Mike Signer Campaign Delighted to Force Discussion of Disenfranchisement to Center Stage in LT. Gov. Race

 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.