David is proud to announce that NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia has endorsed him to represent the 45th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“David first worked on reproductive rights over a decade ago. He will be one of our strongest allies the day he arrives in Richmond,” said Ann O’Hanlon, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.

“My very first political activism many years ago was with Colorado NARAL, so this endorsement is especially meaningful to me,” said David. “With two impending conservative appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, the prospect that the fight for reproductive freedom in Virginia will move from Washington, D.C. to Richmond becomes that much more real. I will fight any and all attempts to restrict the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, and I will fight for policies that ensure access to reproductive health care, contraception, and accurate sex education.”

David joined other Alexandrians representing parents, community leaders and law enforcement to call on the public to get behind gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine’s call for universal preschool access to help students achieve their full potential and become contributing members of society. More than 20 community leaders assembled Tuesday in front of the Children & Family Network Center preschool in Alexandria’s Arlandria neighborhood to focus attention on the issue and support Kaine’s Strong Start initiative.

“Start Strong is the kind of bold, progressive idea that will give all of our children an equal opportunity to compete on a level playing field, spreading a little more social justice throughout Virginia,” said David. “Over the long haul, it’s also the most efficient crime prevention program and economic development program out there. This is the kind of investment in our future that can strengthen families and communities for generations.”

Ninety-percent of brain development occurs by age six so experts claim that children who go without early childhood development miss a critical moment in their lives, one from which they may never fully recover. Several studies have found that early education results in increased educational attainment, increased employment, productivity and earnings along with less welfare dependency, crime and delinquency.

“Poverty is the number one risk factor for school failure, and there are still hundreds of children in our community at risk of school failure,” said Barbara Mason, director at the preschool. “The idea of universal access is a wonderful way to combat that. We’re thrilled that Tim Kaine has put it on his agenda. It is the right thing to do.”

Kaine’s program encourages the creation of locally based programs like the one administered by Mason, which has 80 families on the waiting list to get in already this year. The center takes families of four with incomes of $35,700 a year and below. Head Start targets families with incomes of only $19,000 a year or less. And, this year the center has extended eligibility to include Arlington residents near the center.

“As a community leader I understand the importance of high-quality pre-kindergarten experiences, but as a business leader I simply must have access to the kind of skilled, dedicated employees that early education produces,” said Bill Euille, Alexandria’s Mayor. “The future of our economy depends on giving every child the tools they need to achieve to become contributing members of our community.”

Teachers report that 35 percent of students come to school not ready to learn according to Delegate Adam Ebbin (D-49th) adding that problems in school can lead to students dropping out.

“For every $1 invested, Virginia would see a return of more than $17,” Ebbin said, “most immediately by reducing the students’ need for remediation in grades 1-12 as well as decreased spending on social services and crime. We stand with Tim Kaine who wants to make sure all of Virginia’s children have a bright future.”

Four decades of research demonstrates that when children enter kindergarten with pre-school experience they are ready to learn and focused. Pre-school education benefits everyone – the children, their families and the community. Preschoolers are more likely to graduate from high school, own a home and lead independent lives. Families benefit from strong and stable children who can achieve their potential. The community benefits because children with pre-school experience are less likely to be involved in youth crime or require public assistance as an adult.

“Kaine’s plan says a lot about how Kaine would govern. He asks each community to craft the approach that makes the most sense for them. And it does not mandate pre-kindergarten or set up a government-run system; it strengthens the existing network of public and private providers, including churches and local co-ops, and leaves choices in the hands of parents,” said Rob Krupicka, Alexandria City Council member.

Other studies have captured business and political leaders’ attention. Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis found that investing in preschool education provided a larger return than subsidizing office towers, athletic arenas and entertainment centers. A familiar Head Start study says states could save $7 in future social service and incarceration expense for every dollar in pre-K education. And, a children’s institute in Portland, Oregon calculated that four students could attend a public Oregon University – including tuition, books, room and board – for the cost of incarcerating one juvenile.

Tim Kaine’s Start Strong initiative phases in high-quality early education for all of Virginia’s four year-olds using local advisory boards who determine a locality’s unique needs and receive grants to implement the plans from a statewide Start Strong council.

Team Englin spent another beautiful Saturday reaching out to voters at their doorsteps throughout the 45th district, winning support and sharing David’s strong progressive message. David interrupted knocking on doors only to speak at a first-ever candidates forum hosted by an alliance of 15 non-partisan Asian Pacific American organizations at the Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Va.

“There are 360,000 members of Virginia’s Asian Pacific American community who collective contribute $4.4 billion annually to our economy and help make Northern Virginia in particular the kind of strong, vibrant community so many of us are proud to call home,” said David. “I’m happy to see members of the Asian Pacific American community coming together and getting more politically engaged. I know that together we can strengthen education, health care, housing, and transportation and continue investing in the future of our community.”

Join us for Volunteer Nights this Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Campaign Central or Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Alexandria Hyundai on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, or join next Saturday to knock on doors and win votes! Let Mel know your coming at 703-549-3203 or gro.nilgnedivadnull@reetnulov.

The upstairs bar at Murphy’s Irish Pub in Old Town was packed tonight with Alexandria Democrats who came out to show their united support for David.

