It is official! Terrence Walker is on the ballot in Virginia, running to represent the 81st district as a delegate. He told me that he is excited to be on the ballot and very thankful to the folks at Daily Kos for all the help. Those small dollar donations and grassroots activity really do help candidates. It helps to elect more, and better Democrats and they sure do appreciate it!
Terrence told me that before filing he had reservations about running. He was doing his job as a Mental Health Administrator at VCU and was the Vice Chair of the Henrico Co., Va. Democratic Committee. He was the politically appointed Varina representative to the Henrico County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, previous Varina representative on the Henrico County Council PTA (still an active participant), and a single parent.
Seriously, I had to take a nap after writing that paragraph! No wonder he had second thoughts about candidacy. At the same time, he had thoughts of being the first person in his family to run for political office, and he had his mom beaming "My son is running for office".
Mrs. Johnnie Walker
Last year when he filed in this newly drawn district, no Democrat was running. No Democratic incumbent lived inside the overwhelmingly Democratic redrawn district.
He asked himself why not me? What strong Democrat is going to step up?
Turns out, he is the strong Democrat! He’s got 20 years of strong activism in this district. This newly drawn district IS “his house” He knows what this district wants.
He knows what legislation needs to be introduced that will help this district. The people in this district know who he is and what kind of legislator he’ll be. They know him.
Terrence moved to what is now VA HD 81 to marry his wife, Tracy. They were married in the living room of his house. He lost his wife 6 years ago to cancer, in the master bedroom of his house.
As he pauses, so proud and happy to be on the ballot, the fact that Tracy isn’t here to smile and celebrate with him, stuns him with its sadness.
Then he sees his mom with her beaming smile “My son is running for office”, and Terrence thinks “this is my house”. This district is his house, and he wants to represent this district that is so important to his family.
Terrence Walker and his wife Tracy, celebrating their pregnancy.
