Loudoun, Prince William County Officials Endorse McAuliffe

MANASSAS, VA — A collection of Prince William and Loudoun county officials have come out in support of former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his bid for re-election, announcing their endorsements while praising the Democrat's efforts to provide equity for residents across the state and for his support for education across the state.

Sen. John Bell (Loudoun, Prince William counties), Delegate David Reid (Loudoun), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, Loudoun County Supervisor Kristen Umstattd and Town Councilman Zach Cummings collectively announced their endorsement of McAuliffe and praised the former governor for his “big, bold vision to create a more equitable Virginia. The group also touted McAuliffe’s commitment to make a large investment in education and ensure that all state residents are able to benefit from the state’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery plans.

Last week, McAuliffe announced that his campaign has raised a record $6.1 million in 2020, which campaign officials said is more than any gubernatorial candidate had ever raised in an off-year. According to the campaign, more than 9,000 donors have contributed to McAuliffe’s re-election bid.

“Terry McAuliffe has been a tireless leader for Virginia families. As a Navy veteran and the Chair of the Virginia Military and Veterans Caucus, I commend Terry for the great work he has done and will do to recruit, hire, and support Virginia’s veterans in our workforce,” Reid said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “I also commend Terry for making Virginia the first state in the nation to functionally end veteran homelessness. Terry has been and will be a champion for our veterans - and for all Virginians. Terry McAuliffe has been an unstoppable leader for all of Virginia families.

Added Umstattd:

“Terry is committed to improving education for students across the Commonwealth,” Umstattd said. “His education plan boldly calls for an increase in teacher salary so that it is finally above the national average, because he understands that teachers deserve to be paid fairly for the crucial part they play in shaping our future. We need someone like Terry who will invest in education and rebuild a stronger, fairer Virginia,”

On Monday, McAuliffe called for the General Assembly to pass a resolution for a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for all residents across Virginia. According to his campaign, McAuliffe is pledging to get teacher pay above the national average for the first time in Virginia history, expand preschool to every 3 and 4-year old child in need, and get every single Virginia student online. Additionally, he is pledging to take bold and decisive action to create jobs, protect workers, invest in mental health services, and rebuild Virginia's thriving network of small businesses, particularly Black and Brown-owned businesses.

"This is a critical moment in our lives and we need to take advantage of this opportunity to deliver a more equitable future for families across Northern Virginia and our entire Commonwealth,” McAuliffe said in the release announcing the endorsements. “We are going to think big and act boldly to give every Virginia child a world-class education and create economic opportunities that lift all Virginians up.”

This article originally appeared on the Manassas Patch