MD-04 : Why it's Time to Elect Donna Edwards to Congress
Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 06:15:30 AM PDT
Yesterday I wrote a diary, MD-04: Why it's time for Al Wynn to go. In that diary I described some of the history of Al Wynn's 15 years in Congress and why he does not serve as adequate representation for MD-04. Today I want to make the case for why Donna Edwards is the right candidate at the right time for this district.
Here I will collect the facts surrounding why Donna Edwards can truly be called a progressive candidate and one that will fight for the people of this district and to protect the Constitution of this country.
[Note: I urge you to read Donna's complete bio on her website. Her story is unique and fleshes out who she really is and why she is so qualified to serve in Congress -- as a leader who would listen to the concerns of her constituents. I will excerpt parts of that bio in this diary.]
Donna Edwards grew up in a military family, moving frequently in her youth. Her father served in the Air Force and was stationed both here and abroad throughout his career. As her website bio notes:
She learned to appreciate and to listen, to make true friends, and to hold close to her family. In her words, "I had to be versatile and I couldn't be shy ... and wherever we went, we met wonderful people."
Donna's father, John Edwards, was in the Air Force and his oldest son, John, signed up at the age of 18 along with his high school friends. It was the height of the Vietnam "conflict," and Donna was a pre-teen. She vividly recalls the tragic sight of those who served and died in Vietnam making their long journey home to the United States.
Through these experiences, Donna came to appreciate the sacrifices of military service and the value of friends and families.
In this time of military conflict in the world, we need a voice for military families and the sacrifices they make to protect this country. We need a leader that will not take those sacrifices for granted. Donna would more than fit that need.
After graduating from Wake Forest University, she went on to work for Lockheed Corporation at Goddard Space Flight Center with the Spacelab program. Eventually she chose to return to school, obtaining her law degree from Franklin Pierce Law School in New Hampshire. There Donna developed her love of law for the public interest.
Her career as a public interest advocate began soon after. Donna has been a leader, first taking up the cause of protecting those affected by domestic violence, then later fighting for campaign finance reform and then organizing a national effort to push pharmaceutical companies to offer generic forms of anti-arthritic medications.
Against Domestic Violence
She co-founded and served as the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and though not a victim herself, she realized that battered women had no legal or political support. Donna received national recognition as she led in the successful fight to pass the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, providing comprehensive funding to shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and their children.
For Campaign Finance Reform
Donna also entered the national media spotlight after the House banking scandal, as she led efforts to reform our campaign finance system and lobbying laws, first with Public Citizen and then as the executive director for the Center for a New Democracy.
For Public Health and Well-Being
She created a successful national effort to force pharmaceutical companies to open markets for generic anti-arthritic medications, and in 2003, in her own community, she started a grassroots campaign against a multi-billion dollar development plan in order to improve the quality of life in existing neighborhoods, to protect the natural environment, and to bring quality services and jobs to the area. Donna negotiated a deal to bring more than $200 million to the community, while also safeguarding the local air, water, land and wildlife.
Since 2000, Donna has served as the executive director for The Arca Foundation in Washington, D.C. She has gained national prominence as a strategist and creator of innovative efforts to
* Support "living wage" campaigns
* Ensure the independence of the federal judiciary
* End capital punishment
* Protect Social Security, and
* Support labor and human rights internationally
She has led efforts to bring millions of dollars to programs that make a difference in the lives of working families and to hold our government accountable.
Donna has spent the last 20+ years fighting for progressive values. Her commitment to protecting the little guy is quite clear.
While Al Wynn has spent that stretch of time in the Congress and in the State House, honing his skills as a politician -- learning to wheel and deal with other lawmakers and lobbyists -- Donna has done much to approach the issues as a public citizen. Her "real-life" skills developed over this time make her far more qualified to represent the people on issues that are important to citizens of MD-04. While Al Wynn has championed the fight to keep soft money in politics and to get gambling and casinos legalized in Maryland, Donna has fought to protect the lives and livelihoods of real people.
In the last two years, I have found that community and family matter a great deal to Donna. Her college age son, Jared, is her pride and joy. She recently traveled to his school and back one evening and the next day she was back on the campaign trail, tired, but thrilled to have spent a day with him. She always speaks of how she wants to keep MD-04 a wonderful community, with adequate mass transit and green space, so that someday her son can come back and build a family here. So that all families will feel secure in their community.
Each time she enters a room of people curious about her campaign, she tackles the issues of today bringing an optimism for tomorrow. And the people in turn are putting their trust in her vision, offering money or their time to help her to win this congressional race.
People here know that it's time for a change in Congress. And they are excited that they may soon have someone like Donna representing their interests and their hopes for the future. Yes, people here believe in this election that Donna will succeed and they are with her all the way.
Donna Edwards for Congress
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