Moran Concludes Statewide Tour with Hometown Kickoff Rally in Alexandria

~ Moran Pledges to Fight for Virginia~

~ Every Elected Democrat in Alexandria Backs Moran~

ALEXANDRIA – After traveling the state for 5 months, receiving unprecedented endorsements from local elected and Democratic leaders in all corners of Virginia, Brian Moran returned to his hometown of Alexandria for a rally to kick off his primary campaign and receive the support of his local community. Every local elected Democrat in Alexandria joined Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and endorsed Moran for Governor. They cited Moran’s proven record of fighting for families in Alexandria and across the Commonwealth. Moran spoke to an overflow crowd at the center named for civil-rights pioneer Charles Houston.

Alexandria Democrats joined leaders from every other locality in Northern Virginia who have backed Moran’s campaign, including nearly every elected Democrat in Arlington, the majority of the Democrats on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, nearly every elected Democrat in Falls Church including the Mayor, and nearly every elected Democrat in the bellwether counties of Loudoun and Prince William. Demonstrated the depth of his support around the state, the campaign released this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KSvbw-jgvk

“Brian Moran has been a strong and effective leader for Alexandria, and I know he’ll stand up for all of Virginia as Governor,” Mayor Bill Euille said. “He knows how to get results for people and how to improve the lives of every Virginian. He’s someone we can trust, who knows Virginia, and will never stop fighting for us.”

Moran highlighted his long record of fighting for families across Virginia, working to raise the minimum wage, expanding health care to every child and protecting families. Moran was the chief legislative partner of Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to make the largest investment in public education in Virginia’s history, which helped keep classes smaller and helped our kids prepare for college. Moran was elected to the House of Delegates in 1996 and to Chair the House Democratic Caucus in December of 2001.

“In these difficult times, Virginia needs a leader who fights for people each and every day,” Moran said. “For 20 years, I’ve fought hard for the people of Virginia. I know we need a Governor who cares more about the family dinner table than the corporate board room.”

In his speech, Moran pledged:

· a bold commitment to fight for a cleaner environment by creating renewable energy and green jobs, opposing offshore drilling, and standing firm against a new coal mega-plant in the Chesapeake bay region;

· a plan to provide health care to every Virginia child who needs it so children grow up healthy;

· an economic recovery plan that grows small businesses and helps entrepreneurs create more, better jobs and a Homeowners’ Bill of Rights that protects people from foreclosures;

· and a vital education initiative to raise teachers’ salaries to the national average, cut class sizes and strengthen public schools.

An unprecedented number of local elected leaders around Virginia are standing behind Brian Moran, including the mayors of Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, Williamsburg, Richmond, Leesburg, Petersburg, Falls Church and the Board of Supervisors Chair in Arlington. Moran also has the support of former Congressman L. F. Payne, House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong and the majority of Democrats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Endorsing Moran today were:

· Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and Vice Mayor Redella S. "Del" Pepper;

· Every member of the Alexandria City Council. Councilmember(s) Ludwig Gaines, Rob Krupicka, Timothy Lovain, and Paul Smedberg;

· Every Constitutional Officer from Alexandria. Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Clerk of Court Ed Semonian, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel.

· Every member of the House of Delegates. Delegate David Englin, Charniele Herring.

· School Board Vice-Chair Sheryl Gorsuch and members Marc Williams, Charles Wilson, Blanche Maness and Eileen Cassidy-Rivera.

The campaign had previously announced the endorsements of former Alexandria Mayor and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Kerry Donley; Delegate Adam Ebbin; and Councilman Justin Wilson.

“Brian has proven his bottom up campaign has support all over Virginia, and now he’s returned to his hometown and they are ready to step forward for him,” Campaign Chair Mame Reiley said.

An overflow crowd attended Brian’s Hometown Kickoff Rally at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. The Charles Houston Recreation Center was named in honor of attorney Charles Houston, who headed the legal effort that eventually led to the building of Alexandria’s first high school for African Americans. Houston was known as “the man who killed Jim Crow” and authored a legal brief used by his protégé, Thurgood Marshall, to win Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education, the U. S. Supreme Court case that helped to end racial segregation.

