Lynchburg Voters League, Virginia Democratic Activists Endorse McAuliffe for Governor

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe was today endorsed by the Lynchburg Voters League, a historically African American organization focused on voters' rights. Citing McAuliffe's grassroots campaign and his record or working to involve new and diverse groups in the electoral process, the group named McAuliffe the best candidate to represent the Democratic Party and beat Bob McDonnell in November.

"We have been incredibly impressed by Terry's grassroots focus and his serious effort to listen to and involved Virginians in his campaign," said Rev. Dr. James E. Coleman, Jr., Vice President of the Lynchburg Voters League. "That focus on grassroots campaigning was what put Barack Obama in the White House last November, and a grassroots campaign is the only option for Democrats this year if we want to keep our state blue. Terry is the only candidate with a statewide organization and the only candidate the can beat Bob McDonnell."

Also today, nearly 20 Democratic activists from across the Commonwealth, including Young Democrats, local officials, and Obama volunteers, offered their endorsement of McAuliffe.

"Over the last several elections, I have watched Virginia turn blue, and I have seen all the hard work that Democrats young and old have put into making that happen," said Norfolk City Council Member Daun Hester. "This year, we have to make sure that we don't cede those gains. Virginian families need a common-sense Democratic governor now more than ever. We've got to get Virginia's economy back on track and ensure that we aren't leaving any Virginians behind."

The full list of those endorsing follows below.

Andy Cerillo - Secretary, Sully District Democrats
Ariel Gonzalez - Alexandria Young Democrats, Executive Board Member
Kevin Bailey - Alexandria Young Democrats, Executive Board Member
Gabe Morgan - Sheriff, Newport News
Alexander Palmer - Vice President, Norfolk Area Young Democrats
Curt Hazel - Parlimentarian, Newport News Democratic Committee
Nancy McPherson - Activist Member, Chesapeake Democratic Committee
Andrea James - Executive Board Member, Alexandria Young Democrats
Adam Osterman - Executive Board Member, Alexandria Young Democrats
Patrick Austin - Former Obama Field Organizer, Norfolk
Wally Cotten - Former Chair, Suffolk Veterans & Military Families for Obama
Jen Little - Member, Mathews County School Board and DPVA Central Committee, 1st CD
Tony Barney - Sterling District Chair, Loudoun County Democratic Committee and 10th CDDC Member
Andrea Lyons - Activist Young Democrat, Chesterfield
Marrett Ceo - Vice President, Loudoun County Young Democrats
Rebecca Grandi - Former Chair, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee
Lovely Lall - Loudoun County Democratic Committee, Balls Bluff Precinct Captain
Daun Hester - City Council Member and Former Vice Mayor, Norfolk

Tags: democrats, endorsement, endorsements, grassroots, lynchburg voters league, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, young democrats

Virginia Democrats Endorse Terry McAuliffe for Governor

Today, more than two dozen Democratic leaders from Loudoun and across the Commonwealth endorsed Terry McAuliffe for Governor, citing his strong grassroots campaign and his ideas for getting the economy back on track.

"Over the past eight years, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have shown what Democrats can accomplish in Virginia," said Bob Moses, Loudoun County Democrats Vice Chair. "Now, as we work through these difficult times, we're going to need another leader who can infuse new ideas into Richmond and get our economy back on track. Not only does Terry have the experience to lead us, he has the energy to put ideas into action. I saw that energy just this past weekend at the Loudoun Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, and I look forward to seeing that energy behind the governor's desk."

Added Loudoun County Young Democrats President Robert Latham, "As a Young Democrat, I know that Virginians of my generation are looking for someone who will help them to get an education in Virginia, find a job in Virginia, build a home in Virginia, and raise a family here. We are looking for a governor who is going to make this Commonwealth the most opportunity-friendly state in the country, so that we can feel confident building our futures here. Terry McAuliffe will be that governor."

