Mike Signer Fires Up Staunton Dems

Green Energy Jobs for the Valley Forum
Mike Signer & Erik Curren
Darjeeling Cafe, Staunton, VA 6/5/09

And Waynesboro Dems, too...

full coverage at Augusta Free Press and News Virginian

Gen. Wes Clark Endorses Mike Signer for LG

from Signer site:

“I know Mike from my 2004 presidential campaign in Virginia and his work on national security issues. Mike Signer has the strength and leadership that Virginia needs and I wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor,” said General Clark.

“The problems facing Virginia and this country are so urgent, that they demand strong, courageous leadership to carry us forward. Mike sees the office of Lieutenant Governor as more than just a placeholder position, but rather an opportunity to seek progress on the most pressing issues. Mike is focused on the future of Virginia, not the past. His approach to the office and his leadership on every issue from jobs and the economy to veterans issues and moves to the strengthen our democracy make Mike the clear choice on June 9th.”

“General Clark has served his country bravely and tirelessly," said Mike Signer. "General Clark is a model citizen, exemplary public servant, and beacon of honor. I am honored to have his endorsement. As Lieutenant Governor, I will be a public advocate for working Virginians and shine a spotlight on problems we’ve ignored for too long.”

General Wesley Clark (US Army, ret.) was a four star general in the U.S. Army and NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. He was a 2004 presidential candidate for the Democratic nomination.

Not So Easy - New Radio Ad for Mike Signer

Meet and Greet Rally - Mike Signer - Staunton 6/5

You are cordially invited to join

supporters of Mike Signer

Candidate for Lt. Governor

for a

"Meet and Greet" Rally

with Mike Signer

Irish Alley Pub & Restaurant
(upstairs dining room)
19 West Johnson St
Staunton, VA 24401

Friday, June 5th
6:00 p.m.

cash bar, light snacks provided

RSVP requested, but not required.
Please reply to Riley Murray by June 4th.
ram3.2008@gmail.com

Deeds, Signer, Marrow: Fire in the Belly & Will to Prepare

"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."
Joe Paterrno, Head Coach, Penn State Football (1966 to present)

It's crunch time folks. Time to pays your money and takes your chance.

The Democratic primary season for 2009 will be done in just a little over a week. On June 9th, we each have to make an important decision to select the candidates that we each think have the best shot at defeating the Republican ticket, that has been called by the DPVA, "the most divisive ticket in modern Virginia history".

I have made my picks, and here's my logic for these choices.

Being an engineer and statistics geek, you would think that I would be swayed by the big numbers: fund-raising results, number of endorsements and standing in the polls. While all the numbers are an important reality check, in the end I am making my decision to endorse based on a simple personal assessment of the individual candidates. I have no problem supporting the eventual nominees in all the races, but politics is all about making difficult choices and living with the consequences.

The over-arching personal characteristics that drive my assessments are tied to two questions:

1) Which candidate has the most "fire in the belly"? Who has the most passion for getting up every day, fighting to win in November, and fighting to protect the interest of all the citizens of Virginia - not just the richest, most well-connected and politically powerful.

2) To borrow on Coach Paterno's guidance above. Preparation. Preparation. Preparation. Which candidate has the most personal rigor, demonstrated reliable daily campaign discipline, and operates with focused, efficient organizational processes? The desire to win is important... but the will to prepare to win... is much more than a bank balance, poll results and lists of endorsers.

So here's my endorsements:

Governor - Creigh Deeds
Creigh defines the concept of "fire in the belly". I have a visceral sense, whenever I hear him speak on any topic -- that he's on my side and he gets up everyday representing the interest of the common folks of Virginia. This is his life's work - win or lose, you want someone like Creigh watching out for your interests in Richmond. More importantly - Independents and moderate Republicans will vote for Creigh versus a radically rightwinger like Bob McDonnell. Creigh is an excellent logistican - even though he took time out to do the people's business in this year's General Assembly, he has done a outstanding job campaigning with modest resources. His singular focus on a critical few state-wide issues - education, jobs & new energy and transportation systems versus the trivial many - is the very definition of Pareto Principle thinking. As Governor - he will be prepared to focus on key issues and lead Virginia forward on day one!

from Sun Tzu, Art of War:

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

Creigh Deeds deeply knows his enemy (McDonnell) and he knows himself.

