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

The Connolly Environmental Agenda

The Connection covers the release of the Connolly Environmental Agenda.

Should he be elected, Connolly would pursue a 10-point environmental plan that includes making a solar energy tax credit available to more people; creating a free home weatherization program; forming land conservation grants that protect drinking water; putting forward a cash reward for the business that creates that first 100-mile-per-gallon car; and installing auxiliary power at Dulles International Airport so that planes do not have to idle as much while sitting on the runway.

“I think there is very broad consensus on environment and I don’t think it is liberal or conservative,” Connolly.

Connolly was the first chairman in Fairfax County’s history to develop a comprehensive environmental agenda.

Under his leadership, the local government helped create the “Cool Counties” initiative, which lays out steps for localities to become more environmentally friendly.
Environmental activists have been pleased with Connolly’s efforts at the local government level.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Gerry Connolly because he has been a leader in working on environmental issues. It is not often I get to work with an elected official who leads on conservation issues,” said Stella Koch, a Virginia conservation advocate for the Audubon Naturalist Society.

You can read the entire environmental agenda here.

Coverage of Our New Poll Around the Internet

Swing State Project

With high name recognition and a job performance approval of 61% as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Connolly is in a strong position to win…

Election Advantage

According to the poll, Connolly’s big lead has been steady for the last several months over Byrne, who held this seat for one term before losing to Davis in 1994.

The Hill

The internal poll, obtained by The Hill, shows Connolly leading with 45 percent of the vote compared to Byrne’s 25 percent for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.). Two other candidates — Doug Denneny and Lori Alexander — both registered with 1 percent of the vote.

Virginia Politics Blog

New polling by Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly continues to show him with a significant lead over Leslie L. Byrne in the race for the 11th District Democratic Congressional nomination.

New Lake Research Poll Shows Commanding 20-Point Lead

For Immediate Release
April 9, 2008

Lake Research Poll Shows Gerry Connolly with 20-Point Lead in VA-11 Democratic Primary

Fairfax, VA — The Gerry Connolly for Congress campaign released a new poll today showing Chairman Connolly with a 20-point lead in the Democratic primary in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.  The poll, performed by Lake Research Partners, reconfirms Connolly’s status as the front-runner in the race and corroborates an earlier poll released in March.

“The dynamic of this race hasn’t changed,” said James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s campaign manager.  “Chairman Connolly’s lead is large, it has depth and breadth, and he’s on his way to winning this nomination.”

Like the results released in early March, this 20-point lead is reflected in an initial head-to-head ballot question and is not affected by candidate profiles or negative messaging.  It is an accurate reflection of where the race stands today.

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.

(full text of polling memo below)

******************************************************************************************

To: Interested Parties
From: Celinda Lake and Joshua Ulibarri
Date: April 3, 2008
Re: Follow-up Survey of Primary Voters in VA-11

A recent Lake Research Partners survey of likely Democratic primary voters shows that Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has maintained his commanding lead in the Democratic Primary for Congress.  Connolly continues to lead his closest opponent, Leslie Byrne, by double digits and among both men and women.

Connolly leads Byrne by 20 points in the poll’s initial trial heat, 45% to 25% (Doug Denneny and Lori Alexander trail further behind at 1% each).  This is almost identical to the 23-point lead that Connolly held in the January poll (45% to 22%). Connolly leads by a two-to-one margin among men (50% to 25%), but also outdistances Byrne by a comfortable margin among women (40% to 25%).  He leads among voters under age 55 (41% to 24%) and voters age 55 and older (47% to 26%).  In terms of political ideology, Connolly dominates among voters who are very liberal (51% to 27%), while also holding strong leads among voters who are somewhat liberal (41% to 24%) and moderate (45% to 24%).

Connolly’s lead in the head-to-head match-up is owed to the voters’ strong approval of his job performance as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.  Sixty-one percent (61% of the electorate thinks Connolly has done an “excellent” or “good” job as Chairman, while only 23% rate his work as “just fair” or “poor.”  Comparatively, only 41% rate the job that Byrne did in Congress as “excellent” or “good”, and 31% rate her job performace as “just fair” or “poor” — lukewarm approval ratings for a job she seeks again.

Gerry Connolly is the strongest candidate in this primary.  His 23-point lead against Byrne in January has held for several months.  By all measures Connolly is the front-runner in the race for the 11th Congressional District.

Methodology:  Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey, which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers.  The survey reached a total of 500 likely voters in the 2008 Democratic primary election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.  The survey was conducted March 24-27, 2008.  Telephone numbers for the sample were generated from a file of registered voters who have voted in recent Democraric primary elections in Virginia.  The margin of error for the full survey is +/-4.4%.