Karen Bune
Victimology Contributor
Officer.com
The state of Virginia has put its marker on the map as being a political hotbed for politics these days. President Barack Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the race since 1964, and a great deal of attention has been focused on Virginia. Now, more than ever, Virginia is in the spotlight for the governor’s race. The Democratic candidates vying for victory in the state’s primary are being closely observed. The primary is expected to be intense. The three Democratic candidates---Brian Moran, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, State Senator Terry McAuliffe, the former National Democratic Chairman, and State Senator Creigh Deeds, are vying for a final place on the Democratic ticket and hoping to be Obama-like change agents for the outcome of the state’s gubernatorial race.
It is a known fact that McAuliffe is a well-oiled money machine that will enable him to invest in great amounts of advertising and promotion of himself as the man who should have the sought after position. However, my vote for the primary spot is for Brian Moran. I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Brian for seven years when he served as a prosecutor and, ultimately, a senior prosecutor in the Arlington Virginia Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Brian was then-- and is now—a tremendous public servant. As a fellow colleague, he demonstrated to me that he is ambitious, conscientious, responsible, and genuinely cares about the community he served and the crime victims he fought for in prosecuting crimes. He was sincere in pursuing his goals and tenacious in his crime fighting pursuits.
One thing I greatly admire about Brian is that he has always been forthright and, most importantly, sincere. He doesn’t pay lip service and simply give a quick handshake and a diplomatic smile to whomever he encounters and then quickly disappears to work a room like most politicians. To the contrary, Brian takes the time to stop and truly listen to what people have to say, maintains eye contact with the individual to whom he is speaking, and treats everyone he meets with respect. In Brian’s world, everyone counts, and he is not a political or a social snob.
The progression of his career and his advancement to higher level positions in the public service sector have never distracted him from remaining the genuine person and public servant that he was then and is now. He has never forgotten where he came from or the paths he travelled towards his achievements. He understands the problems of ordinary people because he has experienced them himself. Mr. Moran began working at the age of 14 and, in the past, he worked construction, served as a bartender, and was employed at a gas station. He understands the needs of individuals and the larger community, and he has the intelligence, street savvy, formal education, and practical experience in the public sector to know what is needed and how to go about meeting the demands of the state of Virginia.
Highly cognizant of the pressing issues that face Virginia and the problems that he would confront as the next governor, Brian is neither inhibited by the challenge nor fearful of the competition. He has always been an ardent supporter of law enforcement officers throughout the state, and his concern for crime victims is unrelenting. Brian made huge inroads in tightening the drunken driving laws as well as the growing problem of child exploitation and internet crimes against children. He was responsible for the initiation and institution of “Alicia’s Lawâ€â€”named after a 13-year-old girl who was abducted, held hostage, and tortured in her Virginia basement.
Brian Moran is well rounded and has a good grasp of the wide ranging issues that face Virginia. He doesn’t merely talk the talk but he has walked the walk, and he is highly qualified to lead the state of Virginia. In the early stages of what is anticipated to be a very competitive race, Brian Moran is ready for the marathon run. Highly qualified, he is the man who needs to win the primary and then get to the finish line to serve as Governor of Virginia.
