Press Releases

Exciting news! General Wesley Clark (US Army, ret.) has endorsed Mike Signer for Lieutenant Governor.

“I know Mike from my 2004 presidential campaign in Virginia and his work on national security issues.  Mike Signer has the strength and leadership that Virginia needs and I wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor,” said General Clark.

“The problems facing Virginia and this country are so urgent, that they demand strong, courageous leadership to carry us forward. Mike sees the office of Lieutenant Governor as more than just a placeholder position, but rather an opportunity to seek progress on the most pressing issues.  Mike is focused on the future of Virginia, not the past.  His approach to the office and his leadership on every issue from jobs and the economy to veterans issues and moves to the strengthen our democracy make Mike the clear choice on June 9th.”   

“General Clark has served his country bravely and tirelessly," said Mike Signer.  "General Clark is a model citizen, exemplary public servant, and beacon of honor.  I am honored to have his endorsement.  As Lieutenant Governor, I will be a public advocate for working Virginians and shine a spotlight on problems we’ve ignored for too long.”

General Wesley Clark (US Army, ret.) was a four star general in the U.S. Army and NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.  He was a 2004 presidential candidate for the Democratic nomination. 
 

ARLINGTON, VA – The Mike Signer campaign is pleased to announce the endorsements of the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff’s Coalition Local 5016, the DC Building Trades Council and all ten locals of the United Transportation Union of Virginia have endorsed Mike Signer for lieutenant governor.
    “The Fairfax Deputy Sheriff's Coalition, Local 5016 is proud to endorse Michael Signer for Lt. Governor in the Democratic Primary on June 9,” said Kevin Pittman, president of the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff’s Coalition Local 5016, “Mike's vision of turning the office of Lt. Governor into a public advocate rather than a place holder and his introduction of bold initiatives into this race has made him the best candidate to support. In addition to his vocal support of the Employee Free Choice Act, Mike introduced a jobs plan that will strengthen our economy and help keep police and deputy sheriffs on our streets ensuring Virginia citizens remain safe everyday.  As Lt. Governor, Mike will stand with the men and women in uniform who protect the citizens of Fairfax and our Commonwealth everyday he is in office.”
    “Mike has shown an enthusiasm for protecting workers’ rights,” said Walter Yeatts, legislative director of the United Transportation Union of Virginia. “He has surrounded himself with people who have fought hard for Virginia’s workers. Mike has bravely and publically taken positions that have given us confidence that he too will fight for working Virginians.”
    A full list of endorsing unions follows below.
    “Mike Signer will be a public advocate for working Virginians and this string of endorsements demonstrates this,” said Christian Rickers, campaign spokesperson. “Mike’s strong support from organized labor is one more reason why he is the strongest candidate and best equipped to defeat Bill Bolling in November. Democrats need to elect a true progressive who who will fight for their values to take on Bill Bolling.  Now that this is a two person race, voters have a clear choice between someone who will stand up and fight for their issues and an alternative.”

 
Endorsing Unions

Fairfax Deputy Sheriff’s Union
Washington, D.C. Building Trades
    Asbestos Workers Local #24
    Boilermakers Local #193
    Bricklayers & Allied Crafts Local # 1
    Electrical Workers Local #26
    Elevator Constructors Local #10
    Iron Workers Local #5
    Operating Engineers Local #77
    Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons #891
    Painters District Council #51
    Plumbers Local #5
    Reinforced Rodmen Local #201
    Roofers & Waterproofers Local #30
    Sheet Metal Workers Local #100
    Sprinkler Fitters Local #669
    Steamfitters Local #602
United Transportation Union of Virginia
 

Today, in recognition of Governor Tim Kaine’s designation of Military Appreciation Month, Mike announced his veterans’ policy plan and his Veterans Steering Commitee, which includes endorsements of retired general and flag officers from all four services of the military.   As a member of Barack Obama’s Veterans Policy Development Team, Mike is well versed in veterans’ issues.

With the release of his five-point plan, Mike again is leading the way on policy as the first candidate with a plan to improve services for Virginia’s veterans and their families.

“Fulfilling our sacred contract with our veterans and their families has been a central plank of my campaign from day one,” Mike said. “In Virginia, we have over 206,000 active military and civilian defense workers and over 35,000 Reservists and National Guards members. The problems facing these brave service members and their families highlights Virginia’s need for a lieutenant governor who is a public advocate, working to fix the systems that are failing working Virginians and shining a spotlight on the problems we’ve ignored for too long.”

Mike’s plan has five key goals: improve medical resources, assist returning veterans to reintegrate, increase veteran access to education, improves services for national guardsmen and reservists, and increase support for military families during deployment.   To read the full plan, go to www.mikesigner.com/veterans.
 

ARLINGTON, VA – In conjunction with the release of his Veterans’ Policy Plan, the Mike Signer for Virginia Campaign announced its Veterans Steering Committee, which includes retired general and flag officers from all four services of the military, at the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington.

“I got to know Mike last year during the presidential campaign,” said David Oliver, retired Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. “Mike’s national security and foreign policy background is impressive. Throughout this race he has demonstrated the leadership and vision needed by someone who works for all Virginians.”

As a member of Barack Obama’s Veterans Policy Development Team, Mike is well versed in veterans’ issues. His interaction with veterans and other national security personnel during then-Senator Obama’s campaign and his foreign policy consulting work, helped Mike understand the importance of veterans’ issues.
   
