Ed Gillespie Archives - Read. Think. Act.

(Oct. 11, 2017) Catherine Read talks with AARP Community Ambassador Berniece Courtenay about a new program called “We Want to Know” which was created to foster greater voter engagement. Virginia is one of only two states with an off-year Governor’s race in 2017. Along with Lt. Governor and Attorney General, there are also 100 seats in the House of Delegates on the ballot this year.

Berniece Courtenay talks about her journey to becoming an AARP Ambassador and the many volunteer opportunities available right here in our local community. Many people have a very narrow and one dimensional view of the AARP organization. There are thousands of AARP volunteers spread out across the country, and many volunteers here in Virginia. One of the core missions of AARP is education, and related to that is advocacy around issues affecting their members.

The AARP We Want to Know voter engagement program is using social media to encourage voters to reach out to the candidates running for election in 2017 to ask questions about the issues they care about. They are using Twitter to encourage people to submit questions to @AARPVa and also their Facebook page to highlight their “Flat People” device for encouraging people to write down their questions for candidates and post them on social media platforms. They are using the hashtag #WW2K

Catherine points out the reluctance some people have of asking their question in a public forum even when the opportunity is created, as it was during the NoVIE Forum for both gubernatorial candidates. Those specific voter questions are central to making candidates aware of what a particular community, or region, is concerned about. It also highlights very specific issues that may not be part of a candidate’s talking points or stump speeches.

According to Virginia’s AARP State Director, Jim Dau, “We Want to Know amplifies the voices of Virginia voters so that candidates have to listen – and respond – to their concerns.”

Virginia voters can send their questions to candidates via @AARPVa on Twitter, post questions to AARP’s Facebook page, visit the We Want to Know – Virginia website and also find links to statewide candidates social media pages at http://states.aarp.org/va-candidate-links/

(Sept 1 2017) Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam was the first gubernatorial candidate to speak at a forum hosted by The Northern Virginia Idea Exchange (NoVIE). This coalition is made up of non-profit leaders in the Northern Virginia area. This event was held on Friday, September 1st, as the first of two forums at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, VA. Ed Gillespie will address this group on Thursday, September 14th.

Karen Cleveland, President and CEO of Leadership Fairfax, is the moderator of these two forums. After opening remarks from Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, he was asked questions that had been submitted in advance via email. Following those questions posed by the moderator, audience members were invited to line up at a microphone placed near the front of the stage to ask other questions. Questions came from individuals representing a wide range of non-profit organizations in the Northern Virginia area on subjects ranging from affordable housing and education to medicaid waivers, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the Dillon Rule.

Dr. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, spoke of his long term commitment to public service through collaboration with non-profits such as the Edmarc Hospice for Children where he has served as medical director for 19 years. His wife, Pam Northam, is an elementary school teacher who also works on environmental issues through the non-profit Lynnhaven River NOW. He addressed the importance of the work non-profits do, Virginia’s reliance on those services and the advocacy needed for better public policy, and pledged to continue working with non-profit organizations across the Commonwealth.

This 30 minute video includes some of the remarks made by Lt. Gov. Northam in the hour long forum. While it does not include the questions, his responses indicate the nature of the question. Some of the participating non-profits include Britepaths, Cornerstones, BRAWS, The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Friends of Guest House, and many others.

Virginia is one of only two states in the United States with an “off year” Governor’s race that takes place the year following a presidential election. It is the last state to have a one term (4 year) governorship. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.