The Washington Post made it’s VA Senate endorsements this week in a great article:

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/endorsements-for-the-virginia-senate/2011/10/18/gIQAjZFIwL_story.html

Here are the highlights for Senators Barker and Marsden. 

DISTRICT 39: In this race between two thoughtful moderates, George L. Barker, a bright health-care expert who is the Democratic incumbent, is the clear pick for two reasons. First, he has been heavily involved in local and community issues for years. Second, he is one of the more effective, pragmatic lawmakers in Richmond, with a proven record of pushing through bills to lure firms to Northern Virginia and extend tax relief to the elderly and disabled people. By contrast, M. Miller Baker, the Republican challenger, is a Washington lawyer who is a beginner on state and local issues and has no clear ideas for how to address funding shortfalls for transportation in this traffic-clogged district, which includes parts of Prince William and Fairfax counties and Alexandria.

DISTRICT 37: Democratic incumbent David W. Marsden, a former director of Virginia’s Department of Juvenile Justice, is the legislature’s undisputed expert on the subject and a sane, sensible voice on criminal justice questions generally. The Republican challenger, Jason Flanary, is a conservative pollster who thinks cannibalizing funding for schools and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse — in one of the best-governed states in the nation — is the answer to paying for new roads and bridges. Mr. Marsden is a straight talker; Mr. Flanary, running in a swing district that slices through western Fairfax, likes to have things both ways. He promises to oppose all new taxes but says he didn’t take a pledge to do so, and dodges questions on immigration and abortion.

Congressman Gerry Connolly is officially the winner in the 11th Congressional race against Keith Fimian.

Mr. Fimian conceded the race on Tuesday, November 9th.

Congressman Connolly said he is ready to move forward and work with the new majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek bipartisan solutions to rebuild the nation’s economy, create jobs, and reduce federal deficits.

Connolly said:  “If the new majority is willing to reach out, my hand is outstretched, as it always has been, to work on a bipartisan basis.  I will look for opportunities to do that.”

“The chief responsibility of the Congressman from this district is to protect our unique economy and I take that role very seriously.  Our economy is functioning at a fairly high level and I don’t want to let anything jeopardize that.”

See Congressman Connolly’s election night speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a06hZxnWhUU&feature=player_embedded

Anyone wondering whether our votes and volunteer efforts in campaigns make a difference has to look no farther than this Congressional race. When preliminary counting was completed election night, Congressman Connolly was ahead by only 483 votes, about 3 votes per precinct. Totals from two precincts that did not report that night because of equipment problems, provisional ballots, and other adjustments subsequently doubled the margin. Even that left a margin of less than 1,000 votes from 220,000 cast.

Gerry Connolly’s campaign manager has expressed great appreciation for DWC efforts.  He said he and the Congressman know those made a difference in an election this close.

Congressman Connolly emailed his supporters with this statement:

“I thank Keith for a hard-fought campaign, and am humbled and honored that I will be able to continue serving the people of the 11th District for another two years in Congress.

Our victory would not have been possible without dedicated supporters like you.  I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. My family and I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work on my behalf.

In an election as close as this one, everything you did for us made a difference. Every phone call you made, every door you knocked, every dollar you gave brought us to victory. Once again, thank you for your support.”

The DWC Steering Committee would like to thank all our members who volunteered to help get Gerry re-elected. You made a difference!!

The voting is over but the outcome is undecided for Congressman Gerry Connolly.  He leads Keith Fimian by 930 votes.   The next step is to wait for the Board of Elections to send the results to the Richmond Circuit Court, where they will certify the results of the election and officially declare the winner.  Since Congressman Connolly’s lead is less than .5% (.41%)  Mr. Fimian can request a recount at the expense of the government.  He will have 10 days after the election certification is declared to request a recount.

We are confident that Gerry Connolly will be declared the winner,  but it may be December before it is official.

Congratulations to Congressman Jim Moran on his win.  Alas,  Jeff Barnett lost his bid for election, but we are proud of the fine campaign he ran and hope he will continue to be involved in politics in the future.

Please remember to vote for Gerry Connolly on November 2!

Polls are open from 6 am to 7 PM. For more information about Gerry, visit www.gerryconnolly.com.

For information about voting, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/.

This is a tight race and YOUR vote will make a difference.



On April 27, 2010, Congressman Gerry Connolly voted in the U.S. House of Representatives to cancel the automatic pay raise that House and Senate members are scheduled to receive on October 1.  The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support.

This marks the second year in a row that Connolly voted to deny a pay raise to himself and his colleagues in the Congress.  Legislation passed in 1989 made congressional cost-of-living pay raises automatic unless Congress votes to block it, as it did last year.

“In the midst of the steepest economic decline in 80 years, this is no time for Congress to give itself a pay raise,” Connolly said.  “As someone who takes the deficit seriously, I believe Congress must do everything possible to reduce red ink.  If deficit reduction doesn’t start with us, where will it start?”

“There are not many Northern Virginians who get an automatic pay raise every year, particularly during these tough economic times,” Connolly said.

Congratulations to Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn, our newest Virginia Delegate from the 41st District.  We are proud to be sending another woman to Richmond to represent us, and she is a member of the DWC!  Thanks to the DWC members who worked on this campaign and to the campaign and to the campaign staff, who ran a great race.  Delegate Filler-Corn was sworn in on March 3rd.

On January 12th, Dave Marsden was victorious in his run for election to the Virginia State Senate.  As a result, residents of the 41st House of Delegates District will elect a new representative in a special election to be held on March 2.  Eileen Filler-Corn, a member of the DWC, is our Democratic candidate.  A graduate of Ithaca College and the Washington College of Law at American University, Eileen has nearly two decades of experience in both the public and private sector, working across party lines to make a difference in the lives of Virginians. We in the DWC are very proud to be supporting Eileen Filler-Corn in her bid to be the next House delegate from the 41^st District. As we enter the final weeks of this campaign, we are reminded of the importance of this election and how critical it is to have another Democratic voice in the Virginia House of Delegates. To support Eileen, DWC members are urged to participate in weekly phone calling on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at the campaign headquarters, located at 5618 Ox Road, Suite G, Fairfax Station.  Go to the campaign website at http://www.eileenfordelegate.com or call 571 249 3453 for directions and information on how you can support this important campaign.

Congratulations to the newest member of the Virginia State Senate from the 37th District, Senator Dave Marsden.

Thanks to the many, many Democratic Women of Clifton who worked on this campaign and Sen. Marsden’s dedicated campaign staff.

This win increases the Democratic majority in the State Senate to 22-18 and also means that all 10 state senators that have districts all or partly in Fairfax County are Democrats.  We are all well represented by those Senate General Assembly members!

Senator Marsden was sworn in on Wednesday, January 13, during the opening day of the General Assembly Session.

A special election has been called to fill Senator Marsden’s delegate seat from the 41st House District for March 2nd, 2010.  To see if this is your district, please go to: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform .

Voters in the 37th State Senate District will have a special election on January 12, 2010. Delegate Dave Marsden is the Democratic candidate. To find out more about Del. Marsden and to volunteer, please go to: www.marsdenforsenate.com.

With the elections just days away, your help is needed now.  Please read the post below for details and  join us on the campaign trail!  

“As the President said, “We have just begun to deliver on the change you voted for, and we need a partner like Creigh Deeds to help us finish what we started.”

To heed the President’s call, we’re going to need a major push in the final days of this election.”

WATCH : Creigh Deeds and President Obama Rally on Oct. 27th in Norfolk, Virginia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgrKbKAA9mA&feature=player_embedded