by Danica Roem
Elected School Board members endorse Danica Roem for delegate
Prince William County School Board member Loree Williams and Fairfax County School Board members Dalia Palchik and Pat Hynes back Danica in June 13 Democratic primary
May 4, 2017
MANASSAS – On May 4, three elected School Board members in Northern Virginia endorsed Danica Roem’s candidacy for the 13th District of the Virginia House of Delegates, including Prince William County School Board member Loree Williams (Woodbridge) and Fairfax County School Board members Dalia Palchik (Providence) and Pat Hynes (Hunter Mill).
Danica is competing in the June 13 Democratic primary in order to face Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) Nov. 7. Danica twice rebutted Del. Marshall’s speeches in front of the Prince William County School Board in 2016 after working earlier that year to help successfully defeat two of his anti-LGBTQ bills in the House of Delegates.
“While we have a lot of challenges in Prince William County, Danica recognized our successes as well as difficulties as a journalist,” said Prince William County School Board member Loree Williams. “Her years as a local reporter covering education policy influenced her priorities in this campaign. That’s why she is focused on raising teacher pay in Prince William County and Manassas Park so it’s not the lowest in Northern Virginia and easing overcrowding throughout Prince William County.
“Danica also knows that if we want to recruit and retain the best teachers, we have to pay them a competitive salary and can’t discriminate against them or the students they teach. Before the School Board debated updating the nondiscrimination policy in 2016, Danica talked one-on-one with six of the members of the School Board and provided packets of research to us she spent hours putting together before addressing the School Board four times in person.
“We need state legislators who are willing to be active and work together with local elected officials so we can focus together on improving the quality of our students’ education. Danica wants to be a good partner with the local governing bodies in Prince William County and Manassas Park and that’s why I support her.”
Two years after Del. Marshall left the 13th District to tell the Fairfax County School Board why they should not protect LGBTQ students and faculty from discrimination, Fairfax County School Board members Dalia Palchik and Pat Hynes joined 22 other volunteers to knock on doors with Danica during her campaign’s first mass canvassing event in Manassas.
“I’m proud today to endorse my friend Danica Roem for the 13th District of the House of Delegates,” said Fairfax County School Board member Dalia Palchik. “She is running against a right-wing Republican incumbent, Del. Bob Marshall. As a teacher and Latina who grew up in a changing Northern Virginia, I ran my 2015 campaign on an inclusive message about embracing diversity and inclusiveness in our schools, bringing educational innovation, and making sure our children have the best chance to thrive.
“I have seen Danica’s passion for civil rights when she testified in front of the Prince William County School Board and refuted Del. Marshall’s discriminatory testimony. Del. Marshall left his county to do so in front of the Fairfax County School Board – ignoring his own constituents to stand with a right-wing hate group. I encourage you to join me in volunteering for Danica and support her campaign to deliver results for our students, teachers and faculty throughout Virginia.”
“I don’t usually weigh in on campaigns outside Fairfax County, but Virginia’s public schools desperately need champions right now in the General Assembly,” said Fairfax County School Board member Pat Hynes. “Danica knows her community very well – she grew up there and has served as a journalist covering local news. As Delegate, she will focus on what her constituents – and all Virginians – need, including excellent public schools for all kids.”
Danica covered the Prince William County education system from 2006-2015 as the lead reporter for the Gainesville Times and Prince William Time. She wrote about every public high school in Prince William County as well as Manassas Park and Manassas, and extensively covered the effects overcrowding has on students’ abilities to learn and teachers’ abilities to have reasonable workloads.
Her education platform includes raising teacher pay in Prince William County and Manassas Park so it’s not the lowest in Northern Virginia. That’s why she supports expanding commercial development at Innovation Park in Manassas and filling office vacancies in Manassas Park so the localities can diversify their tax bases. That will ease the burden of taxes off of homeowners and bring in more revenue for the Board of County Supervisors to share with the School Board so they can work together to alleviate overcrowding and raise teacher pay.
More information about Danica’s education platform is available at www.danicafordelegate.com.
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