October 23, 2013

36th District

Reston, Virginia

Absentee voting schedule, including dates, times, locations and deadlines is available at

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee.

Delegate Ken Plum's

Virginia e-News

Commentary

Endorsements

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

About 70 percent of Virginians voted in the last two presidential elections when President Barack Obama carried the state as the first Democrat to do so since Lyndon Johnson won the Old Dominion. In the gubernatorial election in 2009 voter turnout was half that number with the expectation that voter participation in the election on November 5 will also be light. While the presidential elections get a lot of attention and high participation, statewide elections do not attract as many voters. In many ways, voters who stay home are pushing off their responsibility in voting to a group of people unknown to them who do bother to vote. Such a situation can lead to a small group of highly motivated voters swinging the outcome of an election. Please encourage your family, co-workers and neighbors to participate as the consequences of the election are critically important to the future of the Commonwealth, and we each need to take part in the decision.

Seldom has there been a clearer choice than in the statewide elections this year. I enthusiastically endorse Terry McAuliffe for governor, Ralph Northam for lieutenant governor, and Mark Herring for attorney general. My endorsements are not based on my being a Democrat; there are some elections in which I have chosen not to endorse anyone. McAuliffe, Northam and Herring bring a combination of business and legislative experience among them that is essential for Virginia's future. There is not a shred of difference among the three Republican statewide candidates who are ideologically driven on social issues that have dominated their careers. While Ken Cuccinelli is best known among the three with the highest negative polling from his attacks on climate science, women's reproductive rights, and the transportation package, his running mates share the same negative and divisive views.

Although I am unopposed in the election, I nonetheless ask for your vote as an affirmation of the work I have been doing as your delegate. I bring the same level of enthusiasm to the position as I have always had. I pledge to work for sane and reasonable solutions to our problems and wise investments in our future.

While it could be debated that the sheriff of an urban county like Fairfax should be a civil service position, we will vote for a new sheriff this year. We have the opportunity this time to vote for a person who would be the best candidate in an election or in a merit, civil service selection: Stacey Kincaid. With more than two decades in the office already and excellent experience, Stacey will be the first woman sheriff of Fairfax County.

The school board referendum on the ballot merits our support in the continuing effort to keep our facilities up to date and to meet the needs of a school population that continues to grow.

On Tuesday, October 29 I will be placing a telephone conference call to voters in my district at 8:00 p.m. Stay on the line to take my call so that we can discuss the election and candidates more fully.

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28

Virginia Report Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming. Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. Watch these upcoming programs:

TONIGHT - Wednesday, October 23 at 10:30 p.m. - Maggie Parker, Comstock Partners, "The Silver Line's Reston Station"

Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 30 at 10:30 p.m. - Doug Allen, Virginia Railway Express

"Virginia Report" is also available online at www.rctv28.com/virginiareport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad.

Bulletin Board

presents

Food Day
Monday, October 28, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
at Hollin Meadows Science and Math Focus School
2310 Nordok Place, Alexandria.
RSVP to foodday@realfoodforkids.org
or online at Food Day.

_______________________________

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is holding a series of meetings to gather community feedback on groups of currently unfunded transportation projects. The May 2013 passage of House Bill (HB) 2313 has provided new funding for both regional and local transportation projects (roadway, transit, bike and pedestrian). FCDOT is engaging residents to help prioritize county needs that could be addressed with the new state funding. Local meetings are:

Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center
Conference rooms 2 and 3
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
Transit accessible via: Fairfax Connector routes 605, 621, 623
Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Forest Edge Elementary School
1501 Becontree Lane, Reston
Transit accessible via: Fairfax Connector routes 552, RIBS 1, RIBS 3

For more information about the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation or to take the online survey, visit transportation priorities survey. Questions can be directed to Ellen Kamilakis at 703-877-5605, TTY 711.

Calendar of Events

Tomorrow: Medicare 101, Thursday, October 24, 7:00-8:30 p.m., George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Call to register: 703-324-5205.

