David spent several hours knocking on doors meeting voters in Alexandria’s Beverly Hills neighborhood before speaking at a candidates forum hosted by the North Ridge Citizens’ Association yesterday.

The forum took place at George Mason Elementary School, where David shared his thoughts on affordable housing, transportation, health care, education, and other issues. He emphasized that he is the only candidate in the race with a child in Virginia public schools, and he showed that he is bringing fresh energy and fresh ideas to the fight for Virginia’s future.

David explained the connection between transportation and public safety, noting the long distances many first responders have to travel to get to the communities they serve.

David told the audience about one of their neighbors whom he just met who couldn’t afford regular health insurance.

“A couple of months after dropping her insurance, she injured her arm and needed eye surgery,” said David. “We must fix the system so people get the care they need without risking financial ruin or overburdening small businesses.”

While David was out meeting voters at their doors, Shayna represented the campaign at the Del Ray Citizens’ Association’s annual “Meet and Greet” and then ran over to George Mason Elementary School to see David speak.

Rose, an Arlington resident with a daughter in the Arlington Public Schools, has spent five of the the last eight Saturdays knocking on doors for David.

“I first met David when he spoke at the Virginia Grassroots Coalition meeting in January,” said Rose. “I got involved in David’s campaign because he not only respected us enough to come to our meeting and show up on time, he spoke to us about how change is needed in Virginia politics and that Democrats need to take a stand on the issues that concern us. I didn’t hear that from the representatives who spoke on behalf of the other candidates. With them, it was business as usual.”

“I am inspired by Rose’s commitment to this campaign and to grassroots politics. We’re lucky to have her on our team,” said David.

After another successful day meeting voters at their doors in the Mount Vernon part of the 45th District, David sat down with residents of the Belle View Condominiums to listen to their concerns. Supporter Stephen Snell hosted a beer and pretzels mixer to give his neighbors in Belle View a chance to meet David and to share their thoughts about the issues.

“I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know these new friends from Mount Vernon,” said David. “I share their concerns about the rising costs of housing and health care and about the need to improve our transportation system. I’m convinced that, with fresh ideas and fresh energy, together we can address these problems and make a better future for Virginia.”

The Belle View residents quizzed David on a range of issues, and he shared with them elements of his Progressive Agenda for the Future.”

Yet another group of volunteers knocked on doors and shared David’s strong progressive message with voters today. As David continues to inspire new people to get involved in grassroots Democratic politics, more volunteers knock on doors and meet voters with him every week.

“Your campaign has clearly reached a turning point,” David told the mass of volunteers preparing to canvass with him this afternoon. “Together we’ve been knocking on doors and meeting voters for weeks now, and thanks to your energy and hard work, voters know who we are and are excited about supporting a campaign that represents the future of Democratic politics.”

Supporter Paul Friedman spent the morning going door to door with David introducing him to his neighbors in Alexandria’s Parkfairfax community.

“I really enjoyed meeting Parkfairfax residents, and I look forward to working with them to fight for their concerns in Richmond,” said David.

David’s growing grassroots army is in it’s ninth week of knocking on doors to meet voters, listen to their concerns, and share his strong progressive message for the future of Northern Virginia.

The current editions of the Mount Vernon Voice and the Alexandria Gazette Packet include coverage of Sunday’s candidates forum distinguishing David as a leader with new ideas and a comprehensive understanding of policy issues facing the 45th District.The Mount Vernon Voice reported:

David Englin, highlighted his 12 years in the military, offering that he is the only candidate with an agenda of “new ideas.”[On] universal preschool for three-and four-year-olds. . . “Every $1 invested in preschool saves $7 in remediation,” said Englin.

Englin promoted his plan to lower drug costs by allowing people to import American-made drugs and provided his 10-page “progressive agenda.”

The Alexandria Gazette Packet reported:

David Englin, a former Air Force officer . . . invoked his military life to explain his governing style.“Where we agreed, we worked to get things done,” said Englin, noting that being a liberal officer in George W. Bush’s Pentagon was not easy. “That’s called leadership.”

In response to a question about how to help first-responders in an emergency situation, Englin advocated taking a “holistic approach” to security, “weaving public safety throughout many issues” such as decent roads, Metro service and a communication infrastructure.

“Tuesday nights are incredibly productive, and a great chance for our volunteers to really build a sense of community on this campaign,” said Mara Lee, commenting on last night’s succesful Volunteer Night.