The primary is just over 50 days away on June 9, 2009.

The campaign also played these two videos about Brian Moran: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H95s1so6rG4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52idPmX6O9E

RELEVANT COMMENTS

“Throughout his time in public service, Brian Moran has never met a challenge that he couldn’t tackle. He takes on the big fights and wins them for people. Whether it’s standing firm for equality or pushing hard for public education, he’s always been there when the people of this city needed him.”
- Paul Smedberg, City Councilman

“Virginia needs a governor whose first priority is making lives better for people. We know Brian Moran will do that as Governor because he always has. He could have gone into private life for himself, but he decided to serve the public and fight for people. Now we’re going to work just as hard for him to be the next Governor.”
- Tim Lovain, City Councilman

“In these tough times, people need someone they know will be on their side. They need someone who has a plan to restart our economy, create thousands of new jobs, and grow our economy. Brian Moran has a 20-year record of fighting for Virginia and a plan to get the job done.”
- Del Pepper, Vice-Mayor

"As a parent with kids in public school and an experienced advocate for children, Brian understands how important it is to invest in early childhood education and for Virginia to have high-quality schools. Virginia's children could not have a stronger supporter in the Governor's mansion than Brian Moran"
-Rob Krupicka, City Councilman

“Families are struggling today, and that’s why more and more people are joining Brian’s campaign for Governor. People know that Brian’s been standing up for them for 20 years. They know that he will make it his job to fight for those who need it the most.”
- Ludwig Gaines, City Councilman

“With two students in Alexandria public schools, Brian has a very personal stake in quality public education. He’s committed to raising teacher salaries to the national average and giving local schools the tools they need so our kids can compete for the jobs of the future. I can’t think of a better education-governor than Brian Moran.”
- Sheryl Gorsuch, Vice Chair of the School Board

“As a former prosecutor, Brian Moran knows the needs of local law enforcement and how to keep our communities safe. He’s fought to crack down on drunk driving and stop online child sexual predators. For 20 years – as a prosecutor and a legislator – he’s always worked to make our communities safe and secure.”
- Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff

“As Governor, Brian Moran will do more than talk about issues. He’ll get results. You know how I know that? Because he always has. As a former prosecutor, He’s going to fight to keep our communities safe and secure.”
- Randy Sengel, Commonwealth’s Attorney

“For 20 years the people of Northern Virginia have benefited from his service. Now it’s time for all of Virginia to see what he can get done. I know Brian – and have known him for a long time. With him at the helm in Richmond, we can a see a brighter future ahead.”
- Ed Semonian, Clerk of the Court

“When it comes to advocating for progressive solutions to the problems we face, Brian Moran is the leader of the pack. He has proposed the boldest energy plan and opposes the new coal plant. He’s standing strong to make sure the minimum wage goes up and fighting to invest in people. That’s what we need from our next Governor.”
-David Englin, Delegate

“I’ve seen Government from both the local and state perspective, and so has Brian. He really understands what’s going on in Virginia and what people are going through from Abingdon to Alexandria. I know he’ll fight for every region, and he’ll get results.”
- Patsy Ticer, Senator

“As a Democratic party leader, I’ve had the honor of supporting Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. I know that Brian Moran is the right candidate to carry on their work and take Virginia into the future. He was their partner when they made Virginia the best-managed state in the nation and the best state for a child’s lifetime success, and I know he will continue their brand of leadership.”
- Justin Wilson, City Councilman

“Brian Moran has always been a leader in the fight against discrimination, even when it wasn’t popular. He was the only candidate to fight against writing discrimination into our constitution. I was proud to stand with him in the General Assembly, to campaign with him against the Marshall-Newman Amendment, and I will stand behind his campaign for Governor.”
- Adam Ebbin, Delegate

Brian Moran has a 20-year record of fighting for the people of Virginia. He was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a Delegate from Alexandria City and Fairfax County. Prior to that, he served as a prosecutor in Arlington County.

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