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Manassas News & Messenger Picks John Bell

ENDORSEMENT: Lend your support to John Bell in the 13th

Our View

Published: October 22, 2009

In the 13th District, it is time for a change.

For more than 18 years, Republican Del. Bob Marshall has served parts of Prince William and Loudon counties, and he has done so honorably.

We have great respect for his intelligence and passion.

For example, Marshall defended Virginia against unconstitutional taxes and fees.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority would have had the power to collect taxes and fees from Virginia residents, yet none of its members were to be elected directly to their posts by the electorate. Marshall’s case went to the Virginia Supreme Court, and the revenue-generating scheme was found unconstitutional in 2008.

Marshall was also a stalwart defender of families with autism this past session, and for that he deserves admiration.

However, his antagonistic approach to legislating in general has restricted his influence in the House. He has even been denied at least one committee chairmanship because of his behavior. As the 18th highest-ranking member in the House, he should be able to wield the power that comes from seniority. But his behavior has drained whatever prestige time has given him.

Also, his focus on social issues takes up time that would be better spent focusing on matters that have more direct effects on his constituents.

Democrat John Bell would be a welcome change.

Bell recognizes the need to make transportation a priority. He has good suggestions, such as putting a dedicated lane for Bus Rapid Transit down the middle of Interstate 66.

He supports ideas such as “Slug West,” which would transport the concept of slugging, widely used on Interstate 95, to areas of I-66 and Va. 267.

Bell, like Marshall, wants to do what he can for small businesses. But we have faith that Bell, not distracted by pet projects, would actually dedicate time to improving the climate for these businesses.

On education, he proposes common-sense cost-saving measures such as using smaller vehicles to transport students to school when there are too few to warrant a gas-guzzling bus.

These are just some of the reasons we support him.

In our editorial endorsement interview, Bell showed an impressive level of understanding on the issues and displayed a creative and a practical approach to solving them.

We wish that Marshall could find a way to become more influential in Richmond, but after more than 18 years, we don’t think it’s going to happen.

We ask that you give your vote to Democrat John Bell in the 13th District.

Click Here to Read the Article
National Organization for Women endorses Major John Bell (ret.)

The 13th District has the opportunity to elect John Bell - a thoughtful, issues-oriented candidate - to replace Robert Marshall, whose views should be an embarrassment to the voters of this district.

Bell is a mainstream Democrat whose top three priorities, if elected, are improving roads, protecting educational funding, and fixing our economy by helping small businesses create jobs.

Marshall is co-author of the discriminatory Marshall-Newman Amendment to Virginia’s Constitution and led the effort to stop Virginia public colleges and universities from providing emergency contraception to women – although emergency contraception is proven to prevent unintended pregnancy. Despite all Marshall's blustering about caring for women, he would block this simple, effective form of contraception.

Bell’s position, as stated to the VA NOW PAC, is that legislators should be working on problems such as lack of jobs, bad roads, and inadequate schools, not harassing women, as Marshall has done for far too long.

Contact: Marj Signer

www.vanow.org/
Major John Bell (ret.) debates Marshall

MANASSAS -- Retired Air Force Major and 13th District Democratic candidate John Bell today during a debate laid out his priorities for Prince William and Loudoun counties.

“My time in the Air Force taught me a lot about priorities,” Bell said. “If elected as your delegate, my priorities will be to focus on commutes, jobs and schools.”

Throughout the one-hour debate with Del. Bob Marshall, Bell highlighted his experience as a waste-cutter in the Air Force, his commitment to public education and his experience as a commuter in Northern Virginia. Bell said he will spend his time in Richmond focused on everyday issues that impact our daily lives and not the social wars that have defined Marshall’s career.

Marshall acted like a candidate in the fight of his political life. Normally articulate and even mannered, Marshall was decidedly aggressive and repeatedly attacked Bell.

“I’m not surprised that Bob Marshall decided to go negative tonight and attack my record as a Finance Officer in the Air Force, because simply put, Marshall doesn’t have a record of results to stand on,” Bell said after the debate. “After 18 years in the House of Delegates, Marshall hasn’t unclogged our roads, he hasn’t grown our economy and he hasn’t improved our schools.”

One reason why Marshall may have been so aggressive is that the Bell campaign’s momentum is apparent. Recently, the national organization DLCC highlighted the race and commented that “Bell’s consistent fundraising and relentless field program have to have the Marshall campaign nervous."
John Bell calls on Delegate Phil Hamilton to Resign from Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2009

John Bell calls on Delegate Phil Hamilton to Resign from Office

Gainesville, VA – Today John Bell, Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates in the 13th district, called on Delegate Phil Hamilton to resign from office. This follows recent revelations that Del. Hamilton actively pursued a personal job and negotiated salary at Old Dominion University to secure $500,000 through his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee for ODU to fund the same job he was pursuing. Bell released this statement:

“All elected officials derive their authority from the people who elected them. They owe it to us to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. Politicians should never use their positions in government for personal financial gain. Delegate Phil Hamilton misused the public’s trust and I call on him to resign from the House of Delegates. Both Democratic and Republican leaders Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell have done so, and I ask my opponent Del. Bob Marshall to join me in calling for Del. Hamilton’s resignation.”

