Archive for September, 2007
While David spent the evening knocking on doors and talking with voters, another crew of Team Englin volunteers packed Campaign Central yesterday, stuffing envelopes and making phone calls to en
sure David’s re-election on November 6.
“It’s incredibly humbling to have the support of so many wonderful, hard-working people from every corner of the 45th District,” said David. “When we win this November, it will be because friends like you gave your time and
energy to our cause. Thank you!”
Join us next Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Campaign Central (1505 Wayne Street, Alexandria) for our next Volunteer Night so we can send David back to Richmond for another term fighting for progress for our entire community. Click here to let us know you’re coming.
House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong told a packed room of guests at yesterday’s reception in support of David how much he needs principled, effective legislators like David serving with him in the House of Delegates. Armstrong briefed guests on the Virginia political landscape as the November general election approaches, and shared some thoughts about David’s campaign for re-election.
“Democrats cannot take this seat for granted because we need to keep David Englin in the General Assembly serving the people of the 45th District. David Englin is a leader in our Caucus, and he’s a leader on issues that matter to the 45th District. He’s a leader on
environmental issues. He’s a leader on housing issues. He’s a leader on early childhood education,” said Armstrong. “And let me tell you something else about David Englin — he is fearless. The House of Delegates is a tough room, and David is a fearless advocate for the interests of his constituents. I don’t know about you, but that’s exactly who I want on my team.”
Many thanks to Rob Dugger and Joan Huffer for hosting this very successful event in their beautiful waterfront home in Old Town, and to the other members of the Host Committee: Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, Martha McQuade and Marni Byrum, Nancy Mitchell Petersen, Loren and Birgit Hershey, and Jennifer Walker.
Thanks also to the many Patrons, Sponsors, Friends, and elected officials who contributed to making this event such a success.
RICHMOND - Del. David Englin (D-45) joined leaders of the House Democratic Caucus today to announce their proposal for a Virginia Military Veterans’ Bill of Rights.
The Virginia Military Veterans’ Bill of Rights will strengthen Virginia’s commitment to provide quality medical and counseling care, to protect against financial hardship from service, to ensure access to education opportunities, to protect military families financially while serving overseas, to ensure they received high-quality health care, and to provide additional benefits for families of fallen service members.
In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, House Democratic leaders will propose:
1) Additional Life Insurance Benefits: Allow active military and veterans to opt into the state employee life insurance policy to provide additional life insurance benefits for their families.
2) Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Counseling Benefits: Create a public-private partnership to provide additional counseling services for the 23,667 Virginians returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with a focus on those who return with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other brain related injuries.
3) National Guard and Reservists Financial Security Act:
a. State employees: Codify an existing executive order to have the state provide compensation to make up the different between guard salary and state employee salary.
b. Private employees: State to provide tax credits to encourage companies to provide compensation for guard employees serving overseas.
“The men and women who volunteer to risk their safety to defend ours have earned the right to be treated well and fairly,” said Englin, an Air Force veteran who worked on war deployment-related Guard and Reserve issues as a staff officer at the Pentagon and who deployed to the Balkans as part of the peacekeeping and counter-genocide operations there. “Those of us who have served our country in wartime and have deployed overseas are acutely aware of the pressures that service puts on our families. This Virginia Military Veterans’ Bill of Rights will help give our men and women in uniform and their families the support they need and deserve.”
“In a time of war, when the federal government has all too often failed to provide adequate services for our veterans, Virginia must step up to this moral obligation to care for those who put themselves in harms way to defend us,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran said.
“While we have budget challenges next session, I believe that it is critical to ensure that Virginia’s veterans and servicemen and women have the highest care possible,” House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. “We ask them to put their life on the line everyday for our freedom and we owe them every benefit possible.”
“I served 26 years in the United States Navy and had the honor to serve with some of the bravest men and women on the face of the earth,” House Democratic candidate and former Naval destroyer commander Carlos Del Toro said. “When I go to the General Assembly in January, I will do everything in my power to make sure our veterans receive the respect and care they’ve so clearly earned.”
The Sept. 13 edition of the Sun Newspapers of Alexandria include this letter to the editor:
David Englin is a Good Fit for District 45
To The Editor:
I supported David Englin for Alexandria’s 45th District in the last election. He stopped over on a Saturday morning [and] we chatted for about 20 minutes while I was puttering around in the garden. We hit it off. Heck, I nearly invited the guy in for coffee, or even a beer, except I recalled that the house was not too tidy.
David struck me as the genuine thing. He was ambitious, even decisive. Yet, he had a certain humbleness and earnestness as well. Most importantly he stood up for something, several things actually. Things like honesty, integrity and hard work along with a commitment to basic tenets of justice, tolerance, and fairness. He has stood up for these principles in Richmond and in doing so he has stood up for diverse people in this district who share those values.
Now, along comes Mark Allen as a Republican challenger. Mr. Allen says David is out of touch with the mainstream. Maybe that is true in Mr. Allen’s vision of trying to fit District 45 into the mold of the current majority in Richmond. But one needs only to take a walk in Del Ray and Rosemont on a weekend morning or First Thursday to see the caring, hardworking and tolerant people and businesses living and working in these neighborhoods. People that are a lot like…well, a lot like David Englin.
So far, Mr. Allen’s politics amount to a couple of leftover, often divisive, slogans that have gummed up politics for too long. He came out playing the Gay card. Good grief. He even tried to turn the tables on David’s passion and commitment, saying the use of the word “fight” on David’s Web site makes him combative. But, the fact is David has demonstrated a willingness and commitment to working with others in Richmond.
Besides, I like my delegate to have a backbone. On that subject, Mr. Allen says “You’re not going to get a whole lot of new initiative out of me.” Enough said.
Glenn Boledovich
Del Ray
The Sept. 12 edition of the Alexandria Gazette Packet includes this letter to the editor:
Run a Campaign of Ideas
To the Editor:
I felt great sadness reading Michael Lee Pope’s article, Down and Dirty Politics (Alexandria Gazette, August 31, 2007), reporting the misleading “push poll” methods being employed by Republican Mark Allen, candidate for State Delegate for District 45. I had hoped the underhanded tactics of spreading rumors and misinformation about one’s opponent, which have unfortunately been successful for Republicans in national elections, would not appear on our local scene. I urge the local Republican committees to repudiate these tactics and admonish Mr. Allen.
Delegate David Englin has represented the citizens of the 45th District with honor, professionalism, humility, and tremendous bi-partisan success. If Mr. Allen disagrees, let him run a campaign of facts, ideas, and honest debate. I am tired of deceitful politicians in America. We certainly do not need them representing us in Richmond, and we can do without them in Alexandria.
Karen Gautney
Alexandria