Presentation of Dr. Thomas A. Wilkins Outstanding Educator Award, Saturday, October 26, McLean Tyson's Hilton Hotel. Registration & Silent Auction at 11:00 a.m.; Lunch at noon. Email officers@mlkculturalfoundation.org with questions and for sponsorship information. Online registration is at tickets. Contributions to the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Foundation can be made online at this link: www.mlkculturalfoundation.org.

Festival on the Square, Sunday, October 27, noon to 4:00 p.m. Reston Heights, 11790 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. For details visit thefestivalonthesquare.com.

Help the Homeless Community Walk, Sunday, October 27, at 1:30 p.m. (Check in and t-shirt pick-up at 1:00 p.m.) At Festival on the Square at Reston Heights, 11790 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. All walkers must preregister online at www.hthwalks.org/goto/communitywalks.

FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza invites parents, students, employees and community members to share their thoughts about the school system during a listening tour. She will be at Sunrise Valley Elementary School with Hunter Mill School District Board member Pat Hynes on Monday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. The school's address is 10824 Cross School Road, Reston. More information is available online. Citizens interested in attending are asked to register online and indicate if an interpreter is needed.

Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot to vote by mail is October 29, 5:00 p.m. Last day to cast an absentee ballot in person is November 2. More information is at Absentee Voting. If you are not registered, you can register online.

Town Hall Conference Call with Delegate Plum,Tuesday, October 29, 8:00 p.m. Delegate Plum will host a telephone conference call on the upcoming election for voters of the 36th legislative district. Please stay on the line when you receive a call from him.

Fairfax Bike Summit, Saturday, November 2, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at George Mason University. The topic of the summit is the importance of bicycling to the future of Tysons and other transit-oriented, mixed-use communities in Fairfax. More information is at www.fabb-bikes.org.

Tuesday, November 5, Election Day. Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit State Board of Elections.

Reston Garden Club meeting, Tuesday, November 5 at 1:00

p.m. at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston.

The speaker will be Sandy Flowers, a local horticulturist, whose program is " The Leaf Alone." More information about the club is at therestongardenclub.org.

Saturday, November 9, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Ninth Annual Fairfax County History Conference, "Voices for Freedom: Abolitionists, Oral History and Documenting the Past." At the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. For more information, contact Lynne Garvey-Hodge at 703-322-1811 or lynnegarveyhodge@verizon.net.

Wednesday, November 13, Bullying and Violence Prevention Symposium, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at Fairfax Community Church, 11451 Braddock Road in Fairfax. Fairfax Partnership for Youth is hosting the event to advance our community's awareness and motivation to prevent bullying and violence among youth and their families. More information is at www.fairfaxyouth.org.

Safe Coast Virginia Chesapeake Climate Action Network Conference, Saturday, November 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in

Norfolk. Coastal Hampton Roads is Virginia's ground zero for climate change impacts. Rising seas already force residents of Norfolk to routinely bail out basements or change routes to work. Community activists and leaders, experts and residents on the front lines of climate change will come together to tackle the roots of the problem and mobilize action to protect our homes and our coast. Click here to register online. Tickets are $20 (or $10 for students) and include lunch and free parking.

Saturday, November 16, A Taste of Fall with FACETS, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Register at www.FacetsCares.org.

Sunday, November 17, first concert of the 26th season of the Reston Community Orchestra will be "Dabbling in Magic" at 4:00 p.m. at the Hunters Woods Reston Community Center at 2310 Colts Neck Road. All four concerts are free, but contributions are welcome. Guests attending are asked to bring canned or non-perishable goods to support Reston's annual Thanksgiving food drive. For more information visit Free Concert Series.

Governor's Transportation Conference, December 4-6, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North Third Street, Richmond. Visit www.vatranscon.com for further information and to sign up to receive conference updates.

In This Issue

Commentary..."Endorsements"

"Virginia Report" on Comcast Channel 28

Bulletin Board

Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News

703-758-9733 * kenplum@aol.com * www.kenplum.com

*Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News* is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum.**