Fred2Blue

Here’s the official announcement from the 1st District Democrats:

The 1st Congressional District Committee announced today that it has nominated Bill Day of Fauquier County, as its candidate for the United States House of Representatives from the 1st Congressional District of Virginia.

Day, a licensed counselor in Fauquier County, has a long record as a businessman and public servant. In addition to being a member of the Chambers of Commerce in Fauquier and Prince William counties, Day has served the community through work with Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, the Piedmont Environmental Council and the League of Conservation Voters. Day regularly attends St. James Episcopal Church, where he has led the Lenten program and an adult studies Bible course.

Day ran a strong campaign in 2007 for the House of Delegates 31st district seat. He received a higher percentage of the vote than any other Democrat since the district lines were drawn in 2001. In endorsing Day, the Washington Post noted, “opponent, Democrat Bill S. Day Jr., has a wealth of experience — as a Harvard MBA, a developer and, currently, a mental-health counselor — that would make him a much more promising lawmaker.”

Day replaces Keith Hummel, M.D. of Montross, VA, a physician specializing in emergency medicine and general practice. Dr. Hummel voluntarily withdrew his candidacy on July 31, 2008 when financial matters related to closed business transactions elicited sufficient attention that he felt it would distract voters from the issues which motivated him to run for office. “The stakes in this election are bigger than any one person and voters in our district deserve to have a Democratic candidate on the ballot this November who can overcome the politics of personal attack,” said Hummel.

Suzette Matthews, chair of the 1st Congressional District Committee, noted the virtue of Hummel’s candidacy explaining “without him the Democrats would not have a candidate on the ballot in this November.” Turning her attention to the challenge ahead, she noted, “With Bill Day responding to the call to service, we now have a Democratic candidate who can join with Barack Obama and Mark Warner to bring change to our district, to our Commonwealth and to our country.”