With Campaign Central filled to overflowing, volunteers enjoyed homemade dinner brought over by generous campaign volunteer, and Englin neighbor, Tania Blagrove.

“Tania is awesome,” said Shayna. “It was so thoughtful of her to contribute in this way.”

Team Englin ate well, welcomed several brand new volunteers, made calls to voters in the 45th, entered data, did research, and completed dozens of other campaign tasks.

“I am deeply honored that so many terrific progressive activists are giving so much of themselves to help me win,” said David. “Their commitment spurs me to work even harder – I feel I owe it to them to do absolutely everything I can to emerge the winner on June 14th. I’m confident we’ll do just that.”

Dan Cronin, a Fairfax County denizen, is this week’s Englin for Delegate volunteer of the week.“I am and always have been a moderate. But David’s campaign is the one with all of the energy in this race, and David’s the candidate with the new ideas and the vision for the future. I’m proud to donate my time to propelling David to victory this June,” said Dan.

As a campaign volunteer, Dan has already fulfilled a number of roles. He’s delivered signs, done data entry, canvassed, researched, and helped with debate preparations. He is an integral part of the campaign team.

Dan decided to join Team Englin only after writing to each of the candidates in the race, asking why they should have his support. David was the only candidate who gave him a compelling answer, and quickly. “It showed me that not only was David a great candidate, but he was running a great campaign. I was sold.”

“Dan is a terrific guy who took his duty to choose among the candidates seriously,” said David. “I am honored to have his support.”

David shared his strong progressive message with the audience and his opponents today at the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s 45th District Candidates Forum, held at Alexandria’s Durant Center.

David emphasized that he is the only candidate with a detailed, comprehensive, policy agenda offering specific new ideas that can improve the lives of all Virginians and help Democrats become the majority party again. He also noted that grassroots activism is the future of Democratic politics, citing his campaign’s growing army of grassroots volunteers.

David called for Virginia to join the I-SaveRX program, which would allow Virginians to buy American-made prescription drugs safely from certified pharmacies in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom for up to 50 percent savings. David said that he would like a seat on the Health Welfare and Institutions committee in the House of Delegates so he could fight for this initiative.

David also noted that his experience in the military working with Republicans, navigating bureaucracy, fighting for resources, and bringing together diverse business, military, political, and community interests to achieve common goals will make him a more effective Delegate.

“It’s called leadership, and that’s the experience I will bring with me to the House of Delegates,” said David. “More than that . . . I have proven that I can and I will mobilize grassroots Democratic activists to fight for Democratic values. That will make me a more effective Delegate for the 45th District, and it will help all Virginia Democrats as together we fight for Virginia’s future.”

David also reiterated his commitment to fight for local control of local issues, urging Democrats to seize on this issue as both good public policy and a way to help build a Democratic majority.

In addition to being the only candidate with a detailed, comprehensive policy agenda, David distinguished himself from the field by noting that, as a married man with a young son and a military background, he can be a uniquely effective advocate for gay rights, women’s rights, and the rights of immigrants and minorities in Richmond.

Immediately following the candidates forum, David put on his walking shoes and hit the streets, knocking on more doors to meet voters, hear their concerns, and share his progressive message for the future.

After stopping by to wish their fellow Democrats well before the start of Alexandria’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade today, David and Shayna headed off with multiple waves of volunteers to knock on doors and meet voters throughout the 45th District.“

We had such a great turnout at the last parade that today we put that grassroots energy into walking neighborhoods to identify voters,” said David. “Come November, our campaign’s growing army of grassroots volunteers will focus on turning out the voters we identified today to help Tim Kaine, Dana Lawhorne, and other Democrats win their races too.”

Before the start of the parade, David, Shayna, and two volunteers walked the parade route meeting voters and the throngs of spectators who came from outside the 45th District to enjoy the festivities.

“It’s wonderful that so many people from out of town came to watch the parade and share in what we so love about our home city,” said Shayna.

In the current edition of the Alexandria Gazette Packet, David argues that Democrats can work their way back to majority in Virginia by standing up for progressive values while promoting fresh, innovative ideas that will improve people’s lives. He offers just a couple of specific ideas from his “Progressive Agenda for the Future of Northern Virginia.”

Download a PDF copy of Democrats Need News Ideas.