Patricia Edmonson
Encyclopedia
Patricia "Pat" Edmonson is an American politician from Virginia Beach, Virginia
. In May 2006 she was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board
, representing the 6th (Beach) district. On January 15, 2009, Edmonson announced her candidacy as a Democrat
for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
.
. Ms. Edmonson holds a Bachelor's degree
in history
and social science
from Elon University
, as well as a Master's degree
in comparative religion
from Princeton University
. Ms. Edmonson is married with one son.
and The American Association of University Women
.
Additionally, Edmonson is the vice-chair and former outreach director of the VBDC (Best Large Democratic Committee 2007). She is a sitting member of the VBCPS School Board, in charge of 70,000 students and a $748,000,000 budget. Pat serves on the Legislative Committee, The Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, Fundraising Director for Young Audiences of VA, Arts for Learning and Executive Committee, Boards of Friendship Village, and Parent Advisory Link.
Pat has served on the Strategic Planning Committee, rallied the Board to reject charging free and reduced lunch students for summer school, argued to have the African American male achievement gap put in the strategic plan as a goal, and is on the Board of Parent Connection.
"In these tough times, bureaucrats will seek to cut the funding for those that are out of sight. These are the most vulnerable people among us; those are the people that really need the protection of our government. I will protect these people, and I will be a voice for those people and their families," Pat Edmonson says in her announcement. "Times are tough, and we are facing a huge budget deficit. We have to make smart decisions about where we cut. I will not cut funding to public education.”
Pat Edmonson will lead in Richmond to truly move Virginia forward. Pat will vigorously support pulling Virginia out of "No Child Left Behind,” a series of unfunded mandates that sacrifice quality education for students across Virginia. Pat also supports repeal of the "Dillon rule
," and wants to give local governments more say over how public revenue is spent. Pat knows how important Virginia's environmental treasures are to each and every Virginian, and will support investments in long term energy solutions and common sense environmental protections. "Let's not sully our gorgeous beaches with offshore drilling
," says Pat Edmonson in her announcement. "This is a short term answer to a long term problem.” Pat also believes all people have inherent worth, and will work to end discrimination and ensure pay equity for all Virginians.
Pat will begin a tour of Virginia, traveling to every part of the state to bring her message of common sense reform and true progressive government for Virginia's future.
, economy
, education
, energy and the environment
, gun ownership
, health care
, homeland security
, immigration
, prison reform
, rural policy, transportation, urban policy, and women's policy issues. On March 8, 2009, she appeared on The Inside Scoop, stating many of her positions on the issues.
“E21VA,” short for “Education in a 21st Century Virginia.” The plan discusses the failures of No Child Left Behind
in its lack of funding for state and local governments. E21 suggests to reform the public education system by funding Pre-K
education, and expanding elementary education in terms of foreign language skills, creative arts, and comprehensive studying of math, science and language arts. For secondary education, E21 plans to reform middle and high schools into “Junior” and “Senior Academies.” The Junior Academies plan to prepare students for a track in college and/or vocational training at the Senior Academy, while the Senior Academies provide more opportunities for students, such as the opportunity to take classes at a community college while still enrolled in school, with the possibility of a dual graduation. This ultimately concludes in the receiving of a high school diploma as well as an Associate's degree
. The plan also proposes the opportunity to receive an Associate's Degree from a community college at no charge to Virginia residents, whether or not they chose to take community college classes in high school. Students who decide that a path in vocational education
is more fitting will be exposed to the same benefits, allowing students to be enrolled in vocational certification programs. The plan also discusses adult education opportunities, and provides a sample budget for such an education reform.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. In May 2006 she was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Virginia Beach City Public Schools is the branch of the government of the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia responsible for public K-12 education. Like all public school systems in the state, it is legally classified as a school division instead of a school district. Although Virginia school...
, representing the 6th (Beach) district. On January 15, 2009, Edmonson announced her candidacy as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
.
Early life and family
Edmonson was born in Atlanta, but spent her summers in Virginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. Ms. Edmonson holds a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and social science
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
from Elon University
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
, as well as a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in comparative religion
Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Ms. Edmonson is married with one son.
Community Activism and Public Service
Edmonson was elected to the Virginia Beach City Public School's School Board in May 2006, where she is currently serving her first term. She represents the city's 6th District (the Beach district), and represents approximately 450,000 people in the city of Virginia Beach. She was a two-term director at large for the National Hemophilia Association, emeritus director of the Hemophilia Association of the National Capital Area, and former director of fundraising for the National Hemophilia Association. Ms. Edmondson is a founding director of Adventures in Learning, a non-profit, community partnership, after-school program designed to address needs of at-risk youth. She is a member of The American Friends Service CommitteeAmerican Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
and The American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
.
Additionally, Edmonson is the vice-chair and former outreach director of the VBDC (Best Large Democratic Committee 2007). She is a sitting member of the VBCPS School Board, in charge of 70,000 students and a $748,000,000 budget. Pat serves on the Legislative Committee, The Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, Fundraising Director for Young Audiences of VA, Arts for Learning and Executive Committee, Boards of Friendship Village, and Parent Advisory Link.
Pat has served on the Strategic Planning Committee, rallied the Board to reject charging free and reduced lunch students for summer school, argued to have the African American male achievement gap put in the strategic plan as a goal, and is on the Board of Parent Connection.
