Supporting Perriello

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: September 7, 2008

Perriello is right for us

To the editor:

The citizens who attended the political forum held on Wednesday at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research were given the opportunity to hear from political newcomer Tom Perriello.

Tom is running for Congress, taking on incumbent Virgil Goode. Others took on the same challenge only to fail. They were, for the most part, good candidates, but Tom Perriello is a great candidate.

I have to share with you the excitement I feel in having the opportunity to work for — and help elect — Tom Perriello to represent us. This young man knows what concerns us in Southside and in all of the 5th District. He has a refreshing, Mark Warner-like approach — stop the politics of making the other side look bad and start the politics of doing something that matters. He knows that the politics of sound-bites and slogans does nothing to take care of families in Southside. Tom knows that our politicians must begin to work together to make real change.

Perriello offers experience as a national security consultant. He worked to end atrocities in the West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. He has worked with pro-democracy groups in Sierra Leone, playing a role in helping to end violence in that country. He understands war and he understands peace. He understands that we must take care of our military — no matter where they are — and he knows that we must provide them with decent wages and proper health care. He understands that we cannot continue to give billions of dollars to unethical defense contractors while forcing military families to need food stamps.

Former Gov. Mark Warner worked to bring the Institute to Danville and worked to bring jobs and opportunities to all of Southside — and especially to Danville. He truly has been and still is a friend to Danville and to Southside. Yet, Goode chose to make comments about Mark Warner’s wealth during the candidate forum (we all know about Warner and cell phones). It’s a tactic used after it was pointed out that too many of our politicians (on both sides) received financial benefits from big oil. Goode became visibly upset when it was noted that he is in the top 3 percent of all members of Congress in terms of personal holdings in big oil.

On the subject of immigration, Perriello stated that focusing on cutting off the supply of jobs by holding employers accountable for hiring illegal immigrants would take away their reason for coming here. Goode spoke over and over about “anchor babies” and stated that ending the “anchor baby situation” is the most pressing immigration problem to be solved.

Perriello understands that the world is complex and that it takes hard work and new ideas to get the job done. He understands that blame, hate and excuses do nothing to help families. Perriello promises to work for us as hard as we work for ourselves. I truly believe that he is the best person to represent the citizens of Southside and the 5th District. This young man is impressive and I am proud to support him. I ask you to learn about him. Do the research. Then ask yourself if you are happy with politics as usual — or are you ready for a new kind of politics?

SHEILA BAYNES

To the editor:

Every four years, we get the opportunity to hire or fire the people who wish to represent us in Washington. As gas prices and health care costs rise, as the war in Iraq continues, and most importantly, as jobs and our brightest young people leave Danville, I have come to the conclusion that the current path we are on is not right. We need change, and we need it this November.

This year, I have been very impressed with Tom Perriello. He is someone who already has solutions for the big problems in Southside, and the work ethic to actually get things done in Washington. I know he is a person of faith, with strong morals and the right values. I know that he has had great success finding solutions in hopeless places, and I know he will avoid corruption in Washington and serve us well.

He is not running on what he opposes, he’s running on what he supports, like a seven-point plan to bring jobs and economic revival to Southside. I appreciate his support for small business, his tax cuts for working families and his commitment to making health care more affordable and accessible to those of us in rural communities.

Unemployment is on the rise in Southside and across the 5th District, and we who worked hard to make this nation what it is have been sold out. We need someone who can see not only what has happened, but who has a solution. So please, on Nov. 4, vote for Tom Perriello for Congress — he’s a man with guts and feeling. We need someone to stand up for us and all the people of Southside.

We need fresh leaders who have solutions. Our current representative has had 12 years to bring jobs and health care to Danville — and he has not. He does not seem willing to work with Democrats or even other Republicans to get things done. I’m going to vote for someone who doesn’t care about party, only about rolling up his sleeves and working for us. This is the year to change our leadership. I’m voting for Perriello.

FRANCES FERRELL

Dry Fork