Opinion: Vangie Williams best qualified candidate

By Bill Johnson-Miles

I wholeheartedly endorse Vangie Williams running for Congress in Virginia’s First Congressional District (CD1), not because she will make history as the first African American women from Virginia, but because she is the absolute best qualified candidate. What sets her apart from the other candidates are her experience, education and leadership qualities.

She is a strategic planner and problem solver, a real-world professional with more than 30 years of experience. Williams is currently working for a government defense contractor on weapon systems that protect our country and our allies. For many years now she has helped to strengthen our country’s national security. She knows the federal government and will hit the ground running once elected.

In 2016, there were more than 83,500 veterans living in CD1. Along with enlisted military and their families, nurses and home healthcare professionals, first responders and teachers, Vangie believes these hometown heroes deserve better. That’s why she created an initiative that will exempt the first $50,000 earnings from federal income tax for these heroes and provide an immediate boost of up to $6,000 a year. And she has a plan to pay for it.

In 2018, this mother of six daughters lost to the incumbent by just 10 points. That’s better by more than double what any other Democrat did in the last two elections, and she was just a first-time candidate. Plus, the Republican incumbent will probably run for governor in 2021, so he isn’t even thinking about CD1. Yes, Vangie can and will win!

Vangie will fight for an economy that works for everyone, she believes we need better healthcare for ALL our families, and she will insist on a strong investment in our communities. Vangie will advocate and fight for Virginians in America’s First District. Vote for Vangie Williams.

Bill Johnson-Miles, a 20-Year Retired Navy Veteran who lives in Stafford, is the 2nd Vice President of the Stafford Branch of the NAACP, the previous Secretary of the Stafford County Democratic Committee, and a recent member of the Board of Trustees of his church, the UUFF. However, this is not an endorsement by any organization that Johnson-Miles is associated with.