Candidates Should Reject Out of State Money

During an appearance on the "Politics Program with Mark Platkin" on WTOP, Brian Moran suggested that all three Democratic candidates refuse to accept out of state money from now until the primary. His reasoning was that this would help to ensure that the race remains focused on who has the best record in Virginia.

“This election should be about who has a proven record of fighting for Virginia families and a vision for where to take the state,” Moran said. “It should not be an election about who can raise more money from national donors. Virginia Democrats should choose our nominee.”

There has been a lot of discussion about how people believe Terry McAuliffe will "try to buy the governor's mansion" by tapping into all of his national connections, so it's safe to say that this move is supposed to target Terry and not Creigh Deeds. With so many people expressing a negative view of Terry's efforts, there is a plus side for Brian by putting forward this resolution. Many of the political junkies and activists following this race at this point in time, for instance, will like the fact that Brian is willing to go after Terry about something that has many grassroots activists concerned.

Unfortunately for Brian, I think there will also be some backlash. Since Virginia is one of the few states that will be holding a statewide election this year many Democrats were looking forward to national resources being invested in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, people have already begun looking at the out of state donations that Brian received prior to making this "new year's resolution." So the question then becomes; what should be done about all of those donations?

Despite the potential for backlash, this will be a small victory for Brian because so many of his key funders and supporters are from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Not only will they be able to vote for him on primary day, but they might be willing to step up their financial support a little bit to prove that Brian can be successful despite refusing to accept donations from out of state. Furthermore, the move to call for his fellow candidates to focus their attention on Virginia will likely be attractive to people who have raised questions about Terry's candidacy.

UPDATE: The Richmond Times-Dispatch has the reactions from the other two campaigns about Moran's challenge.

Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for McAuliffe, said "if and when Terry gets in the race, he will make sure he has the reserves he needs to run a competitive race. The people of Virginia are not talking about fund-raising, they're talking about who can create jobs."

Deeds said "Virginia's working families need a leader fighting to put more cash in their household budget, not a candidate fighting over cash in their campaign budget."

There might not have been much of a chance that the challenge would be taken, especially by Terry McAuliffe, but now that the challenge seems to be "officially" declined it will be interesting to see where Moran's campaign goes from here. One potential use would be to continue harping on all of the good things Brian has done for the Commonwealth while using this as one example of how there have been questions about Terry's decision to run.

Sharon Bulova's Office Opening Party Is Tomorrow

The New Year is bringing along with it a few special elections, one of which is the one for a new county chairman that will take place on February 3. It looks like the campaigns are really kicking into gear as Sharon Bulova's campaign sent out the following announcement about an "office OPEN HOUSE" tomorrow afternoon.

Dear Bryan,
We hope you all had a very happy New Year's Day. We all enjoyed the festivities. But with the Special Election just 32 days away (February 3rd), we can't "take the weekend off."

Join us tomorrow, January 3 for our office OPEN HOUSE from 1-3 PM, 5618 Ox Road, Suite C, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 (over the post office).

Bring a friend, we've got a lot to do in a very short time.

• come see us
• help make buttons
• pick up materials
  

sign up for:
Phone banks
starting Monday January 5th, 6-9 PM at
FCDC, 2815 Hartland Rd, Falls Church
and at the
Firefighters Local #2068, 10500 Sager Avenue, Suite A, Fairfax

Canvassing
starting Saturday, January 10th

After the open house, there will be a sign blitz. So dress comfortably, and come prepared to do some sign planting!

Happy New Year!

Luke Vaughn, Manager
Bulova for Chairman

Sen. Claiborne Pell Passed Away

I believe that a high quality education is one of the best ways that a person can advance themselves. Especially in a tough economic time like we are facing right now, it is extremely important for job applicants to have learned the skills necessary to provide a valuable addition to a company. Former Senator Claiborne Pell helped to ensure that people are able to afford the education necessary to obtain those skills by sponsoring the program that has helped millions of students attend college. Unfortunately, he passed away yesterday at his home in Rhode Island after a battle with Parkinson's disease.

I'm sure I'm joining all those who benefited from Pell Grants when I say that my thoughts go out to his friends and family. Perhaps the best way to honor Sen. Pell's public service would be to help ensure that every student who qualifies to receive a higher education is able to afford one. With the new Congress and President getting ready to be sworn in and the General Assembly getting ready to begin its session here in Virginia, I recommend people write letters to their elected officials and tell them that this is a perfect opportunity to help make sure everyone has a chance to succeed.