"Virginia State Senator Emily Couric (D-Charlottesville) announced today that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is withdrawing as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2001. She will continue in her duties as State Senator for the 25th District.

"'Yesterday, I learned that I have cancer of the pancreas, and that this cancer has spread,' Couric told a hastily called news conference at a downtown law office. 'My doctors, family and I are now working on designing the best course of treatment to address the cancer.'

Couric, 53, said she would remain the Virginia Senate, where she is in the first year of her second four-year term, but could not devote her energy to a statewide campaign while she addresses her illness.

'Many, many people have pledged their support to my candidacy for lieutenant governor and have actually begun the hard work of a long campaign,' she said. 'I am very grateful to them for their encouragement and help.'

'It would not be fair to them, nor to the others who might come on board, to let them continue when I cannot give such a campaign the time and energy it deserves.'

Earlier this week, Couric's campaign announced she had raised $120,000 toward next year's race for lieutenant governor and released a list of more than 800 names of Democratic Party officials and other supporters from around Virginia.

Delegate Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, said he was shocked by Couric's news.

'I was devastated when she called to tell me,' Van Yahres said. 'It was just out of the blue. I was shocked.'

'Hopefully she can have control of it for a long time. She's got the will power. She's got the constitution to fight it.'

Van Yahres said he enjoys working closely with Couric, as he has since she won her Senate seat five years ago.

'I still look forward to working with Emily in the Senate,' he said. 'She said she will stick with the Senate. We work well together'" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, July 21, 2000).

Senator Couric has been a powerful voice for progressive legislation in Virginia. If you want to contact her, you can do so through her website: www.emilycouric.com.

State Party Chair Ken Plum has released the following statement:

"Our concerns and prayers are with Emily Couric and her family. She has been and will continue to be an effective and articulate leader for the Democratic Party. We hope and pray for her full and speedy recovery."