Hello All,Outstanding Democratic candidate Ralph Northam will formally announce his candidacy for State Senate on Tuesday March 6th. He will have a rolling announcement, traveling to different parts of the 6th Senate district. Anyone who will be in the Hampton Roads region that day, please mark your calendars and try your very best to attend one or more of these events. This race is going to be extremely competitive, and Ralph will be working to unseat Nick Rerras, of "Feminazi" comments and "mental illness is caused by demons" fame. This district went for Kaine, Kellam and Webb, and Ralph can absolutely beat Rerras with our support.
Schedule and more on Ralph beneath the fold...
Here's the schedule:
8:30am Eastern Shore - Onancock, Mallard's on the Wharf, 2 Market St.
10:30am Eastern Shore - Eastville, Old Courthouse, 16404 Courthouse Rd.
12:30pm Norfolk - Fishing Pier in Oceanview, Corner of 4th View and Oceanview Ave.
5:30pm Mathews County - Mathews, Historic Courthouse, Corner of Church St. and Court St.
For those of you who haven't met him yet, Ralph Northam is a terrific guy. We as Virginia Democrats are blessed that he's running on our behalf against Rerras, whose belief system is completely unacceptable and voting record matches it. But enough about Rerras...
Ralph Northam is an ideal candidate to win this seat. Not only is he one of the nicest, most likable, and down to earth people you'll ever meet, he's also a highly respected, well loved pediatric neurologist at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk. The 6th Senate District includes large parts of Norfolk, a few precincts in Virginia Beach, and all of Mathews County and the Eastern Shore.
Now you might think that a candidate who lives in Norfolk might have a difficult time competing in rural areas like Mathews and the Eastern Shore. But guess what? Ralph was born and raised on the Eastern Shore! Not only that, he's a third generation native.
Ralph understands rural life because he's lived it. Ralph received his schooling in Onancock, where he learned the value of hard work at a young age. He worked as a farmhand, grocery store clerk and mate on an offshore fishing boat during high school. While balancing classes and work, Ralph distinguished himself as captain of the both the basketball and baseball teams, and as President of Student Government, the Beta Club and the Hi-Y Club. Finally he graduated Salutatorian of his class.
For those of you who might be thinking to yourselves, "That's all well and good, but Hampton Roads has a large community of veterans, and how will Ralph play with them?" I have good news for you. Ralph attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated with distinction and was President of the Honor Court. And then, after attending and graduating from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Ralph served 8 years active duty in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Major. He was stationed in Landstul, Germany during Desert Storm, where he treated wounded soldiers returning from the front lines.
Ralph began his work at CHKD as a pediatric neurologist after his honorable discharge from the Army in 1992. So he's been living and working in Norfolk for 15 years, getting to know folks, helping families in times of need, doing volunteer work for Edmarc Hospice for children, etc. In 2006, he was honored with the Jefferson Award for Community Service Local and State in Washington, D.C. for his outstanding service to the hospice. Ralph is also an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). He has received the Hayes Teaching Award from CHKD and the Faculty Teaching Award from EVMS for the past three years running. What a guy, huh?
So there you go. As a State Senator Ralph Northam will make us proud and serve us well. Ralph Northam is a perfect fit for the 6th Senate District. Together we can help put Ralph over the top. He is an ideal candidate for us, and he's assembled a top notch campaign team who are doing a fantastic job. Please come out to support Ralph and be a part of history on March 6th.
Many thanks,
Susan Mariner
Hampton Roads Regional Field Organizer
State Partnership Program
Democratic National Committee
& Democratic Party of Virginia
p.s. Please pass this message along to all your Democratic friends in Hampton Roads. Even if you're not in his district, please come support Ralph because we and Governor Kaine need another D in the State Senate. This race is definitely winnable.