Another packed house of Team Englin volunteers spent Thursday evening making phone calls and preparing one last mailing to voters throughout the 45th District to share David’s record of principled, effective leadership and urge people to vote on Tuesday.

The crew included several new volunteers from Alexandria’s Bishop Ireton High School, which requires students to complete six hours of volunteer work on a political campaign. Throughout the campaign, more than a dozen Ireton students have become part of Team Englin.

“Team Englin has always been about empowering grassroots volunteers to get involved and make change,” said David. “It’s terrific to see so many young people working side-by-side with people representing the entire age spectrum of our community. I’m confident that, together, we will win this race and continue making progress in the General Assembly.”

Join us this weekend for the Final Four!

ALEXANDRIA – The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its Virginia Million Mom March Chapters announced Thursday that they endorse Del. David Englin (D-45) for re-election on Nov. 6. They have endorsed numerous state legislative candidates in Virginia who support common sense efforts to combat gun violence.

“The shootings at Virginia Tech on April 16 showed the need to make it harder for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign. “The candidates we’re endorsing support common-sense gun measures to help strengthen Virginia law enforcement and make Virginia communities safer.”

“I’m proud to have the support of groups working hard to prevent gun violence in our communities,” said Englin. “I look forward to our continued work together against efforts to weaken reasonable gun safety laws.”

As the nation’s largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, working with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

Connection Newspapers, which includes the Alexandria Gazette Packet, the Mount Vernon Gazette, and the Arlington Connection, today announced its editorial page endorsement of Del. David Englin for re-election on Nov. 6:

Englin for Delegate in the 45th

One-term incumbent Del. David Englin “is working hard to fill some of the void” left in the 45th District by the retirement of Marian Van Landingham, who represented the district for 24 years.

“Englin is energetic and devoted full time to the district. His priorities, views and vision match his district well, including a focus on affordable housing, the environment, education and health care. He has also been an advocate for his constituents, for example helping residents of Huntington hard hit by flooding in their interactions with FEMA. He continues to pursue innovative ideas to lower health care and prescription costs. Englin shows an excellent capacity for growth, and with time, might come close to filling Van Landingham’s shoes.”

While supporters of David’s opponent sat in the gym at Maury Elementary School watching the final debate of the race, nearly two dozen of David’s supporters were out in force again for last night’s Volunteer Night, reaching out to thousands of voters on the phones and in the mail, and laying the groundwork to get people to the polls next week.

“I’ve been coming to Volunteer Nights for two and a half years, and it’s amazing to see how many people keep showing up to support David,” said Dan Cronin, one of David’s earliest supporters. “I think people are inspired by a Democrat who really stands for something and who has proven he can make a difference for us in the General Assembly.”

During the debate, hosted by the Rosemont Citizens Association and the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations, the two candidates had the opportunity to ask each other a question. In an exchange that highlights the contrast in this race, with the entire range of issues and challenges facing our community and the General Assembly, David’s opponent wasted his question by complaining about being referred to as a wealthy Republican.

David instead chose to focus on the issues, asking his opponent what votes he would have cast differently.

David’s opponent responded by saying that he would have voted against restoring voting rights for non-violent ex-offenders. However, no such vote exists. While David does strongly support restoration of voting rights, the Republican majority did not allow the issue come to the House floor for a vote.

“I make no apologies for supporting efforts to allow people who committed non-violent offenses and have fully paid their debt to society to again become fully participating members of our community,” said David. “But I’m a bit surprised that my Republican opponent — who wants to be a member of the General Assembly — is so ill-informed about what actually goes on there.”

During the closing days of the race Team Englin will continue using our grassroots strength to talk with voters about David’s record and progressive vision on issues that matter to the 45th District, like affordable housing, education, health care, and the environment. Join us for another Volunteer Night at 6 p.m. on Thursday, or join us this weekend through Tuesday for the Final Four!

David joined Sen. Patsy Ticer and fellow members of the bipartisan Joint Study Committee on Math, Science, and Technology Education at Mountain View Elementary School in Haymarket, Va., last week to see firsthand how a business partnership between the school and Micron Technology, Inc. is enhancing science education.

“I was impressed with how excited and engaged the students were,” said David. “This kind of hands-on learning experience where real scientists and engineers work with students on material that is already part of the state curriculum clearly makes a difference for these children.”

Members of the committee have been working together for more than a year to develop legislative recommendations to improve math, science, and technology education in Virginia’s schools so our children can become competitive contributors to our high-tech global economy.

ALEXANDRIA – Reports released today show that a massive October surge in grassroots contributions pushed the campaign of Del. David Englin (D-45) well ahead of his Republican opponent in cash raised during the most recent campaign finance reporting period.

