For Immediate Release: 13 September 2005

Contact: Samantha Anderson, 202-454-5676

Virginia Education Forum gives first opportunity for citizens to question candidates

Candidates lay out vision for Virginia, address top voter concerns in non-partisan event

McLean, VA — Gubernatorial candidates Lt. Governor Tim Kaine and state Senator Russell Potts today laid out their education plans at the Virginia Education Forum, taking questions not only from the media, but from Virginian parents, teachers, and students.

While two gubernatorial debates have been held to date, the non-partisan Virginia Education Forum is the first event to invite all three candidates and allow Virginians to question them directly. This town hall style segment enabled the candidates to address in depth the top concern of Virginia voters — education and the future of Virginia¹s schools.

"Virginians are repeatedly citing education as their top concern, as well as their top priority for our next governor," said Stella Edwards, Legislation Chairman for the Virginia PTA. "The Virginia Education Forum has been an unprecedented opportunity to really discuss education issues in depth and respond to Virginians¹ demands for more information."

The forum was moderated by Kojo Nnamdi, host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show and its regular feature, the Virginia Politics Hour, on WAMU-FM in Washington, DC. In addition to the town hall education discussion, a media panel questioned the candidates on a variety of current issues in Virginia.

Representing hundreds of thousands of Virginians, the Virginia Education Forum coalition includes the Virginia Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Virginia Counselors Association, the Virginia Middle School Association, the Virginia School Counselor Association and Communities for Quality Education.

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For further information, please visit: www.virginiaeducationforum.org.