I have spent the past 15 years of my life as an educator and the past ten years helping refugees seeking political asylum in federal courts. I looked around me and said to myself, “if I can help the most vulnerable, why can’t I help my own neighbors? What does the future hold for their children and mine?” It seemed that it was time for me to step up and make a difference. That’s why I am running for office in Virginia’s 73rd House district.
I am a professor, an expert witness in federal immigration courts, and a mom. I’m focusing on the fundamental values that are crucial to people here in Henrico County and Virginia. Values that are important to all of us.
When I consider what I’ve seen during my 10 years working on behalf of asylum seekers fleeing violence, I thought about what I see in my own community. I started to see how too often, the hopes, dreams, and values of people in our community are disregarded by those in power. The results of last November’s elections just made that clear.
As a mom with a special needs child, I’m frustrated with the way that politicians have attacked our schools and jeopardized our kids’ futures. I’ll be a voice and a vote for giving our schools, colleges, and universities the funding they need to give our kids the educations they need.
As a professor and the Director of Women’s Studies at my college, I feel like I’m teaching a lesson from the 1950’s. We are being pushed back in time on women’s rights. Women’s health care and choice is under attack. A woman should always be able to make her own decisions about her body.
My own family and many of my neighbors struggle with their healthcare needs. My opponent John O’Bannon led the opposition to Medicaid expansion in Virginia that is costing the state of Virginia billions of dollars and denies almost a half a million Virginians access to healthcare.
In my work with refugees and immigrants fleeing violence, I’ve been struck by how much discrimination they still face here. Just like I’ve been doing in my work as an expert for a decade, I’ll keep speaking out and taking action against this discrimination to ensure that all Virginians are treated equally and fairly under the law.
These are a few of the values that I believe are crucial to life in Henrico County. And you can count on me to fight for these values every single day if you support me. Thank you!
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Please watch for my future updates and let me know what is important to you!
Debra Rodman is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women’s Studies and Director of Women’s Studies at Randolph-Macon College. She regularly serves as an expert witness for U.S. Federal immigration courts for refugees seeking political asylum, mostly women and children, and LGBT individuals. Named as one of Richmond’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2011, Dr. Rodman is a former Fulbright Scholar and fluent Spanish speaker. She is a mom to two beautiful boys and the wife to Darryl Lowery, a Richmond native and member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina.