As I promised a few weeks ago, I have been studying some of the local primaries rather intently. Although there has already been a significant amount of discussion about the 2008 presidential election, I believe it is important for attention to be focused on the Virginia's 2007 elections. I am therefore pleased to announce that I am endorsing Margi Vanderhye in the House of Delegates race in the 34th District.
As she mentioned in a recent interview published on Raising Kaine, Vanderhye is "a social progressive and a fiscal moderate" who's political views accurately reflect those held by voters of the 34th. Later in the interview, she also mentioned that she believes three of the top issues (but not necessarily all) currently facing Virginians in the 34th as well as throughout the Commonwealth are transportation, education, and growth.
On perhaps one of the most important issues currently facing Virginia's General Assembly, Vanderhye realizes that although it is important to solve the Commonwealth's transportation woes, it must be done in a way that does not take away from funds generally devoted to our education and public safety programs. Education, after all, is a critical part of ensuring that younger Virginians have a bright future and are able to provide positive contributions to our society.
Furthermore, Vanderhye is also a strong advocate of protecting Virginia's beautiful environ. In addition to coming from a family that is passionate about the environment, she formerly served on the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board and understands the challenges that must be addressed in order to help protect the Bay and the rest of Virginia's environment. As a result, Vanderhye suggests that there be "recycling programs in all state agencies and public schools"; strong conservation and renewable energy goals; and "Continued investments in water quality improvement to address non-point source pollution." (see here for more about her environmental policies)
Once again, I am pleased to announce that I support Margi Vanderhye's candidacy for the House of Delegates. For more information about Margi Vanderhye's candidacy, you may visit her website at www.vanderhye.com. You may also feel free to send me an email if you have any questions as to how I reached this conclusion.