“I’m so pleased to see so many Alexandria Democrats here tonight so we can all show that we are solidly united behind David,” said Susan Kellom, Alexandria Democratic Committee chair, as she introduced the featured speaker, House Democratic Caucus Chair, Del. Brian Moran.

“It’s going to be a real pleasure serving with David and having him on my team in the House of Delegates,” said Moran. “It’ll be really great to have another progressive Democrat there fighting by my side.”

David thanked the host committee, which included every state and local Democratic elected official in Alexandria, David’s former primary opponents, the Alexandria Democratic Committee and the Alexandria Young Democrats.

“I especially want to thank Marian Van Landingham for being on our host committee tonight,” said David. “Marian has held this seat for 24 years, building a legacy of progressive leadership for the 45th district. She has been an unwavering voice for children, the disabled, and the elderly — for people and causes who can’t write a big check to get politicians’ attention. Instead, they rely on people’s compassion and sense of justice, and that’s what they have found in Marian for 24 years. Together we need to fight to carry on that legacy of progressive leadership for this seat.”

“Tonight was amazing,” said Melissa Mattingly, David’s campaign manager. “We raised lots of money, signed up lots of new volunteers, and showed our opponent that Democrats are 100 percent united around their candidate.”

Another amazing crew of Vote Strong volunteers — seasoned regulars and several new faces — spent yesterday evening making phone calls, writing letters, entering data, and doing the hard grassroots work of fighting for a progressive future. While they were winning votes for our David throughout the 45th district and for David Poisson in the 32nd district, David enjoyed the opportunity to share his vision for the future with members of the Arlington County Civic Federation. David discussed his vision to make housing more affordable, invest in education, reduce the cost of health care, stand up for the rights of all Virginians, and address the unique needs of Northern Virginia.

“It was wonderful to set off to the candidates forum seeing still more new faces at Campaign Central,” said David. “After all these months, our grassroots army continues to grow in strength. That’s how we’re going to win in November and eventually take back Virginia so together we can fight for sensible, progressive policies for the future.”

Join us this Saturday to knock on doors and next Tuesday for another Volunteer Night! Also, beginning Sept. 14, mark Wednesday’s on your calendars as Alexandria Hyundai on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray opens its doors to Team Englin for phone banking beginning at 6:30 p.m. Let Mel know when you’ll be joining us: gro.nilgnedivadnull@reetnulov or 703-549-3203.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to Team Englin Master Chef Tania Blagrove, whose Vote Strong Vegetarian Chili won the “Beans Obama – Best Chili with Beans” award today at the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s annual chili cook-off. Tania has kept Team Englin well-fed throughout the Primary and now the general election, and we can’t thank her enough for cooking up gallons of her (award winning!) chili for our entry into the cookoff!

David, Shayna, and Caleb joined dozens of Democratic activists and elected officials for this traditional Labor Day event marking the official start of Arlington’s campaign season. Earlier in the day, the Alexandria Democratic Committee hosted its annual Labor Day picnic at Fort Ward Park. Attended by a who’s-who of Alexandria Democrats, this local political tradition marked the start of Alexandria’s campaign season.

This Labor Day, David is proud to announce that the Virginia AFL-CIO has endorsed him as its choice to represent the 45th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“It’s an honor to have the support of an organization that represents working families in Virginia and across the country,” said David. “Our country has a strong, prosperous middle class today thanks in part to decades of organizing and advocacy from the labor movement.”

David earned the group’s support because he is willing to stand up for progressive values, and he supports the right of workers to organize into unions to improve the lot of workers and their families.

“With the Virginia AFL-CIO’s support, and together with our growing army of grassroots volunteers, we will continue to fight for sensible, progressive policies that will strengthen our communities, defend our values, and invest in our future,” said David.

Team Englin hosted an event in Alexandria’s public housing projects by the Charles Houston Recreation Center today to thank members of that community for their strong support during the primary and to encourage them to stay politically involved. In addition to food and fellowship, volunteers from the Advancement Project were on hand to help register people to vote and to help certain people apply to have their voting rights restored.

“Today was a wonderful opportunity to thank my friends here for their support and to continue reaching out so I can better represent the needs of our low-income residents in the General Assembly,” said David. “If we Democrats are serious about standing up for the poor and disenfranchised, we have an obligation to reach out and get to know the people in these particular neighborhoods and help them become more politically engaged.”

One gentleman came by who cannot vote because of a crime he committed and for which he completed his sentence 25 years ago. A specially-trained volunteer interviewed the man and is now helping him through the process of applying to have his voting rights restored.

“More than 60,000 African American men in Virginia do not have the right to vote because they are ex-felons. We need to change the law to automatically restore the voting rights of people who have fully paid their debt to society, instead of further marginalizing people whom we ought to be integrating back into our communities as productive citizens.”

Rev. Lee Earl of Shiloh Baptist Church and Rev. Philip Pointer of St. John’s Baptist Church dropped by to share in the festivities. Both pastors minister to many of the city’s public housing residents, and a number of David’s supporters and volunteers are members of the congregations they lead.

“Pastor Earl and Pastor Pointer share my commitment to policies rooted in social justice that will strengthen our entire community,” said David. “Their presence today — and the help and support of so many of their members — really means a lot to me.”