This Is Where Change Happens

Connolly Offers Practical Perspective

The Fairfax Times profiles Gerry.

Whether the issue is affordable housing, the environment or Metrorail to Dulles, Gerry Connolly is dogged about what he believes, colleagues on both sides of the aisle say.

Mission Accomplished

Today is the 5-year anniversary of “Mission Accomplished.”

(AP)

Read Gerry’s plan to end the war in Iraq.

SEIU, UFCW Endorse Connolly

For Immediate Release
April 28, 2008

Unions Cite Connolly’s Record of Getting Real Results for Working People

Fairfax, VA — The Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 announced recently that they are endorsing Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in the Democratic Primary for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.  UFCW Local 400 is one of the area’s largest and most active labor unions, representing more than 40,000 workers in the region and 10,000 in Northern Virginia.  SEIU is the nation’s fastest-growing union, with more than 1.9 million members working in hospital systems, long-term care facilities, property services and public services.

“I am incredibly proud and humbled to receive these endorsements from UFCW and SEIU — unions with a growing presence and active membership here in Northern Virginia,” said Connolly.  “As Chairman, I’ve stood with working people by passing a living wage, investing in affordable housing and speaking out against anti-immigrant rhetoric and measures.  The working men and women of UFCW Local 400 and SEIU deserve a Representative with a real record of getting results on tough issues that matter.  In Congress, I promise to fight for fair wages, better benefits and dignity for all working people.”

“Gerry Connolly is a man we know and trust,” said Jim Lowthers,  President of UFCW Local 400.  “We’ve worked with him on a number of important initiatives and he’s always come through for us.  He cares about working people and knows how to get things done.  That’s exactly what we need in Congress and that’s why UFCW Local 400 will be supporting him 100% in his race for Congress.”

“These endorsements cement Chairman Connolly’s position as the progressive choice for change in this race,” said James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s campaign manager.

Recently, UFCW and SEIU supported Donna Edwards (D-MD) in a Democratic primary against Congressman Al Wynn.  Together, SEIU and UFCW launched an aggressive field operation on her behalf and she went on to win with 60% of the vote.  Both SEIU and UFCW were also active in last year’s elections for Virginia State Senate, House of Delegates and local offices.

A Major Announcement

Just yesterday, we learned that Gerry has won the endorsement of two major unions — the Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers.

These are huge endorsements. In fact, this is probably the most significant development in the campaign so far. SEIU and UFCW Local 400 have large and active memberships here in Northern Virginia. They have a proven track record of playing a big role in winning campaigns for progressive Democrats, most recently supporting Maryland Democrat Donna Edwards in her successful primary challenge to Al Wynn.

UFCW Local 400 has 40,000 members in the region and 10,000 here in Northern Virginia. SEIU has 1.9 million members in North America and a growing presence in our area.

These endorsements make one thing absolutely clear: Gerry Connolly is the choice of working people in the 11th district.

Here’s what Jim Lowthers, the President of UFCW Local 400 had to say about Gerry:

“Gerry Connolly is a man we know and trust. We’ve worked with him on a number of important initiatives and he’s always come through for us. He cares about working people and knows how to get things done. That’s exactly what we need in Congress and that’s why UFCW Local 400 will be supporting him 100% in his race for Congress.”

This is a great day for our campaign, but we have serious work left to do. I need you to join the working men and women of UFCW and SEIU as they take up this fight.

Here are three things you can do today:

1. Sign up to volunteer. Email jason@gerryconnolly.com to volunteer today.

2. Attend a house party or coffee near you. Click here to visit our calendar and RSVP to attend an event.

3. Contribute. The last quarter was a huge success, but we have to keep it going. Please consider making a contribution today!

So far, our campaign has exceeded all expectations and we’re on track to win in June and November. But we can’t let up now. It’s time for change in Washington. The men and women of UFCW and SEIU know that and that’s why they stand with Gerry Connolly.

