Democracy for America endorses West...

Newport News attorney Gary West's effort to get to the House of Delegates is getting a nod from some national Democrats who like West's resume and chances.

On Monday, Democracy for America announced its support for West, a Democrat, who is pushing Del. G. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News, for the Peninsula seat. The release never even mentions Oder, focusing instead on West's work as an attorney specializing in asbestos cases brought by workers. 

Here's the bulk of the release - including the group touting his unanimous appointment to the Newport News Planning Commission as proof that he can bring people together. Seems like that's a lot to get out of a unanimous appointment to a city panel, but this is an endorsement so you can kind of expect them to get over excited about their candidate. To be fair, Democracy for America doesn't have to endorse anybody in House races so clearly they like what they know about West.   

West has dedicated his legal career to taking on big corporations and government bureaucracies. He, along with attorney Richard Glasser, were among the first in the country to pursue litigation on behalf of workers and their families who had been exposed to asbestos.

"Our members in Virginia know that Gary understands the needs of the community and will work to bring progress to Virginia," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "His experience will help him address the biggest problems facing the district—crime prevention and transportation."

West was appointed to the Newport News Planning Commission in 2001 and currently serves as Chairman of the Regulations Committee. He received his masters’ degree in political science from Virginia Tech before attending law school at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.

"Gary's unanimous appointment to the Commission proved he can bring people together in the name of progress," Dean said. "That's why we're proud to endorse him in this race."

 

Comments

[Ron Brandon]

Well GovGirl, lets check who's behind Glenn Oder! Only fair, don't cha' think?

Oh My GOD! Its the PREDATORY PAYDAY LENDERS! But don't take my word for it, check the record at VPAP.
http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/money_in_industry3/35162?start_year=2000&end_year=2009&lookup_type=year&filing_period=all&industry=69

TitleMax, Community Loans of America, Consumer Lending Alliance Inc, Anderson Financial Services/LoanMax,
QC Holdings all gave money to line Oder's pockets!

Now which would you rather have? A politician who claims he is "fighting the payday lenders but taking money from them behind voters backs"??? Or someone who is up front and honest about everything?

Sorry but I'll take Gary West. Its time to get that foul ODER out of Richmond and get a fresh start for the 94th!

By the way, the entire report on where Oder is getting his money, is very revealing. Looks like Glenn is in the back pocket of just about everyone he claims he's "fighting"!!!! But not West! Shame on you GovGirl for trying to fool people!

Lets see the truth about both candidates!

WEST WINS!

[Robert McGregor]

I live in the 94th House District. I was one of the people who voted for Williams Pelkey last time (that 25%) because I am sick of Glenn Oder. Oder has done nothing but create problems, then want to take credit for "fixing" them. He is not an honorable person, and I am so glad the democrats have found someone of good character and decency to run against Oder. Its obvious that some paid staffers have been on here, spewing propaganda for Oder. You'd think they'd have learn not to do that with the Williams debacle.

If an underfunded non party guy like Pelkey can get 25% of the vote, just imagine what a well funded candidate is going to do to Oder. This time Oder will get 25%.

And yes, I do feel a "fervor" and passion to remove this non producing, useless, self serving politican from office. He let payday lenders into Virginia to prey upon the poor and needy. He voted to create the regional taxing authorities and he's done nothing about the mismangement in VDOT.

As a native of the district and lifelong voter, I am not only not impressed with Oder, I will vote for Gary West with a passion and volunteer to pass out literature so my neighbors know someone worth voting for is finally running.

[laura]

Hey Kirk, ya know, Oder does have a record to run on and that will do him in. Flip flops on predatory lending, transportation and many more issues. He votes as he is told, is responsible for the dangerous event at the HRBT early in July, when the west bound tube flooded. And he says it just happened, no one could have prevented. By his being on the transportation committee in the House, he is responsible as he shut down funding. Just saying you want it done and then not doing anything is a cop out.
Yes his record will sink him.
Many people were put at risk that day in the west bound lane. His codling of VDOT will be remembered cause it is part of his "record".

[Ron Brandon]

Glenn Oder is no "great man".

He voted FOR HB940 that let predatory payday lenders into Virginia. Now he wants to claim he is fighting them? All while taking money for his campaign from them!!! Two faced BS Artist Glenn Oder is.

Oder voted FOR HB3202 that created the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority. Now he wants credit for abolishing it?

