Adam Ebbin

Ebbin Fighting Against Same-Sex Adoption Discrimination

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:05 a.m.) State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) is decrying legislation that he says will codify discrimination against same-sex couples seeking to adopt a child.

A bill that was introduced by Rep. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and Sen. Jeffrey McWaters (R-Virginia Beach) inserts a “conscience clause” into the Virginia law concerning private adoption and foster care agencies.

“No private child-placing agency shall be required to consider or consent to any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would conflict with the religious tenets of any sponsor of the agency or other organization or institution with which the child-placing agency is affiliated or associated,” the bill reads. It also says that adoption agencies cannot be held liable for civil damages as a result of denying the placement of a child.

Ebbin says the clause is discriminatory.

“Adoption and foster care agencies that receive state funding should not be allowed to pick prospective parents based on their sexual orientation,” Ebbin said. “Adoption is a public act that goes through state courts, and no government agency should ever engage in discrimination. When placing a child in a permanent home, the only factor we should take into account is what is best for the child.”

Ebbin tried to patron a bill, SB 569, that would have banned discrimination on the basis of “race, religion, national origin, sex, age, family status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity” among adoption and foster care agencies that receive state funds. The bill failed to make it out of a Senate committee.

The conscience clause bills, meanwhile, are advancing. On Friday Gilbert’s bill passed the House by a vote of 71-28, and McWaters’ bill has passed a Senate committee by a vote of 8-7.

Ebbin Introduces ‘Coaches Bill’ in Response to Penn State Abuse

By ARLnow.com

In one of his first acts as a state Senator, Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) has introduced legislation that would require athletic coaches and directors at public and private schools and universities to report incidents of child abuse.

Ebbin’s bill is SB 265 — an amendment to an existing Virginia law that requires “any teacher or other person employed in a public or private school, kindergarten or nursery school” to report any suspected incident of child abuse or neglect within 72 hours, or face fines. SB 265 would amend the law to apply to “any teacher, athletic coach or director, or other person employed in a public or private school, kindergarten or nursery school, or institution of higher education.”

The bill’s introduction comes just two months after the Penn State sex abuse scandal rocked the world of college athletics.

“Senator Ebbin is very concerned about the abuses at Penn State and felt that we needed to ensure that nothing like that ever happened in Virginia,” Ebbin spokesman Donald Moss told ARLnow.com. “The bill will require that reporting of suspected child abuse be mandatory both by those in athletics and anyone employed by an institute of higher learning, which is change to current Virginia code that everyone will agree is all the more necessary in a post Penn State world.”

SB 265 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, which is scheduled to meet on Friday morning.

Candidate Essay: Adam Ebbin

By ARLnow.com

This week we asked the two candidates for the 30th District state Senate seat to write a sub-750 word essay on why the district’s residents should vote for them on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Here is the unedited response from Del. Adam Ebbin (D):

On November 8, voters in the 30th Senate District will select a successor to Senator Patsy Ticer, who has served Northern Virginia well during her sixteen years in Richmond. The questions before voters will be simple: who is best prepared to get the job done, and who best shares our values?

After seven years in the House, I have the experience, knowledge and relationships needed to be successful in the Virginia Senate. I’ve been a champion for our values in Richmond, and passed legislation supporting our environment, our senior citizens, our transit system and other key regional priorities.

Since 2004, I’ve represented parts of south Arlington in the House of Delegates. During that time, I’ve secured $1.5 billion in Federal matching funds to improve Metro services and passed legislation to establish a Public Defender office in Arlington.

I passed laws to protect seniors from fraud and abuse and laws to strengthen protections against identity theft. I also helped lead the successful effort to expand life insurance benefits to include members of domestic partnerships.

This year, legislation I passed established a solar resource loan fund that will provide homeowners access to low interest loans to install solar panels on their houses. I’ve defended funds for our public schools and have been a reliable vote in support of Virginia’s workers and a woman’s right to choose.

I know what it takes to move important legislation through the General Assembly. I’ve stood up for our Northern Virginia values against the skepticism of members from other parts of the Commonwealth. I’ve worked with them to build understanding and support for our local priorities.

