Democracy for Virginia

Roanoke DFA Collects Phone Cards for Vets

Our local allied DFA Meetup in Roanoke, led by the amazing team of Elaine Owens and Bobbi Hoffman, have launched their Web site. 

Along with many other DFA Meetups around the country, Roanoke DFA is working to collect phone cards for hospitalized veterans and plans to provide phone cards for vets at the Salem VA hospital and the Roanoke Veterans Center.  To get involved, visit Roanoke DFA for more information.

Don't forget to check out the local DFA Meetup in your area of Virginia!

Our own Elaine Owens from Roanoke Gets Noticed by Arianna Huffington!

In her weekly commentary for Democracy for America, Arianna Huffington this week commends our own Elaine Owens from Roanoke for her insightful and thought-provoking commentary in response to Arianna's column last week. She says:

"I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed reading the comments on my last post -- so much passion and insight. Special thanks to Elaine in Roanoke, Grandma Marcia in Oklahoma, and michiganian for their thought-provoking posts. I also love the way that Monica Palacios-Boyce responded to Kathy from West Texas's plea about how those living in "locked-in Republican turf" can help take America back."

Click below to continue to read the comments by Elaine that Arianna so enjoyed.

A Constituent's Perspective: Meet Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA-9)

Kathryn Welch of Blacksburg was a grassroots leader of the Dean campaign in Montgomery County and has volunteered to be a regular author of content for Democracy for Virginia as a representative from Southwest Virginia.

Virginia claims only 3 Democrats in the House of Representatives. So, how does a Democrat win time and again (70% of the vote in 2000 and 61% in 1998) in the largely rural, Republican-leaning southwest portion of the state? Unless you watched the Clinton impeachment hearings, where Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) worked tirelessly to avert a GOP coup d’etat, you might not have heard of him. You might not know that Rick is a staunch defender of the Constitution (e.g., he voted against the civil-liberties- eroding Patriot Act), of women’s reproductive health, and of affirmative action. You might not know he’s been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration’s mishandling of US foreign policy, particularly the Middle East Peace process and the Iraq quagmire. And, you might not know of his strong advocacy for education, and health care or his good stewardship of our nation’s fiscal and environmental resources. But the Republicans know about Rick and they’ve targeted him for defeat.

In 2002, even quicker than you can say “carpet-bagger,” Jay Katzen moved into our area (from four hours away) to establish “residency,” and then, when he lost, moved back to NOVA just as quickly. This time, the GOP bets on a NASCAR-connected opponent, Kevin Triplett, who hasn’t lived in Virginia for years, but moved back as fast as a speeding bullet (I mean race car).

Just this Monday, Dick Cheney jetted into Roanoke to raise money for Triplett. Vice-Buck Passer Cheney stayed at the fundraiser a whopping 20 minutes, but was there long enough to blame the economy here in the 9th on Rick Boucher! It should be noted that Cheney never actually even set foot in the 9th Congressional District. But we have a message for Bush, Cheney and the rest of the GOP: Not so fast!

Ninth Congressional District (VA-9): The Basics

The Ninth Congressional District in Virginia, tucked into Virginia's southwestern corner, is the home of one of Virginia's three Democratic Congressmen, Rick Boucher.

VA-9 is geographically one of the largest congressional disricts in the eastern U.S., encompassing more than twenty counties.

Rep. Boucher is a co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus. He is an eleven term incumbent and won handily in 2002 with 66% of the vote against Jay Katzen, who you may know as Tim Kaine's unsuccessful Republican opponent for Lieutenant Governor in 2001.

In 2004, Congressman Boucher faces a potentially much stronger opponent, NASCAR executive Kevin Triplett. The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted this seat for Republican takeover, and Dick Cheney is expected to raise money for Triplett in a trip to Southwest Virginia later this month. Triplett's got a sophisticated Web presence and his NASCAR background has the potential to have very strong appeal. (On his online volunteer signup form, he asks respondents to name a favorite NASCAR driver. If you donate $10 to his campaign, you become eligble for a monthly drawing of NASCAR autographed items. "Crew Chiefs" and "Team Owners" can win race-used car tires.

At this point, Boucher has more money in the bank, but Triplett is raising money at a fast pace and can expect a large influx of out-of-state money from Republican leaders nationwide who view this as Virginia's one vulnerable Democratic seat.

In our primary in February, voter turnout in VA-9 was the lowest of all of Virginia's Congressional Districts, at 6.78%. In contrast, the two other districts with Democratic Congressmen, VA-3 (Bobby Scott) and VA-8 (Jim Moran) had the highest turnouts in the state at 11.92% and 15.96% respectively.

This comparatively low voter turnout in the Democratic primary may be an initial hint of trouble for Boucher's re-election. Kerry's results were also lowest in VA-9 at 46.2% while Edwards did best in this district, carrying 38% of the vote.

Dean earned 1002 votes, 3.9% of the total in VA-9. Interestingly, Dean ran really well in Montgomery County, earning 8.5% of the vote there, higher than his state average of 7%. Kucinich also did extraordinarily well, earning 7% himself. If you're from the Montgomery County area, to what do you credit such comparatively high results? Is there a secret bastion of progressivism down there? How can we learn from your success?

Most importantly, what can we do to make sure that we hold on to this Democratic seat?