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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia
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Delegate Ken Plum shared the "Victory Stage" on Election Night with other Fairfax County winners including Pat Hynes of Reston, the newly-elected Hunter Mill School Board representative. Ken had a big win with 64.1% of the vote. Thanks to all who made it possible!
Photo by Allison Dickert |
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Commentary
Election Day Aftermath
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
For anyone who believes in the slightest moderate or somewhat progressive approach to government, the outcome of legislative elections in Virginia last week could be depressing. The House of Delegates that has had a 61 to 39 Republican-to-Democrat split now has a 68-32 division. The State Senate, with a Democratic edge of 22-18, is now evenly split between the parties, but with a Republican Lieutenant Governor as the tie-breaker is now controlled by the Republicans who already occupy the governor and attorney general offices. The challenges the shifts in partisanship present come not from the greater number of Republicans but from the tea-party brand of Republicanism many of the members represent.
When I first went to the House of Delegates in 1978 I found that as a Northern Virginia Democrat I had more in common with the moderate Republicans in the House who represented change from the Byrd Machine downstate than I did with many of the Southern Democrats who controlled the House at that time. Now the ultra-conservatives are on the Republican side and control their party in a way that prevents governance from the moderate middle.
The Senate of Virginia will no longer be the safeguard that it has been for the past several years to stop wacky legislation. Moderate Democrats who lost their elections are not going to be replaced with moderate Republicans - far from it. Moderates who have controlled the Republican caucus in the Senate for the past several years will be challenged for their leadership roles. The Governor is not going to be a backstop for the far-out legislation that will be making its way through the General Assembly; he will be too busy burnishing his credentials with his base voters to get a vice-presidential nod. Arizona, Mississippi, and Wisconsin will be pushed off the front pages of national newspapers as Virginia takes leadership with right-wing legislation.
The aftermath of the election will not be favorable for the Commonwealth. Already underfunded public schools will see funding stripped away for vouchers. Budget will be whacked. Regulations for public health and safety will be eliminated as being government intrusion while oppressive regulations of a woman's right to choose will be imposed. A religious agenda will be imposed in a state that is home of the Statute for Religious Freedom. The political pendulum has a way of swinging back over time. Federal elections are next year; elections for House of Delegates and Governor are in 2013. I believe that a shift to the middle will occur at that time. I am greatly concerned in the meantime, but please know that I will be speaking out and working had to stop any damage the outcome of this election cycle might inflict.
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Many
Thanks
for Your
Support!
I am honored
to represent you in the Virginia House of Delegates for another two years. Please do not hesitate to contact me whenever you have questions about state government issues.
Ken Plum
Front page of the Reston Connection, Nov. 9, 2011; photo by Amiee Freeman. |
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Announcements
Thanksgiving Food Drive
The Reston Community Center joins the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith once again to help families in need. Patrons, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food and other items now through November 21 at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods and Lake Anne facilities and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, as well as a variety of other drop-off points throughout the community. Visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com for a list of needed items and the drop-off points.
Women's History Month Essay Contest Call for Entries - Nov 1 to Dec 31
Fairfax County's Commission for Women is partnering with Alice's Kids, a local non-profit organization focused on providing resources and assistance to children in need, to host an essay contest in honor of Women's History Month. To commemorate March 2012's Women's History Month, the Commission for Women and Alice's Kids invite high school seniors from any public high school in Fairfax County to submit an essay on the woman - past or present, public or private - who has served as the greatest inspiration in their lives. Essays will be judged based on content, persuasiveness, and communication skill. Cash awards will be granted to the top esayists ($100 First Place; $500 Second Place; nine $100 Honorable Mention awards). Essays will be collected now through December 31.
Give the Gift of Warmth This Season
Reston Association Member Services will be running a Coat Drive in partnership with Northern Virginia Family Services throughout this winter season. Please donate gently used coats and jackets to be dispersed to those in need within our community. Donations can be dropped off at RA Headquarters, 12002 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston.
Commission Competition for Young Composers
The United Christian Parish of Reston is excited to announce its first ever Commission Competition for Young Composers. Choral composers aged 35 and under are invited to apply to win a $2,000 commission for the Adult Choir of the United Christian Parish. Applicants should submit one to three samples of their work for consideration by January 1, 2012. Applicaitons will be evaluated by UCP's panel of judges, and a winner will be announced by January 17, 2012. For more informaiton on how to apply, visit www.ucpreston.org and click on Commission Competition for Young Composers.
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Calendar of Events
Plan for Reston's future at the Phase II Reston Master Plan Study Community Meeting today, Wednesday, November 16, 7:30 p.m., at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive. This meeting will focus on Phase II of the Reston Master Plan. Sustainable Reston Forum volunteers will also be accepting pledges from community members who plan to make sustainable lifestyle changes to support the vision of a diverse and healthy Reston with a vibrant and resilient economy. Learn more at www.sustainablerestonforum.org.
