by Charlotte McConnell
I will be voting for Kofi Annan on January 12th. I came to know Kofi in August 2017 through the Virginia Progressive Leadership Project. We have had many discussions about politics, legislation, and government. I can say without a doubt that Kofi shares my values.
I believe that service to others is important for the betterment of everyone in our community. After graduating from high school in 1997, Kofi joined the US Army Reserves. After the 9/11 attacks, he wanted to do more to serve our country and enlisted as active duty. Shortly after his honorable discharge in 2007, Kofi and his wife founded Veteran Career Counseling Services LLC. They have helped over 700 veterans find meaningful employment.
Kofi was elected president of the Fairfax County chapter of the NAACP in 2016. This chapter led a successful campaign to rename a school, restructure teacher hiring at Fairfax Public schools to reduce the likelihood of discrimination, revised the School Resource Officer program, and limit the county’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They also increased funding for early childhood education for low income children, hosted dozens of community events, and created a scorecard for Fairfax County Representatives. In 2018, the Fairfax County NAACP was awarded the Thalheimer Award for their outstanding advocacy. This is the top recognition within the NAACP,
In 2017, Kofi served as the Diversity Committee chair of the Herndon High School Parent Teacher Organization. He organized a program to bridge the cultural and communications gap between immigrant parents and American parents, teachers, and staff. He also successfully lobbied for translation headsets which allowed Spanish speaking parents to participate in PTA meetings.
Kofi has the experience to be an effective Delegate. He has been working with state legislators to make it easier for prosecutors to dismantle hate groups, end cash bail, and raise the Grand Larceny Threshold. But his interests are not only in criminal justice reform. He has taken the Activate Virginia pledge refusing money from Dominion Energy because he knows this is necessary to return voting power to the people. He has also been endorsed by Fairfax County Public School Pride, so you know he will stand up to protect our LGBTQ community.
He has also been endorsed by Phyllis Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Koran Saines, Sterling Supervisor, John Foust, Fairfax County Supervisor for Dranesville district, Senator Adam Ebbin, Delegate Cia Price, Delegate Paul Krizek, Delegate Kaye Kory, Senator Scott Surovell, and Fairfax County School board representatives Dalia Palchik and Pat Hynes. Kofi understands the issues facing the 86th district and he has solutions to bring prosperity through equity.
To learn more about Kofi Annan, please visit https://kofiforva.com/
For more information about the Democratic primary on January 12th, please visit http://fairfaxdemocrats.org/blog/2018/12/13/86th-district-nominating-caucus-scheduled-for-january-12th/
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