A reception at Rockafeller’s was held this evening for Peter Schmidt who is the Democrat running for the 82nd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Among those in attendance were former Mayor of Virginia Beach, Meyera Oberndorf; Delegates Bobby Mathieson and Joe Bouchard; and Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue, Phil Kellam. It was a packed house fill with people from diverse political background, a reflection on Schmidt’s record of public service.

Phil Kellam introduced Peter Schmidt as pragmatic with the ability to solve problems, saying there is a point where leaders have to stop talking about fixing problems and actually make it happen. He stressed that he believed that Schmidt would be the kind of leader who would take action against the problems the commonwealth faces, finding sensible solutions.

Meyera Oberndorf delivered an unexpected and impromptu introduction of Peter Schmidt, reminiscing on the first time they met while working on environmental issues in Virginia Beach and expressing how wonderful it was to later serve on the Virginia Beach City Council with Schmidt. Oberndorf described Peter Schmidt as being a man with conscious, intellect, commitment, and the right man at the right time to be elected to the House of Delegates.

In addressing the gathered crowed, Peter Schmidt described his vision for helping lead Virginia forward. He described it as a business model where leaders needed to raise revenue, control costs, and make necessary investments. He stressed that Virginia’s roads, bridges, tunnel, and rails are important assets to the commonwealth, and need to be managed much better than they have been. He talked about the need to train Virginia’s workforce through improving opportunities in education. He also talked about placing Virginia in the position to be a national, and even global, leader in alternative energy.

Schmidt explained that for the last decade, the House of Delegates has been a major roadblock to progress in Virginia with a great deal of responsibility for that lack of progress resting on the shoulders of Delegate Bob Purkey, who currently represents the 82nd. Elected in 1986, Purkey has had ample time and opportunity to take on important issues, but far too often allows progressive legislation to die in the finance committee, which he chairs. Issues, such as transporation, have little hope of being adaquately addressed as long as Purkey remains in the House of Delegates. As long as transportation isn’t addressed, Virginia cannot move forward as a commonwealth.

Also important to the progress of Virginia is the training of a skilled workforce. Without this training, businesses will have little reason to locate to Virginia. Without these business, we cannot strengthen our economy. A major area of agreement between Peter Schmidt and myself is the very realitic objective of expanding vocation and technical education to public school students to enable them to gain good employment after graduating high school. This is a nessesary investment that will open doors for so many students throughout the commonwealth who are in desperate need of such opportunities, and will bring businesses to the commonwealth.

On Peter Schmidt’s campaign banner is the motto, “No politics, just public service”. That seems to be an adaquate description of Schmidt’s style and perhaps is the reason he’s about to associate with and gain the support of Democrats and Republicans alike. Make no doubt about it, Schmidt is looking to be a responsible voice in Richmond when it comes to government spending; however, he’s looking for progressive solutions to the major issues we face in Virginia. He wants to move Virginia forward in a reasonable way, and I think that’s something everyone can agree with. Peter Schmidt may well be the kind of bipartisan progressive who can win in the business minded, typically conservative, 82nd district.

Related posts:

1. Peter Schmidt launches campaign in Virginia Beach
2. Peter Schmidt’s new ad
3. Del. Purkey asleep at the wheel
4. Working toward the primary, and Unity Rally after
5. Thoughts heading into tomorrow’s primary