I first met Gerry Connolly when he was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County. Tough job, demanding constituents in the richest (some times second richest) county in the United States - the school district with a budget in excess of $2.1 billion has more resources than the GNP of several countries in the world - Fairfax County Pubic School System also has more buses than Greyhound.
So, Gerry did not have an easy job. As CEO of the richest county in the United States, he learned a few lessons. Often, the hard way - struggling to manage budget challenges, struggling to contain the problems of growth, and always coming out victorious with solutions that served the residents of Fairfax County.
Towards the end of 2007 when Republican Tom Davis announced that he was retiring from Congress and going to spend quiet time outside public office, many of us in Virginia were very concerned - Tom Davis has many, many years of public service behind him and time and again has proven that he is a man of the people, and a tough public official. I recently met him and while we chatted, it came out clearly that he has retained every ounce of his greatness. What has Tom got to do with Gerry, one may ask. An awful lot.
To fill Tom's shoes is not easy. Not just that he is a tall man, and Gerry is not. Tom has an incredible record behind him, and few can fill those big shoes.
For those of us who care, Gerry Connolly rose to the occasion, and did not just fill Tom's big shoes, but he has been building on what Tom left behind and today, Gerry is one of the most effective Congressmen.
About a year into office, Gerry addressed the influential Northern Virginia Democratic Business Council. He had no notes. The thoroughness with which he rattled off figures blew the audience away. Gerry had everything on his fingertips and he had data of every kind - not one of the many questions he fielded fazed him! Gerry was incredible - be it questions on the economy, health care, immigration - you name it, and Gerry had data to back his thoughts and numbers to support his opinions.
Sunday June 13th, 2010 was a day of fund raising events for Gerry. I attended one of them, and Gerry was in his elements. He enthralled the packed room in Fairfax with usual eloquence, charm and sincerity. From 5 to 7 PM he met, greeted and spoke with over 200 supporters, including elementary school student Sallie who appears to be a rising political activist. That is Gerry's greatness - he listens, ponders, and then acts. He never dismisses any one, never ignores any one, but knows when to stop and move to the next person.
About a year ago, I was at Gerry's St. Patrick's Day fund raiser event with my son, who is a staunch Democrat. I introduced him to Gerry, and they got into a discussion on Darfur. My son has strong views on what the United States should do, and here was Congressman Connolly listening to this American University Sophomore on international policy. Only Gerry can do that so well, with grace and sincerity.
Now, Gerry is up for re-election. His opponent is Republican Keith Fimian. Not only does he not have much to talk about in terms of his experience and qualifications, his ignorance is incredible. Here is an interesting video that speaks volumes on Candidate Fimian.
http://www.savetheseventeenth.com
The Republic party would like to get Gerry - they would like to get control of the 11th Congressional District that Gerry now so ably represents. They hate it that Gerry has most succesfully filled the big shoes of Tom Davis - they do not realize that Candidate Fimian will be lost in those big shoes that Gerry has made even bigger with his achievements. Or perhaps, the Republicans do not care - they just want to win the district and so money from all over the country is being diverted to support the Fimian campaign.
Please help Gerry Connolly return to Congress. We desperately need him. Send money to his campaign - any amount you wish to contribute at this time.
https://secure.politicalcfos.com/...
Equally important, please write Gerry up in your blogs, write to newspaper Editors on what a fine job Gerry is doing and please volunteer for his campaign and make a few phone calls, knock on a few doors, do what ever you can to help this great, great man of the people return to Congress so he can continue serving our country.
http://www.gerryconnolly.com/...
Have you done your bit for our country today? Please be sure you do. Support Gerry Connolly with a contribution, some volunteering, some writing. Please do.
I just did.