2ND District WV

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VLG Family Virginia and her family

Read about People Who Influenced My Life and Values

 

 

About Virginia Lynch Graf

My candidacy reflects what is best in a democratic republic—voters choosing representatives by the content of their character, not by family name, wealth, political party, or privilege. A democracy can only be of the people, by the people, and for the people when the people choose their representatives and the representatives use their votes to represent the people. What is happening today to the people’s voice?

The sheer quantity of money that’s sloshed around Washington is drowning out the voices of citizens.…The blitz by lobbyists carries a risk for the public.—US Public Interest Research Group

Despite the claims of political pundits that a candidate can’t win unless she raises a million dollars, Virginia is determined to become the 2nd District’s representative in Congress.

 

 

The old system of financial dependency on big benefactors has eroded good policymaking.  A representative in the U.S. Congress needs to be independent of financial ties, and a seat in Congress should not be bought. If voters choose Virginia as their new representative, they will experience her genuine concern for their future.

 

 

As an educator, Virginia sees connections between the education we receive, the innovation we dare to undertake, and the activism we choose to engage in. Each depends on the other, and brings contentment and success.

 

 

 

Innovator and Educator

  • Elementary School Principal
  • Changed traditional education curriculum to that of continuous education
  • Taught pre-school through college students
  • Introduced multi-sensory learning
  • Trained teachers and re-trained aides for active participation
  • Served on Mid-Atlantic Certification Committee for elementary and junior high schools
  • Administrator for religious education programs for pre-school through adults
  • Founder and president of Vangar Publishers (home publishing business)
  • Promoted small classes to provide creative interaction and encourage discovery
  • A nation is strengthened by life-long learning opportunities for new job training or personal enrichment
  • Apprenticeship programs should be instituted at little or no cost
  • Access to high-speed broadband should be available throughout the country

Activist

  • Co-founder and president of Jefferson County Organization of Democratic Women
  • Initiated and administered forums on Social Security and health care and political candidates’ debates
  • Helped forge opposition to PATH (Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline
  • Led successful petition drive against tolls on Routes 340 and 9
  • Community columnist for Martinsburg Journal on social and political issues
  • As elected chair of Jefferson County Commission Water Advisory Committee (WAC)—re-organized a defunct committee, steered WAC toward obtaining grant money to educate citizens on proper disposal and cleanup of hazardous waste and helped establish an annual water summit for Jefferson County

Volunteer

  • United Farm Workers of America (Baltimore Education Project)
  • Troop Leader, Girl Scouts of America
  • Odyssey of the Mind—moderated international creative problem-solving program for students
  • Relay for Life
  • CEOS of West Virginia
  • Teacher, English as a second language
  • Voter registration and political campaigns
  • Pax Christi
  • Southern Regional co-vice president of Federation of Christian Ministries
  • Created musical / theatrical fundraisers at St. Michael and Immaculate Heart of Mary
  • Cantor / lector St. Michael, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Pius X
    Tutor children and adults

Education

  • BA, College of Notre Dame in MD
  • MA, La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA
  • DMin, St. Mary Seminary & University in MD

Personal

Virginia was the fifth of eight children born to a stay-at-home mom and a dad who worked as a milkman. She entered the convent at seventeen, served for sixteen years as a religious sister, and then left to change her vocation and experience the same challenges as other women who work, study, balance finances, manage time and relationships, and raise children. She earned her second and third degrees while working full time, married, and raised two children. She is now the grandmother of two boys, ages two and four.