Before being elected to represent our community in the House of Delegates, I served in the administration of former Governor Mark Warner as his Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. Outside of my government service, I’ve spent much of my career helping small and growing businesses reach new clients and expand their online presence.

I am committed to keeping Virginia the best-managed state in the nation, the best state in which to raise a child and the number one state in which to do business. I have fought, and will continue to fight, to protect our local schools and emergency response services from budget cuts.

During this campaign, I’ve had to great pleasure to speak with so many of you at your door, at a debate, or at a local function. We’ve discussed your concerns, your priorities and your hopes for the future. As a member of the House, I’ve worked day and night to put our shared values into action. In the Senate, I’ll be even more able to put the needs of Northern Virginia front and center in Richmond.

I’m proud to have been endorsed by my colleagues from the Democratic primary, Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka and Arlington County School Board Member Libby Garvey. I am also very proud to have won the support of the Arlington Association of Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, the Virginia AFL-CIO, SEIU, the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, Equality Virginia and many other local organizations.

The Washington Post has endorsed my candidacy, and has said that I am “well-respected, substantive and effective” and “would make an excellent Senator.”

I would be truly honored to have your vote. If you will stand with me on November 8, I will stand up for you every day that I’m in Richmond. I have a record of proven progressive accomplishment, and will continue to be a strong voice for our values in the Senate.

Election Day is November 8. To learn more about my candidacy, or how you can volunteer in these closing days, please visit www.AdamEbbin.com or call 703-739-4330.

Candidate Defends Remarks About Gays and God

By ARLnow.com

Republican State Senate candidate Tim McGhee is catching some flak for comments he made to the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance Monday night.

During his closing remarks at the group’s candidates forum in Ballston, McGhee started opining about the relationship between gays, lesbians and God.

“Each and every one of you is a uniquely valuable human being created for a purpose,” McGhee told the group, according to an audio recording and transcript on the Not Larry Sabato blog. “Some of you are beyond frustrated with God right now. Some of you refuse to believe in him altogether. You’ve asked the question or perhaps given up asking a long time ago ‘Why? Why would God make me who I am and then tell me that’s wrong?'”

Needless to say, some AGLA members took exception to the implication that being gay is “wrong” — or that a discussion of God and morality was appropriate during a local political debate.

“Sitting in that room while the above was happening was insanely awkward,” wrote one Not Larry Sabato commenter.

McGhee, however, defended his remarks when asked about them by the Del Ray Patch.

“It was a personal view… It was meant to be an added perspective on who God is and his mercy,” said McGhee, a database administrator for The Falls Church.

McGhee’s opponent in the race for the 30th District state Senate seat is Del. Adam Ebbin, a Democrat who was the first openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly.

Democratic Primary Results

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 9:55 p.m.) After months of campaigning, four local Democrats are declaring victory in tonight’s primary election.

Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola has decisively won the acrimonious race for the 31st District state Senate seat. With all precincts reporting, Favola has captured 65 percent of the vote to Jaime Areizaga-Soto’s 35 percent. Favola will face a well-funded Republican challenger, Caren Merrick, in November.

Del. Adam Ebbin, meanwhile, has squeaked by Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka in the three-way race for the 30th District state Senate seat. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Ebbin has 39 percent of the vote to Kupricka’s 36 percent and Arlington school board member Libby Garvey’s 25 percent. Ebbin will face Republican hopeful Timothy McGhee in November.

Alfonso Lopez will be the 49th District’s next House of Delegates member, succeeding the victorious Ebbin. Lopez defeated Stephanie Clifford 66 percent to 34 percent with all precincts reporting. Lopez will be running unopposed in the fall.

Finally, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos will be getting a bigger office. Stamos handily fended off defense attorney David Deane in the race for Commonwealth’s Attorney in Arlington. Stamos captured 82 percent of the vote to Deane’s 18 percent. Stamos does not have a challenger in the general election.

Arlington elections officials say that 10.3 percent of the county’s active registered voters cast a ballot during today’s election.

