Algie Howell fundraiser

I attended a fundraiser for Delegate Algie Howell (90th) this evening. Elected officials in attendance were Delegates Kenny Alexander (89th), Ken Melvin (80th), Paula Miller (87th) and House Minority Leader Frank Hall (69th), along with Mayors Paul Fraim (Norfolk) and Meyera Oberndorf (Virginia Beach). I thought this was a good turnout, given that the NAACP state convention dinner was tonight.

I had a chance to talk to Delegate Hall, who was one of the three members of the Richmond delegation who announced this past Wednesday his opposition to the so-called Marriage Amendment, which he had previously supported. I urged him to get with the Norfolk delegation and arrange a similar press conference for them, since it seems that several of them who voted for the amendment are now against it.

I also took the opportunity to talk to my dinner companions about voting NO. It didn’t hurt that my op-ed piece appeared today: one said specifically that she was going to “do the right thing,” a reference to my article. My other companions also said they were voting NO.

Overall, I think a good time was had by all. I hope Delegate Howell raised a few bucks for his 2007 campaign.