Message for People of Charles City County:

Here is a copy of the letter I sent to Ms. Eleanor Robinson of Charles City County to be read on my behalf at the Candidate Forum held at the Charles City County Government Complex on Friday, October 19, 2007.

I do not know for sure if my prepared comments were read. I also sent along 30 pamphlets.


Dear Ms. Robinson,

Thank you for the opportunity to have my comments read during the Charles City County 2007 Candidate Forum. Thank you also for helping to organize such an event. It is only the second forum of the campaign that I am aware of being held. Sadly, citizens don't get many opportunities to hear directly from candidates. That is why I deeply regret not being able to join you on Friday night. I have prepared an opening statement.

Thank you again for the invitation to speak and I hope we have the opportunity to meet under more favorable conditions.

Respectfully yours, Silver Persinger



* * * * * * * * * OPENING STATEMENT * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I regret that I am unable to join you tonight. However, Ms. Robinson has kindly offered to read written comments that I send to her.

I know very little about Charles City County, the first time I visited was about 6 weeks ago. I am impressed by its natural beauty. It seems like all I saw was farmland, plantations, and a few small houses. Oh yes, and I saw the landfill and the new school and the Government complex. I regret that I do not know more about Charles City. However, I am asking for your votes, people of Charles City County.

Let me tell you about myself. I am 35 years old. I work at the Library of Virginia preparing old newspapers for microfilming. I have worked as a carpenter, a cook, and in other service jobs. I have never earned more than $23,000 in a year. I am a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with an English degree.

Now I will talk about my politics. I call myself a Socialist. By that I mean, I think government should do more to help people. For example, the United States is the only western, industrialized nation that doesn't have universal health care. I believe everyone should have health care. Likewise, I believe that everyone should have opportunities for education and job training without having to go into debt for it.

I believe our economic system is fundamentally flawed. Our government creates the economic conditions we live under. If President Bush wants to cut taxes for the rich while simultaneously borrowing extravagantly to finance two wars, those are policy decisions that have a very real effect on the level of services provided by our government.

In a democracy, the people have the power to elect their officials. Therefore, it is the people who can effect the political changes necessary to change our economic system. Now might be a good time to say, for more information about my campaign in detail go to my website, www.votesilver.com. I have also sent along pamphlets that should be available.

Here are a few of the issues I am running on. I advocate Instant Run-off voting as a more democratic vote counting method. In Instant Run-off voting, for elections with more than 2 candidates, you vote your first, second, and third choice of candidate. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is dropped from the ballot and everyone who had that candidate for their first choice, their second choice is then counted and you end up with a majority candidate. I also favor introducing the use of the citizen initiated ballot initiative, the referendum, recall elections, and term limits. These are tools which promote democracy and involvement in the governmental process by our citizens.

I want to repeal the Dillon Rule. For those that are not familiar with the Dillon Rule, it is a concept of government which says that localities don't have the authority to do anything that isn't expressly granted to the locality through its charter. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, and only six states in the nation use the Dillon Rule. I favor giving localities more power to determine their laws and their form of government.

I support the election of judges at the local and state level. Why should the third branch of government be exempt from democracy? These positions are clearly not apolitical.

One item in my platform calls for a 5 year moratorium on the development of undeveloped land. Even if I were elected, it is highly unlikely the General Assembly would support such a proposal. I am interested in hearing from the people of Charles City on this particular issue since you are seeing encroaching development.

Charles City's inclusion in the district is relatively recent but you may be interested to learn that the last time there was more than one name on the ballot for this Senate seat was in 1967. There's so much I haven't had an opportunity to say. I am very active at Richmond City Council. If you ever watch, it's likely you've seen me speak.

Time is short, so I will say thank you for your time and consideration. I am eager to serve you.

I am more than happy to answer your questions by phone, letter, or email. My contact information is on the back of my pamphlet. But here it is also. My phone number is 804-683-7845. You can write me at PO Box 4299 Richmond, VA 23220. Or you can email me at silver@6hourday.org