Politics & Government
Photos: Democrats Ice Cream Social
Candidate for U.S. Senate, Tim Kaine, attended the event with U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and a host of local politicians
The Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee (MVDDC) held its annual campaign kickoff Saturday and the event welcomed a record number of local supporters. Democrats including former Governor Tim Kaine, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland, state Sen. George Barker, Del. Scott Surovell and Mount Vernon School Board Member Dan Storck all addressed the crowd.
Community members were invited to enjoy free ice cream and food, and were also given the opportunity to speak one-on-one with elected officials and candidates. Though the politicians were in and out of the event, the event never lacked for speakers or live entertainment and children’s activities.
“The Republicans control the governor's seat and the House. We have to keep the Senate Democratic,” Barker said. “It’s going to be a close race this year, and we have to do a lot of hard work to get it done. Lets get feet pounding on the pavement and knock on some doors!”
The tone of the day revolved around raising taxes on the rich, improving the transit problem along Richmond Highway and maintaining the Democrat's power to block Republican bills and proposals.
“Every working person pays a little bit into a fund so that their parents and grandparents can live with dignity in their golden years. It’s the most successful domestic program in the United States. What’s fraudulent about that?” former Gov. Kaine, a candidate for U.S. Senate, said. “Do we have a responsibility to our elderly or don’t we? That is the dividing line between Democrats and Republicans.”
With the exception of the governor and the attorney general, all Virginia elected officials are up for reelection this November.