Englin raised $34,726 from 240 contributions during the reporting period that ran from Oct. 1 to Oct. 24. His Republican opponent raised just $21,756 from 91 contributions during the same period. The average contribution to Englin’s campaign was $145, compared to an average contribution of $239 to his Republican opponent.

“David raised more money in smaller amounts from more than twice as many people than his opponent,” said Shayna Englin, who is managing her husband’s re-election effort. “We’ve said all along that this race is about much more than money, and we still expect David’s wealthy Republican opponent to outspend us dramatically, but this proves yet again that the people of the 45th District want David to continue fighting for them in Richmond.”

“I’m incredibly honored that so many of my friends and neighbors continue to rally to our cause,” said Englin. “My goals has always been to deliver the kind of principled, effective, progressive leadership that our community deserves.”

Both Englin and his Republican opponent also received in-kind contributions during the period.

In addition to Englin’s grassroots fundraising dominance, he has received the endorsement of every organization that has made a choice in this race, and he and his army of Team Englin volunteers have knocked on doors and spoken with more than 20,000 voters since July.

For more about Englin’s Progressive Agenda for the Future, visit www.DavidEnglin.org.

David took a break from the campaign trail Sunday to join Shayna and Caleb in the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade sponsored by the Potomac West Business Association, in which David served as one of the stroller judges. Following the parade of costumed pets and children, David, Councilman Paul Smedberg, and Councilman Justin Wilson had the daunting task of judging the contest for best decorated stroller.

“What an impossible decision to make!” said David. “These families put so much creativity and hard work into decorating these strollers. I wish we could give the blue ribbon to each of them!”

In the end, after much consternation among the judges, awards went to strollers decorated as the Emerald City (including the full ensemble cast from

The Wizard of Oz”), Planet Hume (which involved three strollers each built into space vehicles), the Care Bears, and a flower garden that included live plants.

Following the parade and judging, David dropped by the Taylor Run Citizens Association’s annual block party.

The latest editions of the Alexandria Gazette Packet and the Arlington Connection include this letter to the editor:

Thanks to Ticer and Englin

To the Editor:

I would like to publicly express my appreciation to Delegate David Englin and Senator Patsy Ticer for their successful effort with VDOT to place more signs displaying the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s ride-share number (1-800-745-RIDE) on Virginia’s highways and intestates.

I live in the 45th District of the House of Delegates and the 30th Senate District and have found that Delegate Englin and Senator Ticer are always out front on transportation and other important issues. Both are effective legislators.

Comprehensive ride sharing programs can reduce single occupancy vehicle trips by up to 15 percent, as other states have found. I commend Delegate Englin and Senator Ticer for their effective leadership in the General Assembly regarding innovative transportation programs like ride sharing.

Jim Hurysz
Arlington

The Oct. 24 editions of the Alexandria Gazette Packet and the Mount Vernon Gazette include this letter to the editor:

Good Job, Englin

With Election Day nearly upon us, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the extraordinary work Delegate David Englin has done on behalf of the Jefferson Manor neighborhood. While Virginia state delegates spend only a couple of months per year in Richmond, their responsibilities extend far beyond the legislative session. At its core, their job is to be an advocate for their constituents. In this regard, Delegate Englin has far exceeded any expectations we could have had.

Delegate Englin was the catalyst that brought together all of the parties in the Fort Drive project, which has led to improved communication on the project, resulting in a list of people we can contact if problems arise. We will continue to reap the benefits of this work throughout the Fort Drive rehabilitation process, even if the news that we get from the project managers is not always what we would like to hear.

Delegate Englin was also responsible for getting Fairfax Water to resurface Williamsburg Road after the water main replacement instead of leaving it patched and battered.

Finally, Delegate Englin has continuously pushed VDOT not only for long term funding for our roads, but also for short-term solutions to improve quality of life in the neighborhood. This includes our recent sidewalk work as well as scheduled foundation patching and resurfacing that is expected in Spring 2009.

Delegate David Englin has proven that he knows how to get the job done to improve quality of life in our neighborhood. I encourage everyone in the 45th District to please help keep him in our service and remember to vote on November 6th.

Christopher Soule
President, Jefferson Manor Citizens Association

Grassroots volunteers once again packed Campaign Central this evening stuffing envelopes and making phone calls to turn out voters across the 45th District to re-elect David on Nov. 6. The crew included supporters young and old from every corner of the district, and even several first-time volunteers.

“Volunteer Nights like these will be the difference between victory or defeat a week from Tuesday, and I can’t thank you enough for being part of our team,” said David, thanking the volunteers. “Together we will win so we can continue making a difference on

the issues that matter to our entire community.”

Now is the time for you to make a difference! Join us at Campaign Central (1505 Wayne Street, Alexandria) on Tuesday, Oct. 30 for

another Volunteer Night beginning at 6 p.m., and don’t forget to sign up for the Final Four!