The next Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling event will be held on Sunday, November 20, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax. For updates, cancellations, and notifications of events, call 703.324.5052.
Come celebrate turkeys in a whole new way on Sunday, November 20, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. Reservations required by November 17; $5/child RA members, $8/child Non-members. Compoete in turkey races and do your best turkey call. Make turkey decorations for your Thanksgiving table. For ages 5 to 12; children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required by tomorrow, November 17.
The Reston Community Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Dingwall Fleary will open its 2011-2012 season on Sunday, November 20, 4:00 p.m., at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, with "Mood Music." This exciting program will feature soloists from within the orchestra in a celebration of music and community by Dvorak, Sibelius, Elgar, Faure, and Bruch. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. For more information, visit http://restoncommunityorchestra.org or call 571.449.7095.
The 2011 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, November 18, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., at the Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. Other volunteer, student, environmental, and philanthropy awards will also be given. For more information contact the Fairfax County Park Authority's public information office at 703.324.8662.
Walker Nature Education Center will host an "Antlers and Acorns" program for children ages 3 to 5 on Monday, November 21, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at 11450 Glade Drive. Learn why November is an important time of year for deer. Make a craft, touch real antlers, and go on a short hike to see what is left in the forest for the deer to eat. Reservations required by November 18; children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 703.476.9689 or e-mail naturecenter@reston.org to reserve your spot. Fee is $5/child RA members, $8/child Non-members.
A community service of Thanksgiving, open to all, will be held Wednesday, November 23, 7:30 p.m. at the United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. Participants will include leaders of the Shoreshim Community, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), Community of ALL People United Church of Christ, United Christian Parish, and Reston Interfaith. Delegate Ken Plum and Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will also take part. There will be an offering to benefit Reston Interfaith; a social time will follow the service. Additional parking will be available at Lake Anne Elementary School next door to the church.
Kids can run like the Gingerbread Man at the Kids Mile Fun Run on Friday, November 25, 8:00 a.m. at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street. The course will cover a 1-mile loop around Reston Town Center. Once kids finish, they can enjoy delicious gingerbread cookies and take part in the Reston Town Center Holiday Festival with their families and enjoy the parade, tree lighting, and more. Donations are greatly appreciated, and all will benefit Neediest Kids.
The 21st Annual Reston Holiday Parade will be held on Friday, November 25, 11:00 a.m. Ringing in the 2011 season with a theme of "Storybook Magic," the 1-hour Reston Holiday Parade features huge, Macy's-style balloons, floats, marching bands and hundreds of participants welcoming the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. This community tradition is part of a full day of fun including ice skating in the Pavilion. Don't miss the Tree Lighting and Sing-Along at 6:00 p.m. More than 20 area nonprofit organizations will have booths at the Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair to be held on Saturday, December 3, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Truro Church, 10520 Main Street, Fairfax. All are invited; admission is free. Visitors can learn about the groups and make donations to them in honor of friends, then get gift cards for these friends with descriptions of how the money will be used. Organizations that will be exhibiting include A Child's Joy, Blue Star Mothers, Computer CORE, Esfuerzo de Amor, Empowered Women International, Flashes of Hope, Food for Others, Friends of Guest House, Giving Circle of HOPE, Greenbrier Learning Center, Helping Hungry Kids, Just Neem, Just Neighbors, KEEN, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, Manassas Midwifery, NOVACO, Packaged with Care, Partner for Surgery, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), and Thai Totes. Fair trade gift items will also be available for purchase. Host of the alternative gift fair is the Giving Circle of HOPE of Reston, which gives annual grants to nonprofits that help people in need in Northern Virginia and conducts a variety of ongoing service programs. For more informaiton, see www.giftsthatgivehope.org. Online ordering will be available on the website beginning November 28.
Senior citizens are invited to attend the Reston Community Center's annual Reston Senior Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 6, 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the elegant Sheraton Reston Hotel. Enjoy a sumptuous brunch, live musical entertainment, and a 45-minute performance by the outstanding Harmony Heritage Barbershop Chorus. This event is for citizens ages 55 and older; cost is $16 Reston residents, $32 non-residents. For more information or to register contact Karen Brutsche, RCC's Senior Adult Program Director, at 703.476.4500 or go to ww.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Let your elected officials know about the state government issues that are most important to you at a Public Meeting hosted by Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Janet Howell on Thursday, January 5, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Bring your comments for Ken and Janet. This will be their annual pre-session meeting prior to the General Assembly going into session on January 11, 2012.
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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