Contact:
Kurt Gonska
Campaign Manager
kurt@votejohnbell.com
(708) 717-8517
Virginia Education Association Endorses John Bell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
John Bell, Democratic candidate for the 13th District House of Delegates seat, earns the endorsement of the Virginia Education Association!

In a unanimous vote, the Prince William Education Association endorses John Bell for Delegate in the 13th district.

Gainesville, VA July 31, 2009 – Democrat John Bell, candidate for the House of Delegates in the 13th district, was endorsed this week by the local Virginia Education Association in Prince William County. Bell is excited and energized by this endorsement as a confirmation of his commitment to education and the children of Prince William and Loudoun counties.

PWEA President, Bonnie Klakowicz, announced the endorsement by saying, "The endorsement of John Bell for the 13th District House of Delegates seat was a unanimous decision by PWPace. We are thrilled to support Mr. Bell and feel that his positions meet the needs of education employees across the state in regard to high performance goals, paying teachers a fair wage, and protecting the jobs of all school employees."

As a local volunteer varsity high school tennis coach at Freedom High School, Bell brings a strong commitment to the educational success of our young people. He is an outspoken advocate for early childhood education. In Richmond, Bell will work tirelessly to undo the damage of No Child Left Behind, work with VEA to minimize drop out rates, and increase the percentage of high school students who go on to college.

John Bell understands how education has a direct effect on Virginia’s economy. Bell recently commented, “Northern Virginia’s number one product is knowledge capital produced by a high quality workforce. The key to delivering a high quality work force and maintaining this asset is ensuring our children receive a first rate education.”

Bell is committed to supporting our teachers in their efforts to provide an educationally friendly classroom with smaller class sizes and the technology needed to keep pace with today’s world.

Read more about John’s education policies at www.votejohnbell.com/issue.
Laborers’ Union endorses John Bell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2009

Laborers’ Union endorses John Bell in 13th District Vice-President of LiUNA’s Mid-Atlantic region cites lengthy record of support for labor, capacity to bring more jobs with benefits.

Reston, VA.— The Laborers’ International Union of North America today endorsed John Bell in his campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates. The 13th House District includes parts of Loudoun and Prince William counties.

“We are happy to support candidates like John that will go to Richmond and keep working-class families in mind when they vote,” said Dennis Martire, Vice-President of LiUNA’s Mid-Atlantic Region. “For too long, Virginia politicians have abandoned the basic principles of family-supporting pay, good benefits that include healthcare, training programs and opportunities to create jobs that reflect more than just the cheapest option. John Bell offers a new direction.”

“Unions are a vital part of Virginia’s economy, as they provide skilled labor for some of the most important vocations in the Commonwealth – which include building and revitalizing our roads and infrastructure,” said Bell. “I support the Laborers’ efforts to provide a living wage to their workers and the opportunity for the further development of their skills.”

Virginia is one of the fastest growing markets for LiUNA in the Mid-Atlantic region, and has fourteen locals that represent residents of the Commonwealth. Today, LiUNA members are helping to build infrastructure around the country and are working on major projects in Virginia.

The Laborers were very active in Virginia during the 2008 presidential race, having put hundreds of members on the streets and phones to help Barack Obama win the state’s 13 electoral votes. They also invested heavily in Tim Kaine’s 2005 gubernatorial race. They are one of the top contributors to Governor Kaine’s PAC, Moving Virginia Forward.

The members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry.

Contact: Joshua Collins
804-467-5922 (cell)
703-860-4194 (office)
jcollins@malaborers.org
John Bell on Today's CA Supreme Court Ruling

"I served in the military for almost 26 years to protect people's rights, not take them away. It really bothers me when anyone unfairly tries to take rights away from people. It's a sad day when society decides to create two different classes of people and ensure inequality. As a Delegate I'll always vote to protect rights, not take them away." - John Bell
South Riding Dem Files to Challenge Marshall

South Riding Dem Files to Challenge Marshall
By Erica Garman at 12:00 p.m., January 9, 2009

John Bell will run in the 13th District.

In yesterday’s post, I made mention of rumors that a South Riding candidate was considering a run against Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) -- but I couldn’t get confirmation.

Well, this morning, I got word from the candidate himself.

Retired Air Force Major John Bell is filing today to run as a Democrat for the 13th District of the Virginia General Assembly in November.

Bell currently works as an economic business analyst with MITRE Corporation and most recently served as a volunteer canvassing captain for the Obama campaign. He lives in South Riding with his wife and son.

“I’m focused on helping people in the 13th with issues that impact their day-to-day lives,” he said to me in an interview today. “I’ll work on transportation issues, school funding and the economic crisis. There’s an alarming rate of foreclosures in this area.”

Look for Bell’s “In Touch with Virginia” campaign Web site in a week, he said.

Also in yesterday's post, I mentioned the possibility that a Prince William man, Russ Morris, might run as a Democrat for the 13th. Morris told me today that he has not filed and is only considering a run at this point. If he does run, he would have to face off with Bell and any other Democratic candidates in the June 9 primary. All potential candidates for the House of Delegates (from any party) have until April 10 to file papers with the state to run.