Glenn Oder has been a useless pain to Virginia taxpayers. Now that he has a challenger, he wants to pretend his is something that the record shows, he isn't.

Gary West is a decent, kind and honest guy, who has listend to me, and wants to do something that Oder has never uttered. West wants to fix VDOT. Oder has ignored the incomptence in VDOT for 7 years! No thanks, you keep Oder in republithug land and we'll take Gary West.

Oh, and the ridiculous claim that Oder won the district "75%" of the vote last time. Yes he did, but it was against an independent who had $730! Oder should have taken the district with 99%. Shabby claim from shabby politicians. Hope Oder is paying you supporters big money because it really must be degrading to have to post this nonsense about him. The truth about Oder is out. Can't put it back in the bag now! No matter how hard you try!

[Kirk Joseph]

Such fervor and passion, if you focused that energy on policy the Dems might actually get something accomplished in Virginia and not just blame party politics. Like it or not, Oder has a legislative history to run on and West has well... no legislative career. I do not think in this economic and cultural climate that running on a "change" platform and getting rid of a man with a decade of moderate legislative history does anything but hurt Virginia.

Also thank you for exposing all these lies, it is very altruistic of you, I guess this is indicative of how Gary West plans to work with Republicans in a bi-partisan manner.

[laura]

Don't tell men what a progrssive is.
What I see is people blogging from Va Beach about Peninsula issues. You see Oder's lacky is from that area and he has paid bloggers to spread the misinformation to us in the 94th.
Kirwin and his group, you know the same ones who ran Marty Williams's campaign, are now running Oders. So you see how desperate they are.
To have you here commenting on a group that is actually effecting change in health care and other issues shows how scared they are.
Oder has done nothing of importance while in office. That is the subject.
With the debacle on Warwick, the HRBT implosion on the first of July - those are just two issues that have the locals in the 94th po'd.
So don't preach to the people who ride down Warwick Blvd everyday and tell me Oder has nothing to do with that.
He is on the transportation committee and had every opportunity to make a difference and did not.

[Ron Brandon]

Glenn Oder is not a "great man". Look at the corruption of the Air Show and the tens of thousands of tax dollars he pocketed and then tell me he's "great". What a LIE! Oder voted for HB940 that created the predatory Payday Lenders in Virginia. Now he's against them? All the while taking money from them to line his pockets for his campaign? Then Oder voted for HB3202 which created the Hampton Roads Transporation Authority. Now he wants credit for abolishing it? TWO FACED LIAR IS GLENN ODER and Gary West is going to take him to the wood shed.

And please, "Oder won 75%"??? Really? Against an independent who had $730? Oder should have won by 99% with that kind of advantage. You should be ashamed for pointing it out.

You're lies about Oder will not go unchallenged here. So stop it. Oder has created more problems that he ever solved. HB1570 would take money from education, schools and public saftety for roads. NOT A GOOD IDEA and its why the rest of the General Assembly ignored him.

Gary West is going to take Oder to the wood shed!

Time for change in the 94th and time for Glenn Oder and his two faced, create a problem, then want credit for fixing it, to go away!

Your lies about Oder will not go unchallenged here, so stop posting them!

[GovGirl]

FYI, "progressive" is just the new (actually not so new, see Woodrow Wilson) code word for liberal. Liberals figured out that people don't vote for liberal ideology because they consider themselves conservative, so they set out to rename liberal ideas as "progressive" which sounds so positive and forward thinking.
As for universal health care, that is just code for GOVERNMENT RUN health care, which of course will work out like it has for Canada and the UK, badly. Months long waits for tests that may show whether you have cancer, longer waits for treatment, simple sports injuries that turn into life long disabilities because the wait for treatment was so long, limited care for the elderly and those "less useful" to society. Have a sufficiently made my point or do I need to keep explaining the results of this wonderful "progressive" idea?

[laura]

FYI, DFA is a progressive group now headed by Jim Dean, Howard's brother. It is for universal heath care and true progressive ideas.
Since the Gop, the party of palin, limbaugh, and samford has failed miserably at just about everything, let's give a progressive idea a chance.
After all, we are the United States of America. Doing things that benefit all is a novel idea.
Howard Dean is the true conservative in this group.

[GovGirl]

Also, GOP Sux, I would like to know exactly what Virginia code requires that port revenue be reinvested totally in the ports. Please provide the section of the Virginia Code or the appropriate bill numbers, etc. etc.