Henrico—Delegate A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico), in a letter dated April 9th, called upon Benny Lambert to engage in a series of debates around the district to showcase their views and records to Democratic voters.

Delegate McEachin said, "I encourage you to join me for a series of debates around the district. I believe it is critical that we speak in front of Democratic organizations because this is, after all, a primary to choose the Democratic standard–bearer."

Delegate McEachin continued, "I am eager to work out dates and locations at your earliest convenience. The voters deserve it."

Click to see a copy of the letter attached (PDF).

Delegate A. Donald McEachin released a statement today in response to Benny Lambert's comments in the March 29, 2007Richmond Free Press about Lambert's newly revealed history of Republican contributions.

Delegate McEachin said, "I call on my opponent to disclose all his contributions to Republican elected officials, Republican PACS, conservative PACS, PACS that support or endorse Republicans and Republican candidates. I was very distressed to find out that Senator Lambert's dalliance with George Allen was not the first time he has actively aided and supported a prominent conservative Republican. Not only did Senator Lambert campaign with George Allen, cut a radio ad on his behalf and write an op-ed in support for him in 2006, but in 2004 he gave a generous contribution to a conservative Republican Congressman's PAC. As if those two actions were not bad enough, Senator Lambert says, in the Free Press, that 'he might have made other contributions [to Republicans].'" Delegate McEachin continued, "I ask him again to disclose, for the sake of his constituents, all his Republican contributions. They deserve no less."

Delegate McEachin was online live-blogging on March 29^th. He joined the Raising Kaine and Daily Kos online communities to discuss his Senate Race, the legislative session, and a number of other issues.

Read Del. McEachin's post and answers here.

Could've cost the Democrats in taking over Congress, says McEachin, a state Senate rival

By Jeff Schapiro, Richmond Times Dispatch

The fight for the Democratic nomination for a Richmond-area state Senate seat began in earnest yesterday with a dust-up over the company kept by one of the candidates.

Del. A. Donald McEachin slammed Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III for breaking with Democrats in 2006 to endorse Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen for re-election. Allen lost to Jim Webb.

Audio Clips

• Del. McEachin Announces his Candidacy
• Del. McEachin talks about his work in the 74^th District
• Del. McEachin on the importance of the minimum wage
• Del. McEachin on women's health issues
• Del. McEachin on improving Educational opportunities
• Del. McEachin on the Slavery Amendment
• Del. McEachin discusses his reaction to Senator Lambert's endorsement of George Allen
• George Allen is the "antithesis" of the Democratic Party

Good afternoon. I am here today to announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the Ninth Senatorial District. I did not come by this decision quickly or lightly.  I have enjoyed my service to my constituents in the 74th House District.  I have enjoyed my service in the Virginia House of Delegates as a leader on the issues that Virginia Democrats have used to have used to bring progress and prosperity to our great Commonwealth:  Fair wages.  Affordable health care.  Access to high quality education.  Protecting our neighborhoods.  I have worked hard in the General Assembly to stand up for these bedrock Democratic values.

Just this past year, I introduced legislation to increase the minimum wage, to mandate insurance coverage for young women and girls who choose to receive the HPV vaccination and to divest the Commonwealth from the genocide in Darfur.  I have continued my lifelong fight to keep our neighborhoods safe from the scourge of illegal guns our streets by working to reduce the proliferation of firearms.

Delegate A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) has been invited to speak at the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, March 9, 2007, at 12:15PM as a distinguished panelist on “Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Reconciliation” at the 21^st Century Policy Makers Conference hosted by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Other prominent speakers at the three day conference include Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and former Virginia First Lady, Lynda Johnson Robb.

Delegate McEachin was invited to speak on the crucial role he played this past winter as the House sponsor of the African-American slavery apology resolution. Thanks to the hard work of Delegate McEachin and Senate sponsor Senator Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), the resolution passed both the House of Delegates and the State Senate unanimously.

The General Assembly unanimously agreed today to express "profound regret for the involuntary servitude of Africans and the exploitation of Native Americans" and called for reconciliation of all Virginians.

Del. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, the sponsor of the resolution, said he was pleased with the outcome. "This session will be remembered for a lot of things but 20 years hence I suspect that among the things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution."

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This week I want to take the opportunity to do something a little different and tell you about the Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson dinner that was held this past weekend in Richmond. Over 3000 Democrats gathered to hear former Governor Mark Warner, Governor Tim Kaine, Mayor Doug Wilder, Senator Jim Webb and Illinois Senator and new presidential candidate Barack Obama. For all of my constituents who did not have the opportunity to be there, let me try to describe what was a very exciting day and evening.

Saturday morning, Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party, Dick Cranwell, honored me by appointing me Vice-Chair of Outreach. I am humbled by his confidence in me and will strive to do whatever I can to grow our Democratic Party and promote our ideals and values throughout the Commonwealth.

When his pastor preached that November day from the 58th chapter of Isaiah, McEachin had an epiphany.

In that verse, the Henrico County Democrat and one-time attorney general candidate said, the people of Israel "have an attitude because they say we've been fasting, we do all these things and things still aren't right for us.

"And the Lord replies, 'Well, that's not the fast I want you to have. I want you to do justice, I want you to have mercy, I want you to take care of widows and orphans.' And somehow I made the link between that and 'Donald, you really need to start trying to find these answers for yourself.' And it occurred to me what better place would there be than seminary."

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As responsible Virginians, we are all concerned about the crime rate and certainly about violent crime. We fear being victims ourselves or that someone we know, or even someone we don’t know, some innocent individual, will be the victim of a violent crime. However, what many of us don’t spend time considering is the increased likelihood that we will be innocent victims in a drunk driving accident. In Virginia in 2005, almost 40% of traffic accident fatalities were alcohol related.

Unfortunately, those individuals who choose to drink and drive not only endanger themselves, but risk every motorist they encounter while on the roadways. As our highways become even more crowded, this danger will only increase. Between 9 pm and midnight, almost two thirds of deaths from accidents are because of alcohol. After midnight, the total increases to over three quarters.