As everyone knows, the Democratic nominating process for the 25th District seat is coming down fast.

I believe it is important for any candidates who believe they have a chance of winning the nomination to 1) get their people out and 2) to get their message out. I also believe the winnowing out process may become a function of who can show their strength the fastest.

With this in mind, I thought it would be interesting to speculate about the Labor Action vote.

Below is a show of support from Susan Fraiman for Meredith Richards with regard to the upcoming Democratic Convention. [I have permission from Meredith and Susan to place Susan's email on my web site.] And Meredith Richards has a statement about Living Wage on my web site and on her own web site.

Since receiving Susan's e-mail, Al Weed has also begun courting Living Wage folks and recently attended a demonstration at the Marriott in Charlottesville. He has also provided answers for my web site to a Living Wage questionaire, as has Creigh Deeds.

I might also add that, since the time of Susan's e-mail below, the location of the convention has been changed to the Albemarle County Office Building in Charlottesville, Virginia and Blake Caravati has dropped out of the race in favor of Nancy O'Brien.

It is quite encouraging to have a field of such strong active candidates who are committed to their community and wish to serve their community in the Virginia Senate.

If you have thoughts about the campaign, please send them to george@loper.org where the most representative comments will be placed on my web site.

George Loper

Dear LAG Supporters:

Please see a letter from Meredith Richards asking for our support in nominating her to run for Emily Couric's Senate seat. Of all the local politicians, Meredith has been THE MOST HELPFUL to LAG. She has spoken at more rallies more readily than anyone -- including other sympathetic folks like Mitch and Maurice. In fact, she was the ONLY one willing to speak out for the Hospital 9. Certainly she is better on a living wage than Caravati, also up for nomination. She needs bodies at the convention on Nov. 10, and I've promised to get some of us there. If you would be willing to go--she's renting van, see below--please reply to me ASAP, and I'll pass your name onto her. (Eric and I plan to drive [to Natural Bridge for the convention] on our own.)

Many thanks,

Susan (electronic mail, October 30, 2001).