This week’s edition of the Alexandria Times includes a terrific article covering our most recent Volunteer Night:
“Campaigning or not, Englin has support”
by David Sachs, Alexandria Times, April 18, 2008
Del. David Englin (D-45) is not on any ballot, and likely won’t be, until he is up for reelection in 2009. But that did not stop dozens of volunteers from stuffing several thousand envelopes at the delegate’s campaign headquarters — his Del Ray home.
Such early support among Englin’s followers indicates a different kind of politician and a distinctive approach to constituents than a traditional delegate, according to volunteers who attended the casual envelope-stuffing event over a few beers last [Thursday].
“He’s constantly seeking input from us about issues,” said volunteer Wally Sinaiko, who began his political volunteer career working for Harry Truman’s cause. “He tells you what he’s doing, and he keeps people informed.”
Mailings were sent out to area constituents informing the Commonwealth’s citizens about the 2008 General Assembly session, at which 889 bills were passed. Volunteers said that Englin’s transparency and straightforwardness drew them to his causes and “progressive” demeanor.
A neighbor and Englin volunteer, Tania Blagrove said that lending some help was an easy decision because she’d attended a mass-stuffing event before. But this time, she brought her 13 year-old daughter, Nadia. She did not have to drag her by the heels, either.
“My daughter said to me, ‘Oh, can I come?’” Blagrove said. “They’re just really progressive kids.”
Nadia brought a group of friends, too. And though stuffing envelopes may not be the typical [Thursday] night hangout for 13 year-olds, Englin doesn’t seem to be the typical politician.
“To have so many people sitting on blankets on my front lawn, it’s great,” Englin said. “I think that one of my goals in 2005 was to empower people to produce change, and these efforts have made great grassroots supporters from the community.”
It’s not only the politician himself that make Englin unique, but also the issues he deems important, volunteers said. Supporters repeatedly noted civil rights and the environment as pertinent issues for them, and said that Englin understands his community in a way that surges these issues to the forefront in Richmond.
During the 2008 General Assembly session, Englin was the major patron of a law that hindered discriminatory housing practices, and worked to maintain a study on the effect of high-carbon-emitting generation facilities.
“Being involved with progressive issues has been a life-long thing for me,” Blagrove said. A long time activist, Blagrove added that civil rights and the environment are just two issues on her personal docket.
Sinaiko said that while he does not necessarily agree with all of Englin’s stances, his approach is well organized and locally oriented. “The first time I met him, he walked by my home and knocked on my door,” Sinaiko said. “He just made a lot of sense. I was impressed.”
“This was one of our best turnouts ever,” Englin said. “Especially without campaigning.”
[Note: While the original article reported that the Volunteer Night was on Friday evening, it was actually on Thursday evening; the Englins cannot participate in Friday evening events because of their observance of Shabbat.]