Lt Governor - Mike Signer
A bit obvious here, I have been a big supporter of Mike Signer since he spoke to our group of poli-bloggers, just before this year's JJ Dinner in Richmond.

Fire in the belly - hell yes! He has an obvious athletic drive to win every contest.

Preparation: The will to prepare - Mike had a vision from day one of his campaign, about doing more than using the Lt Gov position as a stepping stone or place-holder. He is prepared to be an aggressive public advocate for the common folks of Virginia.

Preparation: Innovation. His campaign reminded me a lot of the Obama campaign in the use of new media. Mike's team has been very effective in reaching the 18-34 demographic. KEY POINT here - these will be the people (Young Dems) who define the future of politics in Virginia for the foreseeable future. They are statistically committed to innovative, progressive candidates. Mike best represents this new wave of young Virginia voters.

Preparation: Campaign Experience. His work in the 5th CD in Tom Periello's campaign has prepared him to win outside of NoVa, Metro Richmond and Tidewater - in the rest of Virginia. He will be a big strategic-thinking asset to the Democratic ticket this fall.

Here's his thoughts in winning in the "rest of Va"... how to convince culturally conservative Americans that we were on their side.

I have always thought that there is a tremendously effective campaign waiting to be run by a statewide Democrat that would essentially marry the Warner gubernatorial campaign of 2001 and the Kaine gubernatorial campaign of 2005. See Wash Po 2004!

Mark Warner ran a campaign that opened the door on cultural issues like NASCAR and the 2nd Amendment and got a lot of votes in the 5th, the 9th, and the 6th.

Tim Kaine ran harder in the cities and suburbs and got amazing turnout in Richmond, NoVA, Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads.

I don't see any reason that you couldn't borrow from both approaches, and I would do it on substance, by having a vision and an argument about using government more effectively for working people and their families, and by running hard on a variety of issues that are true to my personality and background -- from economic development and the environment to national security and veterans and the strength and quality of our democracy.

In summary: I see in his campaign the critical ability to Adapt, Persevere and Prevail over our Republican rivals.


25th House of Delegates - Greg Marrow
As other observers have already noted, we have been very fortunate to have not one, but two Democratic challengers, to step forward to take on the daunting task of unseating Delegate Steve Landes, in the 25th district for the House of Delegates, this coming November. Jim Noel and Greg Marrow are vying for the Democratic nomination on June 9th. These are both fine fellows, I admire them both for stepping forward to run in the primary for the 25th district.

The primary campaign process is tough on candidates and on party activists - it forces each person involved to make hard choices and spend their precious resources wisely, to achieve our shared political goals. After a month or so of campaigning, a clear choice has emerged in my humble opinion. Dr. Greg Marrow is the clear choice. He is ready to run a tough, aggressive campaign; to take on an entrenched incumbent.

The clincher for me was Greg's performance at the recent Green Valley & Green Economy forum. He spoke with passion and obvious knowledge of the subject at hand. He has demonstrated an ability to quickly learn about key issues in the 25th, build an effective campaign team and do the hard daily work of political campaigning, in our historical Red district. He is a political moderate, a medical professional, a small business owner and a parent of young children. He deeply "gets it" on a variety of issues in the 25th, from the glaring lack of industrial development efforts, inadequate health care insurance coverage for middle and low income folks, and the under-performing public education system, that is still leaving some of our kids behind. He knows we need to do better in preparation to learn in pre-K & early elementary grades. If we are going to grow industrial jobs in the 25th, businesses will need a 21st century workforce. Greg understands that we must be aggressive about putting improved public school curriculum in place, to encourage more young folks to pursue a post-high school education -- technical schools or college. Post-high school education is the key to higher paying jobs. These are the new skilled craft and technical jobs, that will give our young folks a fair shot at the America Dream. A chance that their parents had in the Shenandoah Valley in the 60's and 70's -- but in 2009 has been severely eroded by a lack of leadership in economic development, in the 25th district and beyond, in the Shenandoah Valley. Greg will make sure that voters will be asking the Republican incumbents - who's side are you really on?

Fire in the belly? For sure.

Will to prepare? Done deal.

Game On!
The Red team has their team picked. Now the Blue team has to field their best.

I endorse DEEDS - SIGNER - MARROW