Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (second from right) listened to local women Claudia Owen, Stephanie Jackson, Pam Hazel and Sally Photobeth (not pictured) share their stories of hardship, offering solutions that Barack Obama plans to bring to the table.

Though Virginia hasn’t voted Democrat in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson took office in 1964, the Obama campaign is determined to turn this traditionally red state blue. Chester first felt the force of that determination in August as Senator Obama stopped off at John Tyler’s Chester campus to speak to members of area Democratic committees and campaign volunteers.

As Election Day continues to close in, the Obama campaign continues their march through Virginia with a visit by Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius to the Bensley Community Center on September 23. Once on the vice president shortlist for Obama, Sebelius traveled to Bensley to participate in Four Families, Four Issues for Change. Listening to four Richmond-area women share their stories of hardship in the current economic crisis, Sebelius outlined how Obama plans to address these concerns if elected to office.

“These are difficult times,” says Sebelius. “Senator Barack Obama has talked about these issues for the past two years and has proven why he is the leader to bring the changes that we need in Virginia.”

Not surprisingly, rising gas prices topped the list of concerns. Stephanie Jackson, a mother of four and participant in the discussion, shared how the rising costs have crippled her income.

“We used to live in the West End, but moved to the Northside for the cheaper rent,” says Jackson. “Even though we have cheaper rent, the utilities have gone up so much that I am now living paycheck to paycheck even after working 12-hour days, seven days a week. Where is that money going?”

Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t Jackson’s only fear. Holding back tears, Jackson recounted the terror she feels when her daughter, who has chronic bronchitis, wakes up in the middle of the night gasping for breath.

“When she has an attack, I always have to pray that I have enough gas in the car to get to the hospital,” says Jackson.

In response to this, Sebelius outlined how Obama plans to address this crisis.

“Barack Obama has lived the life that Stephanie described and knows that too many people who work hard are having these troubles,” says Sebelius. “Senator Obama has a proposal for a tax cut that would help 95 percent of Virginians. He wants to work towards a new energy age, moving us off of foreign oil and towards U.S.-made energy. That also includes working towards lowering the cost of solar and wind power, pushing us towards a green economy.”

Pam Hazel, another participant, discussed the trouble that her daughter has had finding affordable healthcare. Adopted 33 years ago, her daughter had previously lived in an abusive environment and, as a result, suffers from mental health issues. In a catch-22, her daughter is unable to afford the health insurance she needs to solve her mental health issues because she is unable to get a job due to these issues.

“Senator Obama has said from the start that quality, affordable healthcare should be for available for everyone,” says Sebelius. “Senator McCain’s plan will rapidly dismantle the insurance coverage that people currently have because it would require them to pay taxes on the health benefits that their company pays for. Obama plans to crack down on insurance and drug company overheads and get rid of the barriers on pre-existing conditions. He wants to get rid of the rules that allow insurance companies to cherry-pick their clients and what they will cover.”

Not limited to fuel costs and health care, the discussion also turned towards education. Sally Photobeth emigrated to the U.S. from England in 2000 and became a citizen earlier than she needed to so that she could vote in this year’s election.

“My daughter is now a full-time student at VCU and we have had to take out a $10,000 loan just to cover one semester. Now, I have another daughter who will be graduating soon and I have to hope that she will get a tennis scholarship to be able to afford school,” says Photobeth. “It’s wrong that you should have to worry about getting a scholarship to be able to attend school. Every child should have that opportunity to go to college.”

In light of these concerns, Sebelius outlined one of Obama’s solutions to financing post-secondary education.

“Senator Obama knows the transformation power of education and how badly we need a college plan for this country,” says Sebelius. “Every student who wants to go to college will be able to get a $4,000 assistance from the federal government. In exchange, they will have to do some type of public, community, or military service.”

With the stories told, Sebelius addressed the approximately 100 attendees with Obama’s message of change.

“Their stories are not much different than those of your friends and neighbors. We need a change in the tax policy that rewards work and not just wealth. We need new energy, healthcare, and education policies. We need a president who understands the changes that we need,” says Sebelius. “We know that the road to the White House comes right through the Commonwealth of Virginia. We need to get the word out that Senator Obama will be a president who will put us on the right track.”

The Obama campaign will be kicked off their general election efforts in Chester with the grand opening of their Campaign for Change Chester office last Saturday. The office is located at 9200 Perrymont Rd., Richmond. To learn more about their Virginia strategy or to get involved, visit their office or go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/chesteropen.

nderatto@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

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