Letter to the Editor: Why I’m Running for the U.S. Congress … and Why We Can Win!
By David Kennedy
To qualify for the November 5th general election to face five-term incumbent Don Beyer, I had to collect 1,000 signatures from registered voters in Congressional District 8, covering Falls Church City, Arlington County, Alexandria City, and parts of Fairfax County. A daunting task? Yes! An important undertaking? Absolutely!
I am running as an Independent against the all-powerful political machine that controls Congressional District 8. As I knocked on thousands of doors and approached thousands more folks at my various campus headquarter locations (i.e., Starbucks, 24-Hour Fitness, Lost Dog Cafe), the resounding message I received was: “Our political parties are broken, we need more Independents, and especially, we need leaders who are bridge builders – not bridge burners.”
I’m a bridge builder, and my platform is focused on those bread-and-butter, quality-of-life issues that are most important to everyday Americans who simply are trying to live a healthy life centered on family, friends, and community. My platform supports: 1) safe streets and opportunities for our at-risk youth, 2) the dignity of a job, which means a living wage and affordable housing, 3) a woman’s right to choose, 4) having the backs of our teachers, libraries, and parents, all of which make education great, and 5) compassion for all things of creation, including our Mother Earth and all who are marginalized or demonized for who they are.
We have forgotten how to be compassionate in our public discourse, and I blame the entrenched political parties and the divisive media for that. Money and power are the hooks, and in the process, the everyday issues of regular folk become secondary. The reality is we are a compassionate people who strive to live by the great biblical call to Love Neighbor. That call is furthered when we practice the important act of Respect Differences. And within that context, we still must Challenge Bullies any time anyone is marginalized.
Recapturing these core principles of Love Neighbor, Respect Differences, and Challenge Bullies – and framing them in my platform of the important quality-of-life issues – makes me believe “We Can Win!” I’m grateful for this opportunity to be a new, independent, and representative voice in the November 5th general election, and ultimately, to fight the important fight for the amazing and diverse people of Falls Church City, Arlington County, Alexandria City, and parts of Fairfax County. The journey, to-date, has been incredible, and I look forward to meeting all of you over the months leading up to November 5th!
Sincerely, Dave
ABOUT DAVE: Dave is a dedicated community leader with a career that has been devoted to advocating for federal government support for medical research, science, and technology. He serves as the citizen representative and chair of the Arlington County Trespass Towing Advisory Board and is committed to stopping predatory towing practices. Dave and his wife, Barbara, are passionate in their love for over forty kids in Zambia, where they have done education and mission work – since 2015 – with children who have lost their parents to AIDS. Dave has three grown children and is a proud grandfather of one. He is a ten-year resident of Northern Virginia and lives with Barbara and their three cats – Emme, Fun, and Cornelius.
CONTACT DAVE AT:
Dave@DaveKennedy2024.com, or visit www.DaveKennedy2024.com
Editor's Note: Views and opinions expressed in Letters-to-the-Editor of The Falls Church Independent do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor. The Falls Church Independent welcomes views, opinion, notices, listings, articles, and advertisements from the public. Send yours to chris@fallschurchindependent.com.
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