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V

irginia

C

apitol

C

onnections

, F

all

2016

6

It all started with a phone call. In 1992, as President of the

University of Richmond Young Democrats, I worked with the

Clinton/Gore campaign advance team in preparation for the

Presidential Debate. I was on my way to a rally to introduce the

Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia when the phone rang.

Hillary Clinton wanted to invite a student to sit with her at the

debate, and the campaign suggested me. I was elated!

That night started my journey as a Democratic Party activist

and eventually led me to run for office myself. Over the course of

the next 24 years, Hillary was a role model, proving women could

succeed in politics and government. As First Lady, she shattered

expectations by spearheading health care reform, resulting in the

creation of the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program

that covers 8 million kids today. She rallied a generation of women

at the U.N. Fourth Conference on Women in Beijing by declaring

“human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human

rights.” She became the first woman to serve as U.S. Senator from

New York, and the third woman to serve as Secretary of State. Her

accomplishments in both offices were many.

Twenty four years after that phone call at the University of

Richmond, I had a front row seat to see Hillary Clinton shatter

another glass ceiling by accepting the Democratic Party nomination

for President of the United States. As the mother of a one year old

daughter, I cried tears of joy not only because of what Hillary had

accomplished, but because of its significance.

Accepting the nomination, she stated, “When there are no

ceilings, the sky’s the limit.”

That is one legacy she has left for my daughter:

The sky is the limit.

Hillary also outlined her vision for an America that is stronger

together, thrives when the middle class thrives, and where Wall

Street can never wreck Main Street again.

The Democratic National Convention took on added personal

significance when Senator Tim Kaine became the nominee for

Vice President. I first met Tim when he was my Richmond City

Councilman and Mayor. We became friends when he ran for

Lieutenant Governor. One night before the election, as Chair of the

3rd Congressional District Democratic Committee, I drove across

the District to attend three GOTV rallies with the Warner-Kaine-

McEachin ticket. As we ended the evening in Portsmouth, Tim

realized I was driving by myself. He decided to ride back with me.

We talked about everything from baseball, to our favorite books,

to politics and government, to my own future goals. From that day

forward, Tim has been my mentor and friend. I was proud to not

only be elected to the House of Delegates the same day Tim Kaine

was elected Governor, but to be his delegate. We worked together on

issues from energy, sexual and domestic violence, and education.

Dave and I were also fortunate to join the ranks of couples who had

Tim Kaine officiate our wedding.

Despite all of his accomplishments, Tim Kaine has remained

the kindest, most humble public servant I know. The Virginia

delegation was thrilled so see him introduced to the rest of

America at the convention. And yet, it was pretty surreal to see him

surrounded by Secret Service as he visited the Virginia Delegation

breakfast that morning.

Stronger

Together

By Jennifer M

c

Clellan

Senator Tim Kaine and Anne Holton

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