GOOD MORNING - IT IS GOOD TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN VIRGINIA --- I LOVED LAST TUESDAY, DIDN'T YOU? WE WANT THE SAME FEELING ON DECEMBER 18TH - RIGHT?

WELL, I THINK I AM THE PERSON TO DO JUST THAT. LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, CREIGH SAID HE LIKED HAVING SOMEONE TO TALK TO IN THE SENATE. I'D LIKE TO BE THAT PERSON.

OUR NEW 25TH DISTRICT IS A LARGE ONE, CROSSING MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US IS THE SAME GOING EAST OR WEST. AND I HAVE THIS (DRIVER'S LICENSE) AND THESE (CAR KEYS) AND THAT IS ALMOST ALL I NEED. (COULDN'T GET THE CAR UP HERE). WHEN I OPEN MY OFFICE IN COVINGTON OR CLIFTON FORGE, IT WILL BE A DESTINATION FOR ME --- I WON'T JUST BE PASSING THROUGH ON MY WAY SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO TRAVEL TO THE WESTERN REACHES OF THIS DISTRICT? I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF TIME SPENT ALONG THE JACKSON RIVER, AT THE THEATER AT THE LIME KILN, HIKING THE CHESSIE TRAIL.

WE WORRY ABOUT MONEY IN EVERY CAMPAIGN. WE CAN RAISE THE MONEY --- WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN..
LAST THURSDAY THE DEMOCRATS PUT ON A FORUM. AND, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE I DISCOVERED WE WERE ALL PRETTY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE ---- THINGS ARE HURTING DOWN IN RICHMOND. MONEY IS SHORT. TEMPERS ARE SHORT. WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE GETTING SHORT CHANGED. AND WHY IS THAT? WHAT HAS THE SITTING LEGISLATURE BEEN DOING? THEY DO NOT PLAY WELL TOGETHER. I SAY IT'S TIME WE SEND AN EXPERT COALITION BUILDER WITH EXPERIENCE IN URBAN AND RURAL AFFAIRS TO RICHMOND --- A GOOD LISTENER - ME.

I HAVE THREE MAJOR COMMITMENTS TO MAKE---

· EDUCATION - TO INSURING CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY AND READY TO LEARN WHEN THEY REACH SCHOOL. CHILDREN CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES --- THEY NEED AN ADVOCATE. I WILL BE THAT ADVOCATE. I PLEDGE TO TREAT EDUCATORS WITH RESPECT. HONOR THEM WITH ADEQUATE PAY. MY COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION FOR LIFE IS REAL. I LIVE IT NOW.

· ENVIRONMENT - GET OUR STREAMS BACK. WHERE ONCE VIRGINIA HAD CLEAN, HEALTHY STREAMS --- GOOD FISHING, NOW WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE FISH WE TAKE HOME --- CAN WE EAT IT?? I WILL USE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WHEN THINGS DON'T WORK. IN NELSON COUNTY SEPTICS WOULDN'T PERC, I TOOK A GROUP TO HIGHLAND COUNTY AND BROUGHT A SOLUTION BACK AND WROTE A GRANT. OUR CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT NOW SERVES HOUSEHOLDS AND HAS OPENED UP THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR A POOR SECTION OF THE COUNTY.

· GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE TOOLS TO MANAGE GROWTH - IT'S HAPPENING THERE AND LOCAL PEOPLE AREN'T DUMB --- GIVEN TOOLS, THEY CAN WORK IT OUT.

· PUBLIC SAFETY - IN THE WAKE OF 9-1-1, WE MUST BE PREPARED. YET, THERE IS AN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN OUR STATE POLICE FORCE. I WOULD WORK TO INSURE THEY ARE FILLED. OUR LOCAL JAILS ARE FILLED WITH STATE PRISONERS, LOSING MONEY . MEANWHILE, THE STATE MAKES MONEY ON FEDERAL PRISONERS, LEAVING LOCALITIES HOLDING THE BAG. IS THIS FAIR? LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS AN ADVOCATE IN RICHMOND. MY EXPERIENCE WITH COUNTIES AND A CITY HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS CHALLENGE.

I CALLED A PARTY CHAIR, CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS CANDIDATE'S SUCCESS. HE SAID "SHE WAS A GREAT CANDIDATE --- SHE WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS TILL 9 O'CLOCK THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION." WELL, I'M THAT KIND OF CANDIDATE. HOW ELSE DID I WIN A CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A REPUBLICAN LANDSLIDE?

CHOOSE ME AS YOUR CANDIDATE ----- GIVE CREIGH SOMEONE TO TALK TO IN THE SENATE!

THANK YOU!