Here are a few shots from this evening's event in Fairfax. Lowell will be adding more shortly...
UPDATE by Lowell: It was an excellent event for Leslie Byrne, with about 50 people at PJ Skidoos in Fairfax and a lot of energy/enthusiasm for Leslie's candidacy. FCDC chairman Scott Surovell introduced Chap Petersen, who talked about how people in the 11th CD need a "clean break" from the politics of Tom Davis. According to Chap, Rep. Davis talked one way in the district but voted a very different way on Capitol Hill, just 15 miles east of Fairfax. Now, it's time for "Clean Break Byrne," not more of Tom Davis style politics.
Leslie called herself the grassroots and the netroots candidate. She emphasized repeatedly that this is YOUR election, YOUR future on the line. She said she wouldn't "sell you out," but would fight for better communities for you, your children and your grandchildren. She compared the race against Gerry Connolly (without mentioning him by name) to the Donna Edwards-Al Wynn race in Maryland (where progressive Democrat Donna Edwards defeated corporate-o-crat Al Wynn in a primary a few weeks ago). She said that if elected, she will regain her seniority and would use that to get on the transportation committee -- transportation obviously being a huge priority for the 11th CD. She will do what's right, stand up to special interests, take on the oil companies, "pay to play," the challenge of climate change, and the need to get out of Iraq. Overall, she clearly offered herself as the candidate of change, reform, and progressivism in the 11th CD. Go Leslie!
