Dear George:

I don't have any thoughts about who should run and who should not, as, in our democratic society, I believe that anyone who meets the requisite requirements has the right to run, and that we all benefit from this.

However, I can tell you who I am supporting: Mike Signer. I got to know Mike last year when he was running the Virginia Democratic Party's "Election Protection" campaign. This was an initiative to ensure that tactics such as those that resulted in Gore's loss to Bush in Florida were not repeated. It was an important effort that involved lawyers and law students across the state in making sure that there was a legal eye monitoring the voting process and ensuring that voters knew where to go if there was a problem that preventing them from casting their vote.

Mike is a graduate of the UVA law school, and while there, was involved in initiating dialogues on race relations and community vigils in response to the attack on Student Council presidential candidate Daisy Lundy. Currently Mike is deputy legal counsel to Governer Warner. His connection to the 25th district go back to his days as Creigh's aide in the house of delegates. He also co-founded the New Electoral Reform Alliance for Virginia, which was successful in getting election reform legislation passed in the GA last session.

I am supporting Mike for this race for the same reason I decided to support Creigh--I think he's someone who can bring an understanding of the concerns of all the portions of the district to the General Assembly. The 25th senatorial district is much more politically diverse than the 57th house district. I think he has that undefinable thing we call "electability" for lack of a better term--and I think he will make an excellent legislator.

Valerie L'Herrou (electronic mail, August 27, 2005)