“I worked with Mike during the Obama campaign,” said Terron Sims, former U.S. Army Captain and co-director of Virginia Veterans for Obama. “Every time we spoke he demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the problems facing veterans.”

“As the grandson of a World War II veteran, I am honored and humbled by the support of these veterans,” Mike said. “Fulfilling our sacred contract to our servicemen and women and their families is too important to ignore, which is why I made it a central plank of my campaign from day one. I will not let Bill Bolling and the Republicans assume any issue or vote belongs to them. We need to stand by those who stand by us, particularly in Virginia."
 

ARLINGTON, VA - Mike Signer has led the campaign for lieutenant governor on policy -- from jobs to the environment -- and is once again leading in the push for real debates. Last week, the Signer campaign proposed a genuine "Lincoln-Douglas style" debate among the lieutenant governor candidates. Yesterday, the Jon Bowerbank campaign joined the Signer campaign in calling for such a dialogue.

"I am glad that Jon wants to engage in real debates on the most critical issues facing our Commonwealth," Mike said. "I've led the way in this campaign on the critical issues at every turn, and I'd be delighted to debate my opponents anytime, anywhere."

Over five days after Mike led in calling for a real debate, the question is now this: is Jody Wagner willing to debate her opponents?

"We are still waiting for Jody to respond," said Christian Rickers, campaign spokesperson. "I think we can all agree that the most important thing is to choose a nominee who's strong on the issues, who can defeat Bill Bolling this fall and who will use the office to be a public advocate not a placeholder or stepping stone. We need a nominee, like Mike, who understands that none of the much needed changes in Virginia will ever be possible without Democrats supporting, working hard for, and  -- most importantly -- voting for progressive Democrats, especially in primaries."

While continuing to wait to hear from the Wagner campaign, the Signer campaign looks forward to working with the Bowerbank campaign to discuss dates and terms of the debates. 

 Arlington VA – The Mike Signer campaign is glad to see a discussion about a real issue of social justice from the Wagner campaign, rather than the recitation of political endorsements and campaign finance figures that dominated the Wagner campaign’s strategy for months.  Social justice and economic fairness have been a hallmark of the Signer campaign. Mike has been a national voice on the issue of restoration of rights, recently publishing a prominent national article in the Huffington Post on the topic (attached) and has been a Virginia leader on electoral reform and social justice, serving as voter protection coordinator for the Democrats in Virginia in 2004 and as founder of the New Electoral Reform Alliance for Virginia. As deputy counselor for then-Governor Mark Warner, Mike learned first-hand that the system is in desperate need of overhaul and was proud to be the first candidate to call for reforming the system.

“If you told me there was man seeking statewide office in Virginia who proactively raised the systemic disenfranchisement of African-Americans as an issue worth addressing, I would have called you crazy or a liar, but that’s just what Mike Signer did,” wrote prominent African-American blogger Baratunde Thurston on his blog Jack and Jill Politics when Mike initially published his article on this Jim Crow-era policy. Thurston went on to say that he would do what he can to increase the awareness of Mike’s campaign, because “someone who does something like this is worth a second, third and fourth look.”

While the Signer campaign regrets that those cited in the Wagner campaign’s release did not previously contact the Signer campaign to discuss their position on this issue, Mike is delighted that there appears to be a consensus on driving automatic restoration forward, and is more than happy to support the immediate restoration of rights for ex-offenders.

The lack of true discussion on this important issue, which Mike has made a central plank of his campaign from day one, further highlights the need for a real debate among candidates, as the Signer campaign proposed today.  Finally, it is essential to remember that none of these much needed social justice changes in Virginia will ever be possible without Democrats supporting, working hard for, and—most importantly—voting for progressive Democrats, especially in primaries.

Today, the Mike Signer for Lieutenant Governor campaign sent letters to the campaign managers of Jody Wagner and Jon Bowerbank proposing a genuine “Lincoln-Douglas style” debate on the issues. 

Yesterday, in response to questions about why Jody Wagner skipped not only the historic 2008 Democratic primary, but also the 2004 and 2005 primaries, the Wagner campaign said, “voters deserve to hear about important issues.”

Mike Signer couldn’t agree more that voters deserve to hear from the candidates on all the critical issues facing our Commonwealth. That’s why Mike Signer was the first and only candidate with a comprehensive jobs plan and the first with a specific environmental plan. Today, Mike Signer’s response to the Wagner campaign is, “Let’s
take it to the next level.”
 
“I’ve led the way in this campaign on the critical issues at every turn, and I’d be delighted to debate Jody Wagner and every candidate on our ideas – anytime, anywhere,” Signer said.  “We’re all good people, but there are clear differences. On June 9th, voters should pick the strongest candidate to defeat Bill Bolling, and they have a right to hear directly from us on the issues in a true debate format.”
 
To date, the three candidates for Lieutenant Governor have participated in three forums, but none of the formats required exchange between candidates on policy and ideas.  Mike Signer is looking forward to such a debate and anticipates that the other candidates will welcome the opportunity. 
 

In the letter below, which was sent to the Wagner and Bowerbank campaigns proposing a genuine, “Lincoln-Douglas style” debate, the Signer campaign proposed that the date and location be mutually agreed upon by the managers of the three campaigns, and suggested Richmond as a neutral, convenient location for all the campaigns.