Candidacy for Lieutenant Governor
On January 15, 2009, Patricia “Pat” Edmonson announced her candidacy as a Democrat for the office of Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Pat Edmonson enters the race for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor as a true progressive voice for Virginia's future. Pat knows that it will take real political courage to move Virginia through our budget crisis both this year and next, and Pat will be that voice that refuses to abandon the needs of vulnerable Virginians in a time of economic crisis. Pat Edmonson made her announcement in a video emailed to supporters and posted on her website."In these tough times, bureaucrats will seek to cut the funding for those that are out of sight. These are the most vulnerable people among us; those are the people that really need the protection of our government. I will protect these people, and I will be a voice for those people and their families," Pat Edmonson says in her announcement. "Times are tough, and we are facing a huge budget deficit. We have to make smart decisions about where we cut. I will not cut funding to public education.”
Pat Edmonson will lead in Richmond to truly move Virginia forward. Pat will vigorously support pulling Virginia out of "No Child Left Behind,” a series of unfunded mandates that sacrifice quality education for students across Virginia. Pat also supports repeal of the "Dillon rule
John Forrest Dillon
John Forrest Dillon was an American jurist who served on both federal and Iowa state courts, and who authored a highly influential treatise on the power of states over municipal governments.-Early life and career:...
," and wants to give local governments more say over how public revenue is spent. Pat knows how important Virginia's environmental treasures are to each and every Virginian, and will support investments in long term energy solutions and common sense environmental protections. "Let's not sully our gorgeous beaches with offshore drilling
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
," says Pat Edmonson in her announcement. "This is a short term answer to a long term problem.” Pat also believes all people have inherent worth, and will work to end discrimination and ensure pay equity for all Virginians.
Pat will begin a tour of Virginia, traveling to every part of the state to bring her message of common sense reform and true progressive government for Virginia's future.
Positions
On her campaign website, Edmonson has released statements on a number of issues effecting the Commonwealth of Virginia. Among these issues include civil rightsCivil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, energy and the environment
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
, gun ownership
Gun politics
Gun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
, health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, homeland security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...
, rural policy, transportation, urban policy, and women's policy issues. On March 8, 2009, she appeared on The Inside Scoop, stating many of her positions on the issues.
Homelessness
On February 9, 2009, in an effort to promote awareness about the many issues Virginians face, Pat Edmonson chose to skip the annual Democratic Jefferson Jackson dinner, and instead, she took her campaign staff to a local homeless shelter a few blocks from the Richmond Convention Center. In her place, Pat invited workers and residents from local shelters to sit at her sponsored table and engage Virginia political leaders about their plight. Each Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor provided videos to be played during the annual fundraising dinner. Pat's video took a moment to acknowledge that over 750,000 people experience homelessness every night, and that roughly 56% of those consist of families with women or children. After announcing that she has taken her campaign staff to a shelter and invited residents in their place, Pat reminded Democrats in attendance that "progressive values only mean something if they are put into action."Virginia-Food-First
Edmonson's experience on the school board and her concern over food safety regulations in other states inspired her to craft a proposal that would keep Virginia tax dollars in Virginia, help stimulate the economy, and keep school food sources local and safe. This proposal, Virginia-Food-First, would encourage purchase of seasonal food products and provide a larger in state market for Virginia growers and producers.Education Reform
On March 2, 2009, Edmonson released a groundbreaking education policy referred to as“E21VA,” short for “Education in a 21st Century Virginia.” The plan discusses the failures of No Child Left Behind
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
in its lack of funding for state and local governments. E21 suggests to reform the public education system by funding Pre-K
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
education, and expanding elementary education in terms of foreign language skills, creative arts, and comprehensive studying of math, science and language arts. For secondary education, E21 plans to reform middle and high schools into “Junior” and “Senior Academies.” The Junior Academies plan to prepare students for a track in college and/or vocational training at the Senior Academy, while the Senior Academies provide more opportunities for students, such as the opportunity to take classes at a community college while still enrolled in school, with the possibility of a dual graduation. This ultimately concludes in the receiving of a high school diploma as well as an Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
. The plan also proposes the opportunity to receive an Associate's Degree from a community college at no charge to Virginia residents, whether or not they chose to take community college classes in high school. Students who decide that a path in vocational education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
is more fitting will be exposed to the same benefits, allowing students to be enrolled in vocational certification programs. The plan also discusses adult education opportunities, and provides a sample budget for such an education reform.
Economic and Jobs Policy
On March 9, 2009, Pat Edmonson released her comprehensive economic plan. The plan is a bipartisan attempt to create 250,000 jobs by 2011. The first section calls for a readjustment in both the state corporate and small business taxes. This provides businesses with more ease to operate and the creation of more jobs in Virginia. The second section calls for more state investment in new technology firms. This will increase the number of technology-based jobs in Virginia, particularly in Northern Virginia. The third section calls for more investment in renewable energy. This will create incentives for private corporations to develop renewable energy sources in Virginia. The fourth section calls for heavy infrastructure investment in Virginia, stemming from both transportation and education spending.External links
- Pat Edmonson, Democrat for Lieutenant Governor Official Campaign website