Archive for July, 2005
Alexandria — The Virginia Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, this week endorsed David Englin, the Democratic candidate to represent the 45th District in the House of Delegates.
“As the father of a son in an Alexandria public school, I am especially honored to have the support of the VEA, and the teachers they represent across Virginia. I know first-hand how important teachers are to making sure Virginia’s children receive a first-rate education,” said Englin. “This endorsement is also meaningful to me because my late mother was a public school teacher and a lifelong member of the National Education Association. As your delegate in Richmond I will work to ensure that, in the 45th District and across Virginia, teachers are paid what they’re worth and treated as professionals.”
A key part of Englin’s agenda to improve education in Virginia is to raise teacher’s pay to the national average. Currently teachers across the state are paid about $3,000 less than the national average.
“If we want Virginia’s public schools to attract and retain the best teachers we will need to raise teachers pay to least the national average, or risk losing qualified teachers,” said Englin. “In Richmond I will work with other education advocates in the General Assembly for state money to help localities close that gap.”
The endorsement – called a “recommendation” in VEA parlance – came from the VEA’s political action committee, which is the union’s political arm and is funded entirely by voluntary contributions of VEA members. VEA recommended candidates in 37 House of Delegates races, 14 Republicans and 23 Democrats.
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David joined Alexandria elected officials and activists at a rally in Alexandria’s Market Square yesterday to speak out in support of freedom of the press. Along with Rep. Jim Moran, Mayor Bill Euille, Vice Mayor Del Pepper, Councilman Andrew MacDonald, Councilwoman Joyce Woodson, and New York Times reporter Lisa Guernsey, David expressed his support for New York Times reporter Judith Miller, whom the Federal Government is holding in the Alexandria Detention Center for refusing to reveal the identity of confidential sources.
Here are excerpts from David’s remarks:
“
When our government plays fast and loose with the truth — whether it’s the truth about tax handouts for the rich and the crushing debt they’ve created for our children, the truth about global warming, climate change, and pollution, and their toxic effects on the health of our communities, or the truth about smoking guns and mushrooms clouds and the reasons we went to war in Iraq — when our government plays fast and loose with the truth, it undermines our ability to cast informed votes and to hold our leaders accountable. We count on the tenacity of reporters like Judith Miller to develop sources and build relationships so they can expose the truth to the sunshine of of public scrutiny, and in doing so, protect our fundamental democratic right to hold our government accountable for what it does in our name.”
“That’s why Thomas Jefferson said that “Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” That’s why, as a veteran of our Armed Forces, as the father of a son who might someday be asked to go into harm’s way for our country, and as one of thousands of Alexandrians who share Jefferson’s belief that our very liberty depends on our access to the truth, I call upon elected leaders at all levels to stand up for reporters like Judith Miller and to support shield laws that protect a reporter’s ability to seek the truth.”
Another Tuesday and another successful Volunteer Night sharing David’s progressive agenda for the future. Thank you to all of the volunteer 
s who joined us to make phone calls and write letters to reach out to voters in the 45th district and beyond. Our Vote Strong volunteers made hundreds of calls for David, sharing his ideas to make housing more affordable, invest in education, reduce the cost of health care, protect the rights of all Virginians, and figh 
t for the unique needs of Northern Virginia. In addition to their work for David, our volunteers wrote letters to help reelect Del. Brian Moran, House Democratic Caucus Chairman.
“Our fight is fueled by the dedication and energy of our terrific volunteers,” said David. “Together I know we’ll win in November and make real progress for our community in Richmond.”
Join us next Tuesday, and become part of David’s Vote Strong team. Let Mel know you’re coming: 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org.
David shared his thoughts about grassroots campaigning and inspired 45th district activists at a training and organizational meeting to kick off coordinated Democratic campaign activities in Alexandria’s Fire Department Headquarters Precinct yesterday. Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Leslie Byrne, Democratic candidate for Alexandria sheriff Dana Lawhorne, and representatives from the statewide coordinated campaign also shared their thoughts about the November election.
“Winning takes work, and I promise you that, if you’re willing to put in the time knocking on doors and making phone calls and building a relationship with voters, you’ll achieve the vote goals your precinct captain has set for you,” said David.
Sarah Stott, the Democratic Party’s precinct captain for Fire Department Headquarters Precinct, conceived the event as a first step toward running a disciplined, organized grassroots campaign to turn out every possible vote in her precinct for the Democratic ticket in November.
“Sarah and her husband, Howard Jennings, are amazing organizers, and they’re recruiting others and empowering them to organize to win,” said David. “If every precinct captain would follow this example, we’d be unstoppable in November and beyond.”
Leading by example, David was the first to sign up for the Fire Department Headquarters Precinct’s phone bank on Aug. 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Alexandria Democratic Committee headquarters at 618 N. Washington Street. Contact Sarah Stott, sstott@comcast.net, 703-519-5245, to sign up for the phone bank or to learn how you can help in Fire Department Headquarters Precinct.
David and other Northern Virginia Democrats joined Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at a Young Professionals fundraiser for Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine yesterday evening at the Clarendon Ballroom in Arlington. Obama, the rising star 
(and current rock star) of the Democratic Party, spoke to a cheering crowd of more than 1,000 Democratic activists, including more than a dozen members of Team Englin. Following remarks by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), 
Obama introduced Kaine, who shared his strong, positive vision to keep Virginia moving in the right direction.
“Barack Obama is an inspiration to so many of us who share his believe that progressive values are traditional American values,” said David. “It was wonderful to spend some time with him, and I know his strong endorsement of Tim Kaine will help all Virginia Democrats in November.”
“He’s the handsomest man in the Senate, and I hugged him,” said Eryn Kawecki, one of Team Englin’s volunteers.
Obama urged members of the audience to roll up their sleeves and do the hard grassroots work of making phone calls, 
knocking on doors, and stuffing envelopes to ensure victory for Tim Kaine and the entire Democratic ticket in November. Join us next Tuesday and do your part to turn out the 45th District and beyond for Tim Kaine! Let Mel know you’re coming: 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org.
