SW Virginia Momentum Building MeetUp Success

Tuesday night, July 11th, SW Virginia supporters of Gov. Mark Warner gathered at Montano's International Gourmet Restaurant on Franklin Road in Roanoke for our best attended and most productive MeetUp to date.

Elizabeth Nathanson, the Virginia Director for the Draft effort came down from Northern Virginia to meet and greet the nearly 40 people in attendance.

Former State Senator Madison Mayre, a 30-year veteran of the Virginia Legislature was on hand to be formally named the Honorary Chairman of the Draft effort for SW Virginia. Draft spokesman Onzlee Ware,of the 11th District, Virginia House of Delegates, was also on hand to tout Gov. Warner's accomplishments in Virginia. His predecessor, Chip Woodrun was there as were Steve McGraw, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Roanoke County Sheriff Gerald Holt, Commissioner of the Revenue Sherman Holland, and longtime democratic strategist Joan Washburn.

This was the kickoff of the momentum building effort to ensure Gov. Mark Warner has solid home state support as the time draws nearer for his decision to throw his hat into the ring of 2008 presidential contenders.

The Draft effort will be naming additional Honorary Chairs in other regions of the state and planning similar high-profile MeetUps across the state.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Alan Senitt, a British intern with Gov. Warner's Forward Together PAC, that was murdered in the Georgetown section of DC on Sunday, July 9th.

The event was covered by WDBJ Television and WVTF Public Radio.

You can watch the WDBJ video coverage online at Mark Warner for Prez supporters gather in Roanoke

We want to thank Joan Washburn, Elizabeth, and all the dignitaries and others that attended and made this event such a great success!

Yours,
Eddie Ratliff

Click on photos to enlarge.
Photo 1-MeetUp Crowd
Photo 2 (L to R) Chip Woodrum, Madison Mayre, Onzlee Ware
Photo 3-MeetUp Crowd