September 19, 2007

COMMENTARY

Contrary to the situation in almost all other states, there is an election every year in Virginia. Nearly a century ago the leaders of the then dominant Democratic Party decided that they wanted state and local elections held in "off years," years when there were no federal elections. The idea was to keep Virginia election outcomes from being influenced by federal election issues. The additional elections did not promote greater democracy; along with other methods used to suppress voter participation, the off-year elections actually reduced participation of all but the party and machine loyalists. Virginia in the past century has had one of the lowest levels of voter participation in the nation.

We have entered the fall season of political campaigning for this year as evidenced by the offensive roadside posters, slick glossy mailers in the mailbox and the dinner time telephone surveys and persuasion calls. Expect an even greater intensity of activity leading up to November 6.

The degree to which Virginia has become a battleground state for the two major political parties will be evidenced this fall. Republicans did an abysmal job of recruiting candidates leaving me and many other Democrats unopposed. At the same time, Democrats have fielded probably the best group of challengers that I have seen over my career. Polling results in favor of the Democrats are stronger than I have seen in more than a decade even before the aggressive driver fee gimmick for transportation was being talked about. Virginians like the rest of the nation are showing high levels of disappointment at what is happening with the Bush presidency.

If the election was held today, it would be a pretty safe bet that the Virginia Senate would return to Democratic control and that the Republic majority in the House of Delegates would be reduced to a couple of members. Between now and the election, however, aggressive campaigns will be waged on both sides. And we will see the politics of fear being played out.

Republican leaders have already jumped on fears about immigration as an issue that they know is on voters' minds. They have announced that they will oppose illegal immigrants going to our colleges and universities without bothering to explain that documentation must be shown before attending a college or university in the state. They oppose state social services going to illegal immigrants, but that is already the law. They oppose the employment of illegal immigrants, and that is already a federal law. Their proposed solutions to the federal mess over immigration seem designed more to raise fears among voters than to propose constructive and workable solutions.

Will fear-mongering work in this election cycle? Raising fears over the immigration issue did not work in the campaign when Timothy Kaine was elected governor. Most voters have caught onto the hypocrisy of the immigration issue. The good news of this election cycle is likely to be that the politics of fear failed once again and that Virginia returned to moderate governance.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight – Wednesday, September 19 at 10:30 p.m. – Pete Earley, Pulitzer Prize nominated author and mental health advocate – "Fixing Our Mental Health System"

Tuesday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 26 at 10:30 p.m. – Sarasi Jayarante, high school student and founder of the Keep Reading Foundation – "The Gift of a Child's Future Through Books"

Re-Election Campaign

Ken is a candidate for re-election to the House of Delegates on November 6, 2007. To ask Ken a question about the issues, e-mail kenplum@aol.com. To contribute electronically to his campaign, go to www.kenplum.com.

Announcements

VOTER REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE VOTING

The deadline to register to vote for the November 6, 2007, General Election is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. For additional information, call the Registrar's office at 703.222.0776 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb.

In Person Absentee Voting is available beginning Monday, September 24, at the Office of Elections, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax. In Person Absentee Voting will also be available at Fairfax County's seven satellite locations including the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, beginning Wednesday, October 17.

You can also vote absentee by mail, but you must submit an application for an absentee ballot by October 30 at 6:00 p.m. It is recommended that you send in your application well ahead of the October 30 deadline to guarantee that you will receive your absentee ballot in time to vote and return it before the November 6 election. All mailed absentee ballots must be received in the Electoral Board office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for information about Absentee Voting and to download an application to vote absentee.

Calendar of Events

Actor Brian Hilton will portray George Washington and describes his life from 1732-1760 at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive,  on Thursday, September 20, 7:30 p.m. 

Registration is still open for the 9th Annual Virginia Bike Walk Conference, "Biking and Walking in the New World," on September 20-22, 2007, at the Crowne Plaza Fort Magruder Hotel in Williamsburg. More information about workshop and outdoor activities at the Conference is available at www.bikewalkvirginia.org.

Our own Reston District Police Station located at 12000 Bowman Towne Drive will have an Open House this Saturday, September 22, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. See the helicopter, motorcycles, police cars, police dogs, McGruff, the police car moon bounce, and more.

