Dear Editor,

While it is true that the Loudoun County Democratic Committee (LCDC) is endorsing only those who “seek their endorsement,” the underlying reality is that I have been approached unofficially by no less than four LCDC leaders urging me to make that specific request. Their reasoning was that the best way to defeat all non-LCDC members, including Katie Hammler — a highly functioning Independent — would be with a partisan strategy.

However, Katie Hammler is a fair-minded public servant with laudable military and nonpartisan Council service records. She believes in fair process and fiscal restraint and is able to balance those principles with due consideration for the least among us. Her strength in leadership proves that intelligent, motivated women can serve with distinction and deserve equal rights to do so. If women of my age and experience do not hold the line to support such fine examples of all we in the women’s movement struggled so hard to achieve, then I do not know what it was all for. I will not so easily discard my life’s mission of Equal Rights for Women.

The Town Council election is by statute a nonpartisan election for a nonpartisan Council. When you cast your vote on Nov. 6 for the Town of Leesburg, I urge you to choose based on the candidates’ visions presented for our town. It’s no accident that we were voted by CNN Money Magazine as one of the top towns in the USA-- and a nonpartisan Council helped make it so.

My personal campaign envisions “embracing diversity,” (www.robinsonforleesburg.com ), which means all persons — all classes, all genders, all parties, all races, all religions, all cultures, all abilities. You deserve a seat at the table. I am running a values campaign – not a partisan campaign. If your values align with mine, I welcome your support.

S. Ann Robinson
Candidate for Leesburg Town Council