“Not so bad for [a] predicted slow primary day [with an] earthquake,” officials said via Twitter.

Candidate Essay: Adam Ebbin

By ARLnow.com

Earlier this week, we asked the three Democratic candidates for the 30th District state Senate seat to write a sub-750 word essay on why the district’s residents should vote for them on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

Here is the unedited response from Adam Ebbin (typo corrected at 6:20 p.m. upon request of the campaign):

The question before voters in the August 23 Democratic primary for the 30th Senate District isn’t about policy or politics. With three solid Democrats running, there’s very little difference between our positions on major issues. Instead, the question voters must answer is, “who can best get the job done in the Senate?”

After seven years in the House, I have the experience, knowledge and relationships needed to be successful in the Senate. I’ve been a champion for our progressive values in Richmond, and passed legislation supporting our environment, our senior citizens, our transit system and other key progressive priorities. I’ve been the leading voice against Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and will continue to stand against him in the Senate.

Since 2004, I’ve represented parts of south Arlington in the House of Delegates. During that time, I’ve secured funding to improve Metro services and provide for a Public Defender office in Arlington. I’ve established a solar resource loan fund that will provide homeowners access to low interest loans to install solar panels on their houses. I’ve defended funds for our public schools and have a 100% pro-choice voting record.

I know what it takes to move progressive legislation through an often-hostile General Assembly. I’ve stood up for our Northern Virginia values against the skepticism of members from other parts of the Commonwealth. I’ve worked with them to build understanding and support for our local priorities.

During this campaign, I’ve had the great pleasure to speak with so many of you at your door, at a debate, or at a local function.
We’ve discussed your concerns, your priorities and your hopes for the future. As a member of the House, I’ve worked day and night to put our shared values into action. In the Senate, I’ll be even more able to put the needs of Northern Virginia front and center in Richmond.

I’m proud to have been endorsed by County Board Member Jay Fisette, Treasurer Frank O’Leary, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy and School Board Member James Lander. I am also very proud to have won the support of the Arlington Association of Professional Firefighters and Paramedics, the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, Equality Virginia, the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club and many other leading progressive organizations.

I would be truly honored to have your vote. If you will stand with me on August 23, I will stand up for you every day that I’m in Richmond. I have a record of proven progressive accomplishment, and will continue to be a strong voice for our values in the Senate.

Election Day is August 23. To learn more about my candidacy, or how you can volunteer in these closing days, please visit www.AdamEbbin.com or call 703-739-4330.

LGBT Dems Endorse Candidates in Local Races

By ARLnow.com

The LGBT Democrats of Virginia and the Virginia Partisans PAC announced a series of endorsements in local races for state Senate and the House of Delegates this morning.

The PAC has endorsed Del. Adam Ebbin, who’s running in the 30th state Senate district and Jaime Areizaga-Soto, who’s running in the 31st state Senate district. The group also endorsed both candidates who are running in the 49th House of Delegates district: Alfonso Lopez and Stephanie Clifford.

While saying that Ebbin’s two primary opponents — Rob Krupicka and Libby Garvey — would be “strong allies,” and while expressing confidence that Areizaga-Soto’s opponent — Barbara Favola — would “vote on the side of equality” — the LGBT Dems nonetheless sided with Ebbin and Areizaga-Soto.

See the group’s press release, after the jump.

(more…)

Ebbin Blasts Cuccinelli on Net Neutrality

By ARLnow.com

Del. Adam Ebbin (D) is no fan of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s (R) legal crusades.

Ebbin, who’s running for state Senate, has released a statement blasting Cuccinelli for his latest high-profile legal saber rattling: a plan to sue the Federal Communications Commission in a challenge to “net neutrality” policies.

Net neutrality is a principle that seeks to prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from treating certain internet content different from other content. For instance, net neutrality would prevent an ISP from blocking popular but bandwidth-hogging video streaming web sites like Netflix and YouTube. The FCC adopted a set of net neutrality-inspired regulations in December.

Cuccinelli, who as Attorney General has filed lawsuits over health care reform and climate change, says he will try to gather support from other state attorneys general to sue the FCC, calling net neutrality “most egregious of all violations of federal law.”