Black Women United for Action and The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association invite you to attend the Annual Slave Memorial Wreathlaying Ceremony on Saturday, September 22, 11:00 a.m. at George Washington's Historic Mount Vernon Estate. Visit www.bwufa.org for additional information about the ceremony and a program, "The Ancestors Are Watching," that includes music, poetry readings, dance, art, and refreshments. The event is free, and families are welcome.

The 2007 International Children's Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. This year features young performers from Bolivia, Nepal, Spain, and Sweden. There will be entertainment on four stages featuring over 20 performing groups form near and far including interactive art experiences. Volunteers are also needed. Contact volunteericf07@artsfairfax.org to volunteer or for more information.

Friends of Riverbend Park invite you to the First Annual Harvest Moon Concert on September 22, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. outdoors on the Riverfront at the Riverbend Park Visitor Center. The concert will feature Bluegrass music by The New Old-Time Spring Band. There will be entrance road parking and lawn seating; requested contribution is $5.00 per person. For more information contact forb@verizon.net.

The State Fair of Virginia will be held September 27 through October 7 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. Visit www.statefairva.org for information about your favorite State Fair events including rides on teh Midway, concert schedule, livestock competitions, and blue ribbon exhibits.

The Eighth Annual Mental Illness Awareness Week Conference, "Recovering Hope," will be held on Friday, September 28, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks, 11787 Lee Jackson Highway. For information call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board at 703.324.7000.

Sign up for the Northern Neck River Ride in Kilmarnock, Virginia, September 28-30, 2007. Virginia's Northern Neck, "the Garden of Virginia," is the host for the 2nd Annual Northern Neck River Ride. Tour this special and unique peninsula located between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers with 500 cycling enthusiasts. Register at www.riverride.org.

Another sales tax holiday is coming up! From October 5 to October 8 both state and local sales tax are not to be charged when you purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products that cost $2500 or less. The following products are eligible: ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, and room air conditioners. ENERGY STAR qualified products use 30% less energy than conventional models without sacrificing features, style or comfort.

The James River Green Building Council will present "Re-Nature by Design: Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder in Our Communities" on Friday, October 12, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. More information about the symposium can be found at www.jrgbc.org.

This year's Commonwealth of Virginia Energy & Sustainability (COVES) Conference will be held on October 16-18 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Visit www.covesva.org for registration and conference details.

The "2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy – Successful Companies, Engaged Communities" will be held October 24-25 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Visit www.creativeeconomies.org for more information.

Attend the Family Day Care Provider Professional Development Conference on Tuesday, October 30, at the Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. For more information visit www.infanttoddler.com.

The Center for Multicultural Human Services presents "We Are America Now: A Celebration of Immigrant Contributions to our Community" on Friday, November 2, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the McLean Hilton. Visit www.cmhs.org for information about nominations for leadership awards to be presented at this event and to register.

Teen Driving SafeD Day – "One Day to Save the Rest of the Days of Your Life" – will take place Saturday, November 3, at the Fairfax County Government Center. Federal, state, local, and private agencies and organizations will be setting up displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and be presenting seminars to teens and their parents on the issues relating to teen driving safety. Visit www.TeenDrivingSafeD.org for more information.

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council will host a one-day regional conference, "Turning a New Leaf," on Friday, November 9, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College's Annandale campus. The conference will feature tracks on conservation landscapes, green development, and creative stormwater management. Topics include eco-friendly lawns, native alternatives to traditional plantings, backyard forests, rain gardens, stream restoration techniques, and public-private partnerships for green development.  Registration has begun. Visit chesapeakelandscape.org for more details.

The Virginia Recycling Association will hold its Annual Meeting of the Members on Friday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. To join the VRA and/or register for the Annual Meeting, visit www.varecycles.org or call the VRA at 804.302.4231.

Citizens may review and comment on potential ("candidate") transportation projects and programs to be included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board's Six-Year Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2014. The meeting will be held on November 13, 6:00 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Contact Laura Southard at Laura.Southard@VDOT.Virginia.gov or call 804.370.8109 for more information.

Attend the "Development and Urban Forest: Discovering Common Ground" conference on Friday, November 16, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Algonkian Conference Center at Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Driver, Sterling, VA. For registration information, contact Becky Woodson at becky.woodson@dot.virginia.gov.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191