A Public Advocate for Working Virginians

From the News & Record:

 The News & Record / April 13, 2009

One of the three Democrats vying to run for lieutenant governor this fall visited South Boston Friday with a self-proclaimed “playbook” for winning the office away from incumbent Bill Bolling, a Republican.

Mike Signer, former deputy counselor to Gov. Mark Warner and a national security consultant, told a crowd of about 20 local Democrats that he would focus his general election campaign around five themes: job creation, extending the legacy of Warner and current Gov. Tim Kaine, building on last year’s victory in Virginia by Barack Obama, strong national security and “staying on offense and knowing how to win.”

He dived straight into a political controversy that unfolded late last week — a vote by the Republican-led House of Delegates to reject $125 million in federal stimulus funds to expand unemployment benefits for idled part-time workers and individuals who are training for new jobs.

“They just took money out of this economy when we needed it most,” said Signer, who called the vote “disgusting.” “They do a lot of things that have nothing to do with improving the lives of ordinary people,” he said of Republican delegates, noting that all but two — Donald Merricks of Pittsylvania and Danny Marshall of Danville — voted against the unemployment benefit expasion.

Bolling, Signer said, refused to take a stance on the issue until the debate was almost settled. The State Senate, over which Bolling presides as lieutenant governor, approved the expanded benefits by a party-line 21-19 vote with Democrats voting yes and Republicans no.

Read the rest of the article.

In advance of tonight’s debate sponsored by the Richmond Crusade for Voters, I wanted to share with you a few lessons I learned at an extraordinary event last night in Richmond.  Let me set the scene for you…at a church in downtown Richmond, I watched as 1,000 people from over a dozen congregations gathered to share ideas on three critical public policy areas:  recidivism in Richmond’s prison system, the high school drop-out rate and the lack of primary-care doctors for many Richmonders.

You heard that right – 1,000 people were there.  It was amazing.  They were of all races and denominations, all classes and neighborhoods, and they were there on a Monday night for a serious discussion of how to help people.  The ministers, reverends and rabbis who presented offered strong and serious ideas in these three areas.  They convinced Mayor Dwight Jones (who was present) to commit to funding an evidence-based substance abuse program in the jails to help solve the problems of recidivism by drug users. 

They addressed the shocking rates of drop-out and suspension in the Richmond City schools.  Out of 24,000 students, 6,891 were suspended, most for non-serious and non-violent offenses – starting a slippery slope to these kids dropping out of school.

And they focused on the terrible problem of the 13,100 adults in Richmond who lack health insurance – most of whom are working and poor and rely on emergency rooms for their treatment.  Emergency rooms are 10 times more expensive than doctors, but 72% of the emergency room visits are made by the uninsured.  On stage was Sheryl Garland, Vice President for Community Outreach of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, who agreed to undertake more aggressive steps to make health care easier for members of Virginia Community Care.

It was an amazing outpouring of compassion, serious thought about important issues, and action by these community organizers.  To paraphrase one of the pastors, who said we should be “about more than just lip service.”  He continued:  “It’s good to talk about it.  It’s better to be about it.”

Amen!
 

Join Mike LIVE on Blue Commonwealth, Wednesday night, at 9PM. Mike will be taking questions from voters and bloggers, so get your questions ready!

Teackherken at Blue Commonwealth has more.

In Mike's latest Coffee Break, he talks about Bill Bolling and the $125 million in federal funding for unemployment benefits that Republicans rejected.  Unemployment is skyrocketing in Virginia and we need someone who will fight for Virginia's working families.  Six weeks after the announcement, Mike is still the only canididate with a jobs plan.  He will fight to create jobs and will keep federal funds in Virginia. 

Two years ago today, a student at Virginia Tech University took the lives of 27 students and 5 staff members.  I was teaching as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech's campus in Old Town at that time, and I remember hearing this tragic news while en route to teaching class.  It was a profoundly sad day -- several of my students and friends personally knew those who were injured and killed.  On this day of remembrance, my thoughts and prayers, and the thoughts and prayers of my staff, are with the families of those who lost loved ones that day, and with the whole Hokie community.

I'm on the road down to the annual Shad Planking in Wakefield County and can't wait! Even though it's going to be rainy and the fish itself tastes like a combination of sardines, kippers, and beef jerky, this is one of the best time to connect with activists from across Virginia and continue to demonstrate the strength of our grassroots campaign. If you'll be there, please come by, grab one of our stadium cups, get a customized Signer poncho to stay dry, and chat with our friendly staff and volunteers. See you soon!

Mike Signer’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor has broad support among Democratic Party officials, activists, and donors, and he is running an energized, grassroots campaign.  

On the basis of this broad enthusiasm among the primary electorate, on March 26, Mike Signer's campaign turned in 13,354 signatures to get on the ballot -- over 30% more signatures than required by state law and well over the required 400 per Congressional District.  Certain ballot pages contained a technical error by a campaign staffer, a Virginia voter who entered his city and state information on the forms but did not enter his street address.  This error did not affect the validity of the voter signatures. 

Virginia state law gives the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) complete discretion and authority to certify candidates under the Party's own criteria.  Mike Signer was notified of the error by Party officials during a conference call with the other candidates on April 14, 2009.  The State Board of Elections has counseled the DPVA that such errors are not to be held against the voter who has signed a petition page, or the candidate.  The DPVA properly concluded that the signatures in question should not be invalidated.