Two Major Union Endorsements

We’ll have a lot more on this later.

Connolly Gets Two Unions’ Endorsements

South County Chronicle Covers the Race

Four Democrats Vie for Seat Being Vacated by Republican Tom Davis

Gerry Connolly has been a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 1995 and served as chairman since 2003. A long-time resident of the Mantua neighborhood in Annandale, Connolly, 57, began his career as an elected public official in 1995 as the Providence District supervisor to the Board of Supervisors. He served in that post until he was elected as chairman of the Board in 2003. Connolly won reelection as chairman in November 2007.

In his announcement speech for the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th District Congressional seat, Connolly cited his 10 years working on the staff of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In his Internet blog, Connolly laid out four goals: To end the war in Iraq; to combat climate change; to fix No Child Left Behind and to provide all Americans access to healthcare. Connolly has a bachelor’s degree in Literature from Maryknoll College and an master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

CQ Politics Top Cash Gainers

CQ Politics released a list of Congressional candidates who raised the most and spent the least, leaving them with a high cash-on-hand total.  We made the list!

Congressional candidates always aspire to show big overall receipts when they file their quarterly reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as they did to meet a deadline that passed on Tuesday. But what is even better is to raise a lot of money and spend little of it, leaving the candidate with a daunting reserve of “cash on hand” to be disbursed later in the campaign…

7) Gerry Connolly, Democrat, Virginia’s 11th ($422,000 cash on hand; increase of $422,000)

Connolly is chairman of the board of supervisors in Fairfax County, which comprises the bulk of the population of this politically competitive district near Washington, D.C., left open by retiring seven-term Republican Rep. Thomas M. Davis III . Connolly is a leading Democratic contender in a four-candidate primary election on June 10 that also includes Leslie Byrne, a former U.S. House member (1993-95) and state senator; Doug Denneny, a naval aviator who won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service during the Iraq War; and Lori Alexander, a physical therapist. Republican businessman Keith Fimian will be defending the district for his party.

Fundraising Reports Around the Internet

The Hill

Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) outraised former Rep. Leslie Byrne $500,000 to $230,000 in their race for retiring Rep. Tom Davis’s (R-Va.) seat.

Below the Beltway

The first-quarter fundraising numbers are out for the 11th District, and Gerry Connolly appears to be doing very well:

DC Examiner

Three Democrats looking to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Tom Davis have raised nearly $1 million in advance of their June primary election, with Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly outpacing his rivals…

Connolly spokesman James Walkinshaw said he believes only a handful of congressional candidates across the country raised as much money as Connolly in the first quarter of 2008, indicating a wide range of support.

Virginia Politics

Connolly campaign manager James Walkinshaw pointed out that roughly 85 percent of Connolly’s support comes from Northern Virginia.

Connolly Raises $500,000, Has $424,000 On Hand

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2008

Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connolly Raises $500,000 in First Quarter, Has $424,000 On Hand

Fairfax, VA — The Gerry Connolly for Congress campaign announced today that it raised over $500,000 during the first quarter of 2008 and has $424,000 remaining on hand.

More than 90% of Connolly’s nearly 1000 contributions came from individuals and 85% of those individuals reside in Northern Virginia.

“We’ve been amazed at the tremendous outpouring of support,” said James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s campaign manager.  “Hundreds and hundreds of Northern Virginians are contributing to this campaign and joining our effort.  It’s absolutely clear that Chairman Connolly’s support in the district is far greater than any of our opponents.”

Connolly was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995. In 2003, he was elected Chairman of the Board.  Prior to serving in elected office, Connolly spent ten years with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control and United Nations and Middle East policies.  He received a B.A. in Literature from Maryknoll College and an M.A. in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1979.

(See below for detailed fundraising statistics)

Total Raised: $502,000
Total Cash on Hand: $424,000
91.52% of contributions from individuals
85% of individual contributors from Northern Virginia