Team Englin and NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia joined forces yesterday evening for an amazing Volunteer Night that included a special guest appearance by our Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Leslie Byrne, who dropped by Campaign Central to personally thank our Vote Strong Volunteers for their hard work.

With 22 volunteers working the phones — including a number of cell phones, since Campaign Central only has eight land lines! — and stuffing envelopes, David and Shayna’s home was overflowing with people putting their grassroots energy into the fight for progress. Throughout the evening, these Vote Strong Volunteers made hundreds of phone calls for NARAL-endorsed candidates and helped the Byrne for Lieutenant Governor campaign put out a massive mailing.

Meanwhile, David, Shayna, and Caleb attended a reception for the campaign in Alexandria’s Beverly Hills neighborhood hosted by Johannah and Mario Dottori.

“It was amazing to come home to a house literally overflowing with volunteers committed to standing up for reproductive rights and to doing the hard grassroots work it will take to send reasonable, progressive leaders to Richmond,” said David. “Our efforts will only get more intense as election day approaches and we fight to make the critical difference here in the 45th district and in races across Northern Virginia.”

Join us tonight and tomorrow night or this Saturday afternoon to add your energy to the fight! Check the campaign calendar for details and let Mel know when you’ll be here: 703-549-3203 or gro.nilgnedivadnull@reetnulov.

The professional fire fighters and paramedics of IAFF Local 2068 and the police officers and public safety employees of IUPA Local 5000 have named David as their choice to represent the 45th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“David Englin’s time in uniform gives him a special understanding of the problems facing public safety professionals throughout the Commonwealth,” said Joshua David, president of the Fairfax Coalition of Police. “His experience at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attack has taught him that the threats facing us are real.”

“I’m honored to accept the endorsement of the men and women whom we trust to keep our families and our communities safe and secure,” said David. “When the Pentagon was hit on Sept. 11, 2001, Northern Virginia’s fire fighters, paramedics, and police officers were first on the scene. Whether the threat comes from gangs, terrorists, house fires, or natural disasters, we rely on people who are willing to put their own safety on the line to protect us. They take care of us, and we have a duty to take care of them.”

Team Englin was out in full force this weekend, despite Saturday’s torrential rains! More than a dozen Vote Strong Volunteers spent the weekend knocking on doors, making phone calls, and sharing David’s strong progressive message with voters throughout the 45th district.

“It was truly inspiring to have so many volunteers turn out despite the driving rain, willing to put their energy into our fight for progress,” said David. “This kind of strength and commitment gives me great hope for the future.”

Saturday evening, David, Shayna, and Caleb went over to Mimi Carter and Joe LaMountain’s home in Del Ray for a Friends and Family Barbecue fundraiser for David.

“Mimi and Joe pulled together a wonderful group of people for a truly fun evening that will make real difference to the campaign,” said David. “It means a lot to me to have the support of so many of our friends and neighbors, and I look forward to representing our community’s interests in Richmond.”

Join Team Englin on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening this week beginning at 6 p.m. to make phone calls, stuff envelopes, and do what it takes to fight for a progressive future! Let Mel know you’re coming at 703-549-3203 or gro.nilgnedivadnull@reetnulov.

Many thanks to the Vote Strong Volunteers who kept up the fight at this week’s Volunteer Nights. On Tuesday evening, while David, Shayna, and Caleb observed the second night of Rosh Hashanah with David’s family in Maryland, a crew of volunteers made hundreds of calls from Campaign Central for our David and for David Poisson in the 32nd district.

On Wednesday evening, while David went head to head with his Republican opponent at the American Association of University Women candidate’s forum in Arlington, a Team Englin crew used the phones at Alexandria Hyundai to make calls for Bruce Roemmelt, who is challenging an extremist Republican in the 13th district.

“I’m so proud of the team of committed grassroots activists we have built these past several months,” said David. “We’re working together not only to win big here in the 45th district but also to send great candidates like David Poisson and Bruce Roemmelt to Richmond so we can change the face of the General Assembly and start passing sensible, progressive legislation that will make life better for so many people here in the 45th district and across the Commonwealth.”

Join us this Saturday at 2 p.m. to knock on doors throughout the 45th district and then at 5 p.m. for a Friends and Family Barbecue for David at the home of Mimi Carter and Joe La Mountain on 106 East Cliff Street, where you can enter to win a week in an Ocean View Cottage in Nags Head. Also join us next week for FOUR Volunteer Nights! Check the Campaign Calendar for details.

Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality recently verified officially what we Alexandrians have known for years — that Mirant Corporation’s Potomac River Generation Station is poisoning us with toxic emissions. Dangerous micro-particles and poisons like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury from the plant are many times worse than levels considered minimally dangerous. As the parent of a young child whose lungs are developing in the shadow of Mirant’s poison, I consider the plant to be a direct threat to my family’s health and safety. Now that our state government is finally coming to its senses, we must keep up the pressure to close down this coal-fired dinosaur immediately and for good.

When the state gave Mirant an ultimatum to clean up or close down, Mirant “voluntarily” closed the plant just before the state-mandated deadline. Mirant then performed its own study of its toxic downwash using “more realistic” assumptions, and it promptly pronounced that there’s no problem. Since Mirant officials shut down the plant “voluntarily,” they voluntarily took it upon themselves to reopen one of its smokestacks — albeit at a lower output level — and have said that another of its five smokestacks will reopen in the very near future.

According to outside experts, to operate without poisoning us, Mirant would have to raise its five smokestacks so high that they would block the flight path to National Airport — an obviously untenable solution. Operating the plant at a lower level of toxic output without raising the height of the smokestacks actually causes even more poison to settle down onto the people living in neighborhoods near the plant, since lower pressure from the smokestacks makes it harder for the toxins to disperse and dilute into the atmosphere. Let’s be crystal clear: There is no safe way to operate this power plant and it should be shut down immediately.

Our community owes a debt of gratitude to volunteer activists like Elizabeth Chimento, Poul Hertel, Ernie Lehmann, Mary Harris, and dozens of other Alexandrians who have fought to bring this dangerous situation to light and who continue to fight to shut down the plant for good. They are now trying to raise $1,500 to evaluate Mirant’s claim that it can operate one smokestack safely. (Send checks to Poul Hertel, 1217 Michigan Court, Alexandria, Va. 22314.) However, the ultimate duty to ensure the health and safety of the air we breathe falls on our government’s shoulders and not on the shoulders of neighborhood volunteers. While City Council has done everything in its power to force Mirant to close — and deserves our gratitude for it — state and federal authorities have largely failed us.

If I am elected in November to succeed Del. Marian Van Landingham, I will do everything in my power to close down the Mirant plant for good. I will fight in the General Assembly to enact a strong and meaningful Clean Smokestacks Act, along the lines of the law passed in North Carolina in 2002, requiring all coal-fired plants in Virginia to severely reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants. Moreover, we need to strengthen the ability of local governments to shut down power plants and other industrial facilities whose emissions threaten our health and safety. We will all breathe a little easier when we no longer have to worry about plants like Mirant poisoning our air and water and threatening our future.

Clean Water Action has named David as its choice to represent the 45th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“With a strong environmental vote and David’s dedication, together we will set the pace for a clean, healthy Virginia for years to come,” said Andrew Fellows, Clean Water Action’s Chesapeake Program Director.

“I have always believed that we have a moral obligation to future generations to fight for a safe and healthy environment,” said David. “I look forward to working with Clean Water Action and its members to make our water safe and healthy to drink, fish, and swim.”

David got an early start this weekend meeting voters on Saturday morning at the Old Town Farmer’s Market in Alexandria’s Market Square. Later in the morning, David cheered on Caleb and his Alexandria Youth Soccer teammates while Shayna showed the Team Englin colors at Art on the Avenue, the annual art festival that brings 40,000 visitors to Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.

Later, while David, Shayna, and Caleb spent some time meeting Fairfax voters at the Westgrove Oktoberfest celebration (Caleb especially enjoyed the hay ride!) Team Englin’s Vote Strong Volunteers spent the afternoon knocking on doors and talking with voters in the Mount Vernon part of the 45th district. David joined his grassroots army knocking on doors and talking with voters about his race in the 45th and also about the statewide Democratic ticket — Tim Kaine for Governor, Leslie Byrne for Lieutenant Governor, and Criegh Deeds for Attorney General. David closed out the day back at Art on the Avenue talking with Alexandria voters.

Sunday evening, after a long day meeting still more voters, David rounded out the weekend at a potluck dinner and discussion hosted by Equality Fairfax, along with the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans, Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club and Equality Virginia.

“Many thanks to everyone who pitched in for another busy and successful weekend on the campaign trail!” said David.

Join us Tuesday and Wednesday as we continue to win votes for David and other Democrats! Volunteer Nights are Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Campaign Central and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Alexandria Hyundai. Let Mel know you’re coming: 703-549-3203 or gro.nilgnedivadnull@reetnulov.