Ebbin, in response, is released a statement calling net neutrality “common sense” and calling Cuccinelli “an embarrassment to our Commonwealth.”

“His extremist campaigns against clean air, against a woman’s right to choose, against union workers and against net neutrality are not what the people of Virginia want or need from their Attorney General,” Ebbin said. “Ken Cuccinelli doesn’t understand that today’s emerging businesses depend on an open and free Internet to allow them to innovate and grow. He’s willing to risk our economic future to advance his partisan agenda.”

Ebbin’s Solar Power Bill Signed into Law

By ARLnow.com

Solar energy legislation sponsored by Del. Adam Ebbin has been signed into law by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The bill will create a “Voluntary Solar Resource Development Fund,” which will distribute affordable loans to help power customers install solar panels and solar water heaters at their homes or businesses. The fund will receive funding from voluntary contributions and grants. Utilities will be required to promote the funds and let customers opt-in for monthly contributions.

“Virginia has some of the highest solar energy potential in the region, but we’re being outpaced by our neighbors like Maryland, which has only two-thirds our population but thirteen times the number of homes powered by solar energy,” Ebbin said. “We all recognize the need to increase the use of renewable energy resources and my legislation will make the environmental choice a more affordable choice for Virginians.”

The bill received support from both utility companies and environmental groups.

More State Senate Endorsements

By ARLnow.com

Libby Garvey and Del. Adam Ebbin, both trailing Rob Krupicka in fundraising, picked up some endorsements yesterday in the Democratic primary battle for the 30th District state Senate seat.

Garvey, Chair of the Arlington County School Board, received the endorsement of Fairfax County School Board member Dan Storck and Fairfax County Mt. Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland.

“Libby Garvey offers a unique combination of vision and a proven track record of getting things done,” Hyland said in a statement. “Libby is exactly the style of leader we need working for us in Richmond.”

Ebbin, meanwhile picked up endorsements from three Arlington County officials: County Board member Jay Fisette, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy and Treasurer Frank O’Leary.

“When Arlington needed a public defender’s office to ensure the fairness of our judicial system, we turned to Adam Ebbin to help us secure the funding,” Fisette said in a statement. “When we needed him, he delivered, and will continue to do so in the Senate.”

Krupicka, an Alexandria City Councilman, has previously received endorsements from Alexandria officials like Mayor Bill Euille.

Candidates Haul in Cash for 30th District State Senate Race

By ARLnow.com

Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka has out-raised his two Democratic opponents in the race for the 30th District state Senate seat.

As of March 31, Krupicka had raised $101,143. That places him well ahead of Del. Adam Ebbin, who has raised $72,989, and Arlington School Board Chair Libby Garvey, who has raised $55,720.

Krupicka’s biggest donor is businessman Robert Henry Duggar, who contributed $5,000 to his campaign. Ebbin’s biggest donor is the pro-immigrant-rights Laborers’ International Union of North America, which also contributed $5,000. Garvey’s biggest donor is the campaign fund of Sen. Patsy Ticer, who is retiring after 16 years of representing the 30th District. Ticer for Virginia Senate has contributed $10,000 to Garvey’s campaign.

On the Republican side, Alexandria businessman Michael Maibach appears to be gearing up for a run (see below). Maibach told us he was thinking about entering the race, but so far hasn’t formally announced his candidacy. Nonetheless, “Mike Maibach for Senate” has $10,000 cash on hand after floating a large campaign loan. Meanwhile, a web site — mikemaibach.com — is currently under construction.

The 30th District currently includes much of South Arlington, as well as most of Alexandria and a portion of Fairfax County, although state legislators are still in the process of drawing new district boundaries. See the fundraising totals for local House of Delegates races on the Blue Virginia blog.

Update at 3:50 p.m. — Maibach says he is no longer planning on running, but notes that he has not made a final decision on the matter.

“As of right now my intention is not to be a candidate,” he told ARLnow.com. “I’m hoping the party will find somebody else.”

View More Stories