Saw this intersting piece in the Richmond Times-Dispatch today. Most people probably don't know that Mike is an accomplished author, and a well-respected expert on National Security issues. His new book, Demagouge: The Fight to Save Democracy from its Worst Enemies got this review:

The Write Stuff

Jim Webb deserves the credit - or the blame. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 (in an upset over incumbent Republican George Allen), Webb's résumé features not only his service as secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration but his success as a published author. He has written fiction and non-fiction, and he writes very well. Politicians often deliver soaring orations, typically composed by speechwriters, but few are known for the quality of their prose. Let's not even mention political poetry. Webb seemingly has started a trend, at least in Virginia.

The list of candidates for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor includes a fellow by the name of Mike Signer. A party activist and adviser to candidates and elected officials, Signer has an interest in national security. Indeed, he has a reputation as one of the most provocative thinkers in the field. In February, Palgrave Macmillan published his book, "Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from Its Worst Enemies." The monograph has received praise from the likes of Peter Beinart, formerly of The New Republic and now affiliated with the Council on Foreign Relations. Beinart calls Signer's book "simply extraordinary." Other reputable critics have offered similar praise. Their reviews and Signer's presence in Virginia politics inspired us to pick up a copy.

The campaign for lieutenant governor has attracted scant attention. The job itself has few duties. All the candidates remain relatively unknown to mainstream voters. Signer may be a longshot for the nomination, but he clearly is the most qualified in the field to be secretary of state or national security adviser. And if Webb has succeeded in adding "author" to the qualifications for office in Virginia, then the ink trades will not complain.

 

-- Todd Culbertson

 

"This vote was a kick in the gut to working Virginians, and I will do everything in my power to hold Bill Bolling and others accountable this November. The Republican vote against $125 million in unemployment benefits - and Bill Bolling's cowardly failure to stand up against this decision - shocks the conscience for two reasons. First, the folks who needed this money the most did nothing wrong - they are working Virginians who lost jobs through no fault of their own. Second, Bolling's failure to stand up means we now have $125 million less dollars that would have been spent right here in Virginia. For elected officials like Bolling who already have done so little on our #1 challenge - creating jobs - this truly adds insult to injury.

"It's clearly time for the kind of leadership I've offered in my campaign for Lieutenant Governor - a public advocate rather than a placeholder, taking on systems that are failing working Virginians and their families and shining a spotlight on problems we've all ignored for too long."

The last day was exhilarating and very, very busy - You may be asking how we could hit Martinsville, Fredericksburg and Newport News all in one day. Well, we started in Lexington and headed to Martinsville, where we first had a press conference on the courthouse steps and then joined Governor Kaine, his cabinet, and Rep. Tom Perriello for lunch at the Chamber of Commerce. We also visited an innovative biodiesel plant.

From there, we hit the road and barnstormed our way all the way up to Fredericksburg, where I addressed the Falls Run Democratic Committee and then visited a meeting of the Fredericksburg National Organization of Women. Lots of call-time in the car on the way up, and lots of poor food choices at rest stops as well (who knew there was such a thing as chocolate Skittles? Probably best forgotten).

We got on the road late and arrived in Newport News around midnight. It was hard and we were a little bleary, but we made it to the shipyard by 5:30 a.m. today to shake hands with over a thousand workers and hand out tons of lit and -- again -- make poor food choices with the Krispy Kreme donuts that seemed to be dropping from the sky.

But it was a wonderful time to recognize both how unions have built the middle class and the strength of our military and shipping backbone in the Hampton Roads economy.

At 7:00 a.m., we finished up our "shift" -- nothing compared to what these men and women do, of course -- and headed back to the hotel for quick naps before getting on the road to South Boston. Just writing this now before I fall asleep.... The barnstorm continues!

On his statewide Barnstorm Tour, the Martinsville Bulletin had a chance to catch up with Mike and talk about how to stimulate the Southside economy and create jobs in the area.

Republicans who voted against a proposed expansion of state unemployment benefits and $125 million in federal stimulus funds that would have come with it drew sharp criticism Thursday from a Democratic contender for lieutenant governor.

Mike Signer, campaigning in Martinsville, said Wednesday’s 46-53 House vote defeating the expansion, which fell mainly along party lines, was “a shocking abandonment of their (Republican legislators’) duty.”

The amendments, proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine, would have qualified Virginia to receive the additional $125 million. Lawmakers who voted against them effectively were “stepping on the neck of families” they were duty-bound to help, Signer said.

“I don’t know where (incumbent Lt. Gov.) Bill Bolling is on this issue, but he’s not helping,” Signer said. He accused the Republican-controlled House of “choosing their own twisted ideology” over helping those in dire need.

In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Bolling’s spokesman, Randy Marcus, said Bolling would like to try to work out a compromise with the governor and legislative leaders on the issue. Bolling was concerned that the costs eventually would be passed on to employers, which could lead to more job losses, Marcus said.

Signer, who hopes to win his party’s nomination to run for lieutenant governor during the June 9 primary, also unveiled a seven-step plan that he said would create at least 50,000 new jobs in Virginia by 2011. The first step, he said, would generate 20,000 new infrastructure jobs over the next two years through the creation of a “Jobs Now” task force and by bringing more federal funds to the state.

An expansion of energy efficiency would create 5,000 new jobs in the same time frame, he said, as would his plan to create 5,000 jobs by building a “Smart Grid” to transmit renewable energy through transmission lines such as those used for electricity, and advocating the development of new energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Other points of the plan include creating 5,000 health information and technology (IT) jobs using part of the $19 million in federal stimulus funds earmarked to make health records into electronic documents nationwide and building 5,000 rural jobs through tourism, rural broadband and other measures.

Signer’s plan also proposes a 5,000-job increase in military construction by kick-starting long-term reconstruction of military housing and offices.

The plan also would promote a new “Virginia GreenWorks” program to clean up and restore the state’s parks, forests, mountains, bodies of water and shores. The program would create 5,000 low-wage short-term jobs for recent college graduates by 2011.

Later Thursday at the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Lunch, Signer said he is pro-labor and supports the proposed check card, in which a plant can be unionized when workers sign cards rather than hold an election. “If the majority of workers want a union, they should be allowed to,” he added.

Signer, an Arlington native and former deputy counselor to former Gov. Mark Warner, also served as a senior strategist in U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello’s 2008 congressional campaign.

Signer holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California at Berkeley, a law degree from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Princeton University.

Check this out from WHSV in Harrisonburg:

Signer Launches LG Campaign

Michael Signer, an attorney who worked for former governor Mark R. Warner, officially launched his campaign for lieutenant governor today in Arlington.

Signer began a statewide tour of every region of Virginia, which will include more than 20 stops.

"Mike is quickly emerging as the net-roots and grassroots candidate," his spokesman Christian Rickers said. "The number of investors in his campaign represents the strength of his organization and the power of his message."

Signer of Arlington was a senior strategist to U.S. Rep Tom Perriello and a deputy counselor to Warner. He is currently a senior national security policy fellow at the think tank Third Way and a principal of the Truman National Security Project.

Three other Democrats are running: Jon Bowerbank, a businessman from Russell County, Pat Edmonson, a member of the Virginia Beach School Board and former Finance Secretary Jody Wagner.

Mike picks up more news from the trail:

Whirlwind tour includes stop here

PETERSBURG — Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Mike Signer kicked off his campaign Tuesday with a whirlwind tour of the state that included a stop in Petersburg.

BY MICHAEL BUETTNER
STAFF WRITER