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 ensure 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 andenergy 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

The Sun Newspapers of Alexandria editorial page endorsed David’s bid for re-election Wednesday, saying, “Delegate Englin is the epitome of a good and responsible public servant, intelligent, principled, honest and decent.”

“Sun Newspapers of Alexandria — which some of us still know as the Del Ray Sun — is the epitome of a neighborhood newspaper that focuses on the positive goings on in our community,” said David. “I truly appreciate this endorsement and the editorial’s kind remarks about my service, which I hope to continue. As the editorial noted, the people of the 45th District deserve a positive campaign of ideas, and that’s what I will continue to offer.”

Click here for more about the Sun Newspapers of Alexandria.

David joined other City of Alexandria officials and local clean air activists to testify before a special meeting of the State Air Pollution Control Board yesterday, resulting in a victory for our community in our ongoing efforts to force the cleanup of the Mirant Plant — the dirty coal-fired power plant on the Old Town waterfront.

Roger Waud, president of the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association, provided the following update from the meeting:

The Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board convened an emergency meeting at the Lee Center in Alexandria at yesterday to consider whether the Mirant Plant’s ongoing stack merge construction project requires a new source review permit under the Clean Air Act, as the City argued, or was exempt from a permit requirement, as Mirant and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) staff argued. The meeting finally ended about 9 p.m. when the Board ultimately voted three to one that the stack merge does require a permit, and directed the DEQ Director to take enforcement action to stop the ongoing construction activity being conducted by Mirant. The Board granted Mirant 24 hours to voluntarily cease and desist its illegal activity. If construction of the stack merge project is to resume, it will only occur under permit conditions approved by the Board to protect the public health and environment.

In reaching its decision the Board heard testimony from Mirant, the DEQ, several citizens, the City’s entire team of staff and consultants, as well as Tim Aiken from Congressman Moran’s office, State Senator Ticer, State Delegate Englin, Vice Mayor Pepper and Councilman Smedberg. The City’s team made an outstanding presentation which gave the Board a scientific and legally sufficient basis for its decision. Citizen testimony reenforced the evidence that Mirant has knowingly and willfully been engaging in stack merger construction activity, not mere “staging” in preparation for such construction as it has falsely claimed. Public officials Aiken, Ticer, Englin, Pepper, and Smedberg all spoke eloquently to the hurtful impacts of the plant and stack merge project on the City and region, and the need for strict adherence to the Clean Air Act’s protective requirements. In addition to claiming it doesn’t need a construction permit, Mirant argued that it wants to overhaul the plant so that its emissions are released higher into the atmosphere, a move which it says will reduce down-wash pollution in surrounding neighborhoods. But residents and the City say the plant should be forced to do a more drastic cleanup. Moreover, Board members, as well as the City’s team argued that the stack merge as currently designed would most likely actually increase the volume of hazardous pollution emissions. This would only worsen air quality in Alexandria and the surrounding DC metro area which is already classified as a “non-attainment area,” meaning the air quality does not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Mirant plant is the largest single source polluter inside the beltway.

While the Board’s decision was a most favorable outcome from the City’s perspective, Mirant will no doubt continue its legal battle, as it has consistently done in the past, so continued vigilance by the City and its residents will yet be required.

The Board will again take up the Mirant permit at its October meeting, and City staff and consultants will continue to monitor and participate in the review process, in order to protect the City’s and its citizens’ vital interests.

ALEXANDRIA – The Northern Virginia Technology Council’s TechPAC yesterday announced that it endorses Del. David Englin (D-45) for re-election to the House of Delegates in this year’s November election.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work with David in advancing important policies and initiatives in Virginia to grow and strengthen our technology community,” said Dendy Young, NVTC TechPAC chairman.

“High-tech businesses drive the economy of Northern Virginia, so I appreciate the support of Northern Virginia’s high-tech business community, and I look forward to continuing our work together to advance our common goals,” said Englin.

As a member of House joint study committees on telework and on improving math, science, and technology education, Englin has worked closely with the technology community across Virginia in developing proposals to make Virginia more competitive in the high-tech economy of the future.

NVTC is the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia and is the largest technology council in the nation. NVTC has about 1,100 member companies representing more than 200,000 employees. Its membership includes companies from all sectors of the technology industry including information technology, software/hardware, Internet, ISPs, telecommunications, biotechnology, bioinformatics, aerospace, and nanotechnology, as well as the service providers that play an important role in supporting these companies.

ALEXANDRIA – NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia announced Monday that it endorses Del. David Englin (D-45) for re-election to the House of Delegates in this year’s November election.

“NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia is proud to endorse Delegate David Englin for re-election to the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 45th District. Delegate Englin is a champion of choice,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Deputy Director Jessica Bearden. “Restrictions on choice at the national level mean we must work that much harder to keep contraception and abortion safe and accessible in Virginia. Delegate Englin is a staunch advocate for common sense reproductive health care policies, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia to defend reproductive freedom to keep the government out of these very difficult and personal decisions. When we ensure access to contraception and accurate sex education, we empower women socially and economically and we reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, which is the best way to reduce abortions,” said Englin.

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia works to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.

The Alexandria Sunrise Optimist Club and the Alexandria Business and Professional Women hosted David at their respective gatherings today for an update on his work in the General Assembly.

David joined the Optimists for breakfast at the Belle Haven Country Club and gave them updates on the state budget, the transportation plan, and his own legislative accomplishments this year.During his remarks, David commended the Optimists on their organization’s creed, noting that he shares their positive, forward looking approach.

“As an optimist myself, I feel right at home,” said David.

In the evening, David joined the Alexandria Business and Professional Women as their after dinner speaker.In addition to budget and legislative updates, David engaged the group in a lively discussion about a variety of issues, from smoke-free restaurants, to progressive tax reform, to much-needed mental health system reform.

“Your agenda is my agenda, and it’s an honor to work with you as together we fight for progress,” said David, noting that the group’s formal legislative agenda included several bills that he sponsored and co-sponsored.