Commentary

Want to know what Virginians are thinking? Take a look at the results of the Commonwealth Poll conducted last month by the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University (www.commonwealthpoll.vcu.edu). Of course, a poll is a snapshot in time. It reflects opinions held by people within the broad context of what is happening in their lives. Little wonder that job situation and environment join public schools as the top three issues of the state at this time. Surprisingly, transportation dropped to fourth in statewide concern; illegal immigration was fifth and mental health services sixth.
 
Broken out by regions, Northern Virginians list improving public schools, improving transportation, and protecting the environment as major concerns with improving the job situation, illegal immigration and mental health services being of much less concern than in the rest of the state. When the survey respondents were asked about the quality of life in the state, Northern Virginians were the happiest. In fact, 47 percent of Northern Virginians ranked Virginia as an excellent place to live. Other regions ranked Virginia as an excellent place to live as 33 percent in the northwest, 37 percent in the west, 31 percent in south central, and 33 percent in Tidewater. Only 10 percent of Northern Virginians ranked Virginia as a fair or poor place to live; 27 percent in Tidewater ranked Virginia a fair or poor place to live.
 
Opinions of course differed across political party lines. The most important issues among the Democrats surveyed were transportation (75%), jobs (64%), environment (63%) and illegal immigration (36%). Republican rankings of issues was schools (62%), illegal immigration (51%), jobs (44%), transportation (40%), environment (36%), and mental health (28%).
 
Interestingly, when those surveyed were asked how they thought the finances of the state were being managed, only 11 percent thought very good, 27 percent good, 36 percent fair and 16 percent poor. Virginia's government has been evaluated by outside experts as being the best managed in the country.
 
Respondents rated the job Governor Timothy M. Kaine is doing as 54 percent excellent/good. When asked whether they approved or disapproved of the job being done by General Assembly leaders, 43 percent approved of the job Democrat leaders in the General Assembly were doing, but only 34 percent approved of the job Republican legislative leaders were doing.
 
Governing should never be done simply by polls, but taking the pulse of voters periodically is important to good government.

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

Announcements

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S* – Ask the individual to SMILE.
T* – Ask the person to TALK and speak a simple sentence coherently, i.e., "It is sunny out today."
R* – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
 
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is proposing revised service quality standards for local telephone service in Virginia. The proposed rules address the minimum acceptable level of service quality expected from local phone service providers. The revised rules also set forth a process to address any concern for inadequate service. The public hearing to consider the revised rules will be held on September 25, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the SCC's courtroom on the second floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond. Written comments must be submitted by August 21. All correspondence should be sent to the clerk of the State Corporation Commission, Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, VA 23218-2118, and refer to case number PUC-2008-00047. Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically may do so at the SCC's website at www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Click on the PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICES link and then the SUBMIT COMMENTS button for case number PUC-2008-00047.
 
In 2006, 961 people died and over 73,000 were injured in Virginia traffic crashes. Don't be a statistic!

• Always Buckle Up – every ride, every time
• Don't Drink and Drive – if you drink, use a designated driver
• Avoid Distractions when Driving – cell phones, daydreaming, eating can cause accidents
• Obey Speed Limits – speed kills!

Visit www.vacodes.org for more information about Virginia's crash outcome data evaluation system.

Voices for Virginia's Children, in partnership with the Viginia Poverty Law Center, FACES for Virginia's Families, and ART 180, is hosting "Voices for Change," an art-writing-photography initiative designed to engage foster youth and carry their VOICES to Virginia policymakers. This summer, foster youth will have the opportunity to participate in a one-day workshop with lcoal writers, artists, and photographers designed to build the youths' confidence and encourage participation. The workshop will be held August 1 at the Northern Virginia Community College campus in Alexandria. Interested youth who are in foster care or were recently adopted should register by contacting Laura Shepherd at laura@vakids.org or 804.649.0184 x 23.

Calendar of Events

The Virginia Sustainable Building Network's 13th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., University of Richmond Jepson Center. This year's them is "One Planet Living." Download the registration form at www.vsbn.org.

Learn about services and products to green your workplace at Reston Environmental Action's (REACT) Green Workplace Fair on Thursday, June 26, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Reston Community Center at Lake Anne in the JoAnn Rose Gallery. For more information call 703.620.0151.

There IS such a thing as a free lunch! Celebrate Potbelly Sandwich Works' 200th store opening located at 11919 Freedom Drive in Reston Town Center on June 28 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. To mark the occasion, Potbelly will be collecting donations for Reston Association's (RA) Camp Scholarship Program and will match all customer donations made during the event up to a total of $2,000. Anyone visiting for lunch will be able to enjoy a FREE sandwich or salad, live entertainment, and other festivities.  The RA Camp Scholarship Program has been serving kids ages 3-16 for more than 30 years.

Enjoy the Roosevelt Island Walk on Saturday, June 28, 9:50 a.m. Meet walk leader Squire Muse at the Reston East Wiehle Park & Ride to begin a 4-5 hour adventure via bus, Metro and on foot for a walk from Rosslyn over the bridge to Roosevelt Island. Advance registration required by Wednesday, June 25. Call Reston Museum at 703.709.7700.

The Fairfax Choral Society presents "Hollywood Goes Choral III" on Saturday, June 28, 8:00 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts. Arch Campbell, WJLA Entertainment Reporter, will narrate the music of film favorites in this one-of-a-kind, family friendly event. This exciting concert will feature live music and film clips from Harry Potter, Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, and many more. Acclaimed bluegrass legend and recording artists Bill Emerson and The Sweet Dixie Band will bring you film favorites from O Brother Where Art Thou?, Deliverance, Bonnie and Clyde, and other classics. Visit www.masonfestival.org for tickets and other information.

The 14th Annual Rucker Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on July 14 at Hidden Creek Country Club, Reston, VA. Proceeds benefit the programs of Reston Interfaith, Inc. For questions or to get involved, phone 571.323.9582 or email amy.mcdowell@restoninterfaith.org.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

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