Eighth Congressional District Candidate Forum at George Mason ... >
May 5, 2014 - Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille.

Opening Statement
...My name is Bill Euille and I am running for Congress in the congressional 8th District.  I humbly ask for your support and your vote on June 10th.

We are blessed to live in a nation that offers so much, but yet we have so many people that are still left behind.  And like my friend Jim Moran, who served as the Mayor of Alexandria for more than eight years before he went to Congress, I have that same passion to want toxxas a mayor since 2003xxto give back and make a difference and help everyone in this region.

If you elect me as your congressman, I promise to put transportation for seniors at the top of my priority.  I serve and have served for 13 years on the Metro board of directors, dealing with transit issues in this region, and the Council of Governments as well.  I promise to make health care affordable for everyone.  I promise to make certain that the reproductive rights are kept secret between a woman and her doctor.  Jobs must be created, and one way to do that is to fund the highway transportation budget bill [holds up newspaper clipping].  We have so many infrastructures throughout this nation that needs to be repaired, and that is very important.

I was raised by a single mom, lived in public housing, had the opportunity to help integrate public schools here in the city of Alexandria.  I was the first person in my family to have the opportunity to go off to college and get an education.  I came back to Alexandria, started working for a small construction company.  Then, I was concerned about the status of our public schools, the school system that educated me and provided me and thousands of other students the best education money could buy.  But yet we still were lacking, and I stepped forward, rolled up my shirt sleeves, got appointed to the school board, served there for ten long years. 

My record is a service of commitment.  I have served on the school board, city council since 1994, elected Alexandria's first African-American mayor in 2003, and my purpose in life is to make certain that no one is left behind, that people are given a fair chance.  I beat the odds; I want to make sure that everyone else has the opportunity to beat the odds.  As a member of the Council of Governments, and working in this region for more than 30 years, I have dealt with the issues on transportation, the environment, housing, homeland security, crime.  I signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors initiative against illegal guns.  I want our neighborhoods to continue to be safe. 

I ask for your vote on June 10th and I look forward to the questions.
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