The Virginia House Of Delgates Elections Are This Year, Not In 2024

Guest Post by Terrence Walker, Candidate, HD-81

Back in early fall, I got a call from a voter advocacy group, 90for90. As Vice Chair of Henrico County Democrats, I was asked about making a statement on the possibility of Special Elections in Virginia. Dr. Reid Jr. was saying that these Special Elections were necessary to bring the Virginia House up to date with the 2020 census and redistricting process, assuring something closer to “one person, one vote.”

During that discussion, the topic moved to running a candidate in every district. Dr. Reid Jr. realized that I lived in a newly drawn district, Virginia’s 81st House District. “This is a purely Democratic district which does not have a candidate running” he said. I gave him a few names of folks I thought would make good candidates.

We talked a few times in the next couple of weeks and in one call Dr. Reid Jr. asked, “Why not you?” He was asking if I would consider putting myself forth as a candidate. I had to check myself for a minute, never considered it before. It would mean helping more people this way; do what I’m doing now on a bigger stage. I have the necessary skill set. I’m trying to do the right thing in my life and would continue to do that if elected.

A native Philadelphian, I grew up in a section of the city that was known as the "Badlands" because of poverty, crime, and limited economic opportunities. With love and support from my family, friends, and my single mother, I became one of the first in my family to earn a B.A. in political science and a Master's degree in Divinity.

Today I work as a Mental Health Administrator for a local university providing administrative support to licensed clinical staff and students that are in training to become mental health providers. It was in that role that I was asked to tackle a student issue that I felt needed to be addressed. I chose food insecurity.

The RAM pantry, started in 2012, is a food pantry for students, run by students. We partner with local organic farms and grocery stores. Fifty percent of first-generation college students experience food insecurity, which makes this an issue near and dear to my heart.

“The mission of Ram Pantry is to ensure food security, human dignity and well-being on campus by providing in-need VCU students with food. To this end, Ram Pantry will collaborate with university and community partners to research and implement innovative approaches to food security and community health. We will do our part to ensure that no student in the VCU community goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food.”

I was recognized with the Governor’s Public Service Award for Workplace Health, Wellness and Safety for my role in creating RamPantry, that was an incredible honor! None of this was done alone, it was always with the help of many other folks!

Family has always been important to me. Inspired by my grandmother, I established a scholarship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students.

A strong advocate for family leave, I’ve has even spoken to the Virginia General Assembly to ask for a statewide leave plan to be passed.

My wife, Tracy, was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. For the next six years I was her primary caregiver while working full-time and caring for my son.

As a state employee, Walker had 200 hours of paid time off that he could use each year for personal and sick leave. Every time Tracy had surgery or chemotherapy treatment, he had to balance caring for her against the available time he had to take off. The Walker family received its health insurance through his job, and when Tracy became too sick to work, Walker became the sole earner.

When something unexpected would come up, like when Walker needed to call an ambulance in the middle of the night for Tracy, he’d try to find family members to stay with her, or a neighbor to take his son to school, so that he could still make it to work and keep his job and health insurance.

When Tracy Walker passed away from colon cancer in July 2019, Walker’s colleagues donated leave so that he could take time off for the funeral and care for his son in the immediate aftermath of her death.

It would have been much worse if I didn’t have the great job I have. I get that I’m privileged. As an Assembly member, I’d like to expand that privilege to all families in Virginia.

Ensuring access to quality education is a key focus for me. I have decades of experience working in support of Henrico County Public Schools and first-generation college students. My wife, Tracy, and I joined the parent-teacher association at our son's elementary school, even before he was old enough to attend the school, to ensure that he obtained a quality public education.

Over the years, I’ve served on the PTA at my son's elementary, middle, and high school. In 2022, I was honored by the Henrico PTA Council and the elected school board member for the Varina district for my leadership, civic engagement, and support of schools and educators.

Because of my concern about environmental issues, I’ve worked with community activists to address pollution and public health issues created by a local landfill. I petitioned the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to hold the landfill accountable for multiple environmental violations.

I currently serve as a political appointee on the Henrico County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) as a Varina representative. I have enjoyed speaking to local media about the mental and physical health benefits of green space and the Virginia Capital Trail. I’m also a member of the Dorey Park Farmers Market Board of Directors and I’m passionate about reducing food deserts in my local community.

I’ve canvassed for many elected officials and worked at the precinct level to help elect Democrats to national, state, and local officials. When I look at what I’ve been involved with in my community over the last 20 years I realize that, yes, I am qualified to run.

• former At-Large Member of the Henrico National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

• earlier Varina representative on the Henrico County Council PTA

• previous Vice Chair of the Henrico County Democratic Committee

• 2019 Alternative Delegate at the Democratic National Convention

• reached out to Black barbershops to start Wellness programs - Shoot For 9 (as in 9 vegetables and fruit servings per day.)

• brought National Night Out back to my neighborhood

• found and refitted over 200 computers to donate to day care centers to help level the playing field for students

In the General Assembly, I will continue to advocate for working families. I know from personal experience the hopes and concerns that families have about the economy, education, and the environment. As a Delegate, I will be responsive to community concerns and will promote legislation that benefits the citizens of the 81st House District.

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Please consider contributing to Terrence Walker's 2023 election here at the Blue America state legislative ActBlue Page. This is a winnable seat southeast of Richmond, with parts of Henrico, Chesterfield and Charles City counties. McAuliffe beat Youngkin there 62.1% to 36.9%. And when Trump ran, he did even worse than that. A current Delegate, Dolores McQuinn, a corporate, old school politician, financed by Dominion Power, may move into HD-81 to run against Terrence. Another likely candidate-- like McQuinn not from the district-- is Hassan Fountain, ananti-Choce Republican suddenly claiming, unconvincingly, to be a "Democrat."