Perriello campaign gives back to community

This house is the latest addition to a block of Habitat for Humanity homes in Bedford. Volunteers spent Friday morning hammering and shoveling at what was a distinctly non-political event. Yet everyone had on the same t-shirt: Perriello for Congress.

“This is a generation that doesn’t like to sit on the sidelines,” said the candidate, Tom Perriello.

He’s putting that theory into action with a unique idea.

“From my faith tradition, you’re supposed to give 10 percent of your time, talent and treasure to things you believe in and our most valuable asset in the campaign is our time,” he said.

So, the campaign is tithing 10% of all volunteer hours to charity work.

“We’ve been able to get out just about every week and do a little volunteer work which has been good for the soul and for everyone involved.”

But, we’re in the middle of campaign season in a race that many of the analysts are now calling competitive. Is shoveling gravel and building a house the best use of campaign time? Absolutely says Perriello.

“There is something more important than winning. It’s winning with a mandate to actually change things in Washington. If I’m serious about a different kind of politics that puts the partisanship and corruption behind us, we got a start that with how we campaign.”

Digging into that concept is a ready army of student volunteers from around the district like Danville native John Shields.

“I think this speaks volumes to the service Tom wants to bring to Washington,” the Mary Washington University student said. “He’s made this campaign as much about the community as his candidacy itself.”

“Our campaign, we don’t want to wait until we get to Washington to make a difference,” Perriello said. “We want to start right now by restoring that culture of corruption with a culture of service.”

WARREN: “It seems like you’re having fun too?”

PERRIELLO: “We do, not that fundraising and other things are a fun part of campaigning.”

WARREN: “Oh come on, fundraising is fun?”

PERRIELLO: “No, it really is something that reminds us about what this is all about.”

Today that means putting a roof over a local family.

Tom Perriello is hammering home his message in the most unconventional of ways.

Perriello is the Democratic nominee in the 5th District Congressional race. His opponent is incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode, who over the past decade has switched his party affiliation from Democrat to independent to Republican. Currently he is a Republican serving in his 5th term in Congress. Before that, he was a longtime State Senator from Franklin County.