A full list of those endorsing today follows:

Bob Moses - Vice Chair, Loudoun County Democrats
Ellen Heald - Vice Chair, Loudoun County Democrats
Erinn Beckner - Communication and Events Chair, Loudoun County Young Democrats
Eula Tate - Old Mill Precinct Captain, Sully District Democrats
Mari Anne Bowen - Co-Chair, Dulles District, Loudon County Democratic Committee
Mary Lee Cerillo - Chair of the Sully District Democrats, Fairfax County Democratic Committee and national delegate for Obama
Pravin Gandhi - Chair, Broad Run District, Loudoun County Democratic Committee
Robert Latham - President of Loudoun County Young Democrats
Emily Blakemore - Campaign and Party Coordinator for the University Democrats at the University of Virginia
Gordon A. Koerner - Democratic Committeeman, Nelson County
Lena Witek - Development Coordinator for the University Democrats at the University of Virginia
Bob Dotzler - Vice Chair, Chesapeake Democratic Committee
Bob Rawls - President of the Norfolk Federation of Civic Leagues
Brandon Carr - Vice President of the Regent University Young Democrats
Heather Carr - President of the Regent University Young Democrats
Letitia Edwards - Treasurer, Chesapeake Democratic Committee
Linda Dagley - Vice Chair, Norfolk Democratic Committee, 89th District
Pat Okerlund - Chair, Chesapeake for Change
Ron Henderson - Chair of Isle of Wight Committee
Annie Giles - Richmond Community Activist
Otis Mallory - President, Clopton-Broadrock Civic Association
Devontae Green - President, Hampton Young Democrats
Dottie Holtz - Virginia Beach Democratic Activist and Committee Member
Carol Shrader - Virginia Beach Democratic Activist and Committee Member
Stephanie Welch - Former Organizer, Norfolk Veterans & Military Families for Obama

Tags: democratic leaders, democrats, endorsements, grassroots, loudoun, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, young democrats

Virginia Democratic Leaders Endorse Terry McAuliffe

The McAuliffe for Governor campaign today released a list of Democratic leaders from across the Commonwealth who have endorsed Terry McAuliffe. Today's announcement follows the Virginia Professional Fire Fighter's endorsement yesterday in Richmond.

In discussing their endorsement, Democratic leaders cited his strong executive business credentials and his vision for turning Virginia's economy around. They also expressed their belief that McAuliffe is best qualified to carry on the Warner-Kaine tradition of leadership and has the best chance of beating Bob McDonnell in the fall.

"We Democrats have made such incredible gains over the past seven years, specifically because we have stayed focused on delivering results for Virginians," said Jim Turpin, Vice Chair-Finance of the Virginia Democratic Party. "Terry is the candidate in this race who is best qualified to get Virginia's economy back on track, and that's the result voters are looking for. We can't afford to risk putting someone in the Governor's office who doesn't have the right experience to get our economy moving again and that's why I'm supporting Terry."

"If we're going to keep Virginia moving forward, our next governor needs to be able to build on the progress of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and Terry McAuliffe is the man for the job," said EJ Scott, Chair of Manassas/ Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee. "Terry has the right experience to lead our commonwealth, create jobs, and take us in the right direction on renewable energy, education, and health care. He knows that in these tough economic times, we can't raise taxes and we can't keep cutting the budget, so we have to grow the economy. Like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, he knows how to work across party lines, and he knows that not all good ideas come from Richmond. That's the kind of leadership we need."

"There is so much at stake in this election," said Gena Doyle, Chair of the Salem Democratic Committee. "Bob McDonnell has the wrong priorities for Virginia. He would turn back the progress that Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have made over the last seven years, and the Republican National Committee is going to be right there behind him. Terry has my support because he is the best candidate to beat Bob McDonnell and help us win back the House of Delegates."

A full list of the leaders endorsing today follows:

Dr. Ella Ward - Chair, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
Eileen Huey - Vice Chair, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
Arthur Bredemeyer - Chair, Suffolk Dem. Committee
Jim Turpin - Vice Chair-Finance, Dem. Central Committee
Carrie Nixon - Co-Chair, Providence Dem. Committe
Anne Rawley - Activist Member, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
EJ Scott - Chair, Manassas Dem. Committee
Bruce Neilson - Treasurer, Fairfax County Dem. Committee
Gena Doyle - Chair, Salem Dem. Committee
Tom Bellanca - Dulles District Chair, Loudoun County Dem. Committee
Ricardo Cabellos-Reyes - Mercer Precinct Captain (Loudoun)
Keyanna Conner - Young Dem. Activist
Jonathan Ward - Young Dem. Activist

Tags: 2009, democratic central committee, democratic party, dems, economic, economy, endorsements, governor, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, young democrats