Local politicians, candidates address TEA Party rally

The Danville TEA Party attracted the ears and attention of local representatives and political candidates on Saturday.

The TEA Party Patriots, a group of residents who believe they are Taxed Enough Already and have protested current federal government policy, invited both former and current political candidates to introduce themselves and address Patriots’ concerns at a rally at the courthouse plaza in downtown Danville.

The rally served as a forum for residents to share their frustrations and for politicians to learn about and meet Southside voters as November’s Election Day draws closer.

“I think it’s very timely. I think the government needs to hear from the people and the people have spoken here today,” said Dave Newman, a Korean War veteran of Danville.

Newman appreciated the openness of the 10 speakers and candidates. He saw the rally as a way to return to the country’s “roots.”

“I don’t see this as a political rally. I see this as a freedom rally,” Newman said. “But I think it goes hand in hand this time of year.”

First speaker Herschel Stone, who ran for Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors in the past, sees the TEA Party as a “movement that is driven from the heart of the people.”

His speech fell in line with much of the day’s rhetoric about reducing government spending and the tax burden on Americans as he campaigned for the Fair Tax plan as Danville’s FairTax community coordinator. The plan proposes replacing income taxes with a progressive national retail sales tax.

The 150 attendees cheered to hear the plan would mean no more income tax filings.

State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, who recently filed his candidacy for the 5th Congressional District, told TEA Party-goers that he wondered what the nation’s founding fathers would think of the country today.

“They would be heartened at one thing and that is what is represented here —a renewed American spirit,” Hurt said.

Hurt said the TEA Party represents a grave concern among Americans and residents of Southside about the future of the country when a Congress spends and accumulates debt well beyond its means. He said Southside residents need a voice in Washington that would truly represent their views and values.

Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, who is running for reelection in November, reiterated the need for the state government to cut spending when the money’s tight, just like everyday people have to do in hard times.

“People should be speaking their minds about what they think government is doing right and what government is doing wrong,” Marshall said. “Part of my job is to listen to the people — that’s who I represent.”

Mike Mondul, who is running for Danville city sheriff, encourages every Danville resident to learn about all candidates to make informed decisions.

“This is a forum of voters,” Mondul, a current Danville Police Department crime scene search unit supervisor and public information officer, said about the TEA Party.

Feda Kidd Morton, a Fluvanna County educator and Republican Party of Virginia activist who also entered the race for the 5th District seat, told attendees she would uphold constitutional principles. Morton said the more open and larger a gathering like the TEA Party, the better.

“It provides a forum that allows average citizens to express their voices,” he said. “That way we know what the people think.”