Hello friends! I have been a Kossack since the beginning, and have recently decided to throw my hat in the ring for my local city council election. This is all a very new and quite exciting experience for me, and I am very much looking forward to helping my community move forward into the 21st century.
I am not even sure if this is an appropriate request of our Daily Kos community, but I am in need of funding. I have been working on this campaign since last Labor Day, and have been successful with fund-raising so far. But now time is running short, the election is in May, and the big expenses (mailing, yard signs, etc) are just now rolling in.
If you feel inclined to support a very liberal-minded person in a political campaign at the most grass-roots level of politics in Virginia, please go on over to http://gaylarue.com/ and click on the "Contribute" link which will take you to the Act Blue fund-raising page. You can check out my issues and qualifications there. Or you can go directly to Act Blue and look up Gay LaRue.
I am running because I love my city - Hampton, VA. It is a very old city, established in 1610 in southeastern Virginia at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. However, many things have happened over the years, including the burning of the city during the Civil War, and it is only now beginning a comeback from that traumatic and disastrous event. There are many negative perceptions of our city, even though there are many wonderful reasons to live here. So my desire is to change conversation from "Why would I live there??" to "Why wouldn't I live here!!"
My credentials include more than 25 years of experience as a professional financial advisor with a major investment firm coupled with 30 years of solid community service in various leadership roles, including serving currently as the chair of our city's Planning Commission. You can check my website to learn of all the community organizations I have chaired.
There are 7 candidates for 3 seats. only 1 of which is being vacated. I believe I am one of the stronger candidates. However, there is at least one, who is an incumbent, whose votes appear to mirror many tea party philosophies - don't invest any money in any large project no matter how it is forecast to solve our community's problems or improve life for our community's citizens. And with so many people in the mix, it is vitally important that I will have the funds necessary to "outshout" all of them.
The political makeup of our city is largely Democratic - due in large part to a majority African American population (of which I am not a member). Another interesting tidbit is that many of our city leaders are women. In fact, the woman who served until last fall as our mayor was tapped to be a member of our new governor's cabinet! I think being female just may be an asset in this race.
Thanking you in advance - every little bit helps!
