It's Time for a Real Democrat to Represent the 79th District

By: Henry Light for Delegate
Published On: 3/14/2007 10:39:50 AM

Today I am announcing my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the House of Delegates in the 79th District. I invite Raising Kaine readers to come to my web site and learn more about my campaign.

I'm proud to be a Mark Warner/Tim Kaine Democrat and proud of the progress that has been achieved under their leadership.

I'm challenging incumbent Del. Johnny Joannou in the Democratic primary on June 12th. In recent years, Joannou has increasingly voted in lockstep with the House Republican leadership to oppose major Democratic initiatives. He was the only Democratic legislator to vote against Gov. Mark
Warner's funding increases for education, health care and public safety in 2004. He also opposed Gov. Tim Kaine's plan to relieve traffic congestion and all proposals to add more lanes to the Midtown Tunnel.

Del. Joannou has done nothing to fix our transportation problems and actively opposed Democratic solutions that have improved our schools and addressed important law enforcement and health care needs.

It's time for this district to elect a real Democrat who will stand up for our party's principles and move our region and our state forward.

I look forward to talking frequently with the members of the Raising Kaine community and hope I can count on your support during the primary.

Comments



Tell us more (Teddy - 3/14/2007 12:42:44 PM)
please, Mr. Light. What is your background, have you ever run for public office, or been appointed to any public office before, if so, what? Why do you believe Joannou is beatable, and what will it take in terms of money and numbers?

Where do you stand on other issues besides transportation and Warner-Kaine funding priorities? That is, what about privacy issues and personal liberty such as control of one's own body whether referring to abortion or end-of-life decisions, right to marry whomever one chooses--- or, for that matter, live together--- and other topics like pre-kindergarten school, No Child Left Behind as presently set up and funded (or not funded), NAFTA and CAFTA and their influence on Virginia's jobs and economy, Iraq-Iran, the energy crisis and global warming, and so on... I agree that Mr. Joannou is outdated and not up to speed, votes more like Republican Lite than a thinking Democrat, and could profitably be replaced. I await your fuller response. Thank you.



Will follow up in detail ASAP (Henry Light for Delegate - 3/14/2007 1:46:40 PM)
Thank you for the thoughtful questions!

I am very busy with my campaign launch today and will get back with answers as soon as I can.

In the mean time you can read my biography on my web site and take a look at my issues page as well.



Re: Tell us more (Henry Light for Delegate - 3/19/2007 12:21:27 AM)
Johnny Joannou is very beatable.  He last faced the voters in a competitive race ten years ago, before the district's boundaries were significantly redrawn in 2001.  This is a district that has become more Democratic, with Tim Kaine getting 61% and Jim Webb 58% of the vote.  Joannou is out of touch and his alliance with the House Republican leadership has not been well received by many active Democrats.  He has refused to support the problem solving leadership of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.  One trip sitting in traffic in the Midtown Tunnel or the Downtown Tunnel is all that it takes to realize why the voters in the 79th District are anxious for more effective representation.  I look forward to discussing the campaign more with you as we get closer to election day!

Thank you again for the questions!



Great news (Zangwell Arrow - 3/14/2007 3:29:42 PM)
It's hard to imagine a region of the state more deserving of or in need of a fresh start than the 79th.  Joannou's record of inaction is not just an embarrassment, but when he does manage to bestir himself to act, it's increasingly on behalf of the dark side: partisan Republicans.  Henry Light couldn't do worse, even if he tried.  Let's turn the Light on in the 79th!


Time for a change (Drexler - 3/14/2007 4:38:27 PM)
Johnny has become an ethical pariah, a smalltime lawyer shaking down corporations to line his own pockets while supporting Republican legislation that hurts families, underfunds schools and does nothing about our traffic woes.  Time for him to go before he gets indicted... again.