George Loper has invited his readers to send their thoughts on the issue of choice in the 5th District Congressional race between Meredith Richards and Virgil Goode. I may have a unique perspective on this matter.

I am a new member of the district having moved to Charlottesville in June. I also have spent much of my life advocating for reproductive rights. I was the first state lobbyist on behalf of Planned Parenthood's statewide organization from 1982 to 1989. I returned to serve as the Director of Governmental Relations for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia for the last four state legislative sessions.

I have also served has Chair of the Pro-Choice PAC which focuses exclusively on General Assembly races. I have provided this information on my credentials only to help the reader understand my commitment to and background for assessing candidates with regard to reproductive rights. I am submitting the information below only as an interested citizen and voter in the 5th Congressional District.

I will not repeat the excellent information and voting records of the candidates that George has compiled on his web site. That alone should make it clear that our current representative in Congress, Virgil Goode, has a consistently anti-choice record, while Meredith Richards has repeatedly stated her pro-choice credentials. I have additional information to offer on behalf of Meredith's support of reproductive rights.

When she was one of four candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for the 25th State Senatorial District to succeed our beloved Emily Couric, I provided Meredith on behalf of the Pro-Choice PAC with a detailed questionnaire on almost every important topic related to reproductive freedom. I am pleased to report that Meredith, who actively sought the support of the Pro-Choice PAC for that campaign, answered her questionnaire with unabashed support for a woman's right to choose. Her answers were 100% pro-choice with no qualifications whatsoever on any state legislative issue.

If a 5th District voter cares about women's rights in general and reproductive rights in particular, I think the choice is clear. Meredith Richards is your candidate for Congress.

Again, I want to thank George Loper for giving me this opportunity to share my personal thoughts on the vitally important race.

Ben Greenberg (electronic mail, September 12, 2002)