As Progressive Democrats, we tend to focus more on the role of government in society and less on specific or wedge issues than our opponents on the extreme right. Yet, every so often there is a specific issue or campaign that must be addressed and must be able to count on our full support, and this is one of those times.
The 2007 race in Virginia’s 37th State Senate District could affect the Commonwealth for generations to come and even has national implications. The Democratic nominee Janet Oleszek is running against the most conservative member of the General Assembly and just to make things more exciting, control of the State Senate most likely go with the victor of this seat.
Janet Oleszek is a Pro-Choice Progressive Democrat and proud of it! Janet received early endorsements from both EMILY’s List and Virginia NOW. Her opponent State Senator Ken “Kooky” Cuccinelli, on the other hand is not. In fact Cuccinelli has repeatedly introduced bills that would ban all abortions and even most forms of birth control! He consistently receives a rating of ZERO from both Planned Parenthood and NARAL.
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The rule of thumb in politics is don’t mention your opponent by name, but I am breaking that rule because we all need to be aware of the fundamentalism and extremism that will continue to be in power should we fail to take action.
Janet Oleszek has a history of success but is going against a well groomed protégé of Grover Norquist and his extremist buddies. Janet Oleszek has been a statewide leader of the PTA and is currently serving as an At-Large Member of the Fairfax County School Board. Janet won her school board race with the highest vote total any Democrat has ever received. Perhaps even more impressively, Janet became the first female State Senate candidate ever to have $100,000 or more on hand at the end of the first quarter of the year. Yet, all this success may not be enough against a fundamentalist with national allies. Let us stand behind Janet and provide her with the resources that she needs to ensure a victory for the good guys this November.
Janet’s victory would not only remove THE most conservative member of the State Senate, but would also provide one of the three seats needed to rest control of the State Senate from the Republican Party. Keeping in mind that this is the last State Senate election before redistricting in 2010, it is crucial that we take back control of at least one chamber of the State Legislature to ensure fair and proportional representation in both the Virginia General Assembly and in the Congressional Delegation that Virginia sends to Washington.
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I hope that you will join me today in supporting Janet Oleszek so that together, we can defeat an extreme anti-choice legislature, and take back the Virginia State Senate.
Sincerely,
Nate de la Piedra,
Executive Director of Next Generation Democrats
