Contact:  See below for a campaign office in your area!

WHAT:  Congressman Tom Perriello will be barnstorming the 5th district this Saturday, June 12, launching canvasses out of each of his five campaign offices. This is the official kick-off of the Perriello campaign's field program for the general election and their goal is to knock 5,000 doors on this one day.

Congressman Perriello will start in Charlottesville, and travel throughout the district, firing up supporters and thanking them for all their hard work thus far and all the work to come. Congressman Perriello's enthusiastic supporters have already made more than 60,000 phone calls, knocked on 5,000 doors, had more than 100 house parties, and had five successful office opening parties, attended by more the 500 5th district residents.

WHEN:  Saturday, June 12, 2010  

WHO:  Congressman Tom Perriello and hundreds of enthusiastic supporters

TIMES AND LOCATIONS: Charlottesville, Bedford City, Franklin County, Martinsville, Danville

Charlottesville
10am - 10:30am
Charlottesville Perriello for Congress Office
2250 Old Ivy Road (Charlottesville, VA) / Tel. (434) 296-0465

Bedford City 
2pm - 2:30pm
Bedford City Perriello for Congress Office
133 W. Main Street (Bedford City, VA) / Tel. (757) 692-0878

From: NBC 29 News

Affordable housing is a big issue in Charlottesville, and with 25 percent of the city living in poverty, the idea is to turn that around by giving them a job. As Charlottesville's Public Housing Authority begins a massive revamp of its 11 sites, those in Washington want to make sure those here are aware of something called Section 3.

Monday, 5th District Congressman Tom Perriello sponsored an all-day workshop to bring people up-to-speed on the issue. Perriello hopes that the federal money used for the authority's project will help employ those who call public housing home.

"What we want to do is make sure that people know of all of the opportunities that are there," he said.

Section 3 requires recipients of certain U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) financial assistance to provide job training, employment and contract opportunities for low-income residents.

"It seems that sometimes there are certain roadblocks in that path of finding good employment or even starting your own business," said Paul Vaughan with the Public Housing Association of Residents.

For those who call public housing home, it is a two-fold opportunity; a new job and a chance to work their way out of public housing and into private housing.

"Section 3 training is definitely important when it comes to giving people the skills and education on how to fundamentally go about solving some of these problems," said Vaughan.

From: NPR's Melissa Block

In Virginia's sprawling 5th Congressional District, which covers historically conservative territory, seven Republican candidates are competing in Tuesday's primary to take on freshman Democrat Tom Perriello.

As Republicans try to make gains in Congress in this year's midterm elections, they are hungering to take back traditionally GOP-held seats that were lost in 2008.

Perriello, who won in a shocking upset two years ago, is considered highly vulnerable — and Republicans are making this seat a special focus of attention.

"This looks like a district that's ripe for the taking," says Isaac Wood, who follows House races at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

He says Perriello's votes for the president's stimulus plan, for cap-and-trade legislation and for the health care overhaul could make him a one-term congressman.

"I think Perriello was sticking his neck out on those votes," Wood says. "And that's something he pledged to do when he ran for Congress. He talked about 'conviction politics,' which I call 'don't-try-this-at-home politics,' because he decided he was going to vote the way that he felt was right, regardless of what the polls said."

A Newcomer

Two years ago, Perriello squeaked by the popular, longtime Republican incumbent by just 727 votes — in a district that went for John McCain.

From: The Franklin News-Post by Joel Turner

More than 80 economic development professionals and local government officials from across the Fifth District came to Rocky Mount for a conference, designed to bring more jobs to Franklin County and Southside Virginia. The conference, called "Economic Growth in the 5th: Insider Tips to Build Competitiveness," offered a one-stop shop for local government, community and economic development officials to learn about funding opportunities that support local economic development projects. The half-day conference at The Franklin Center was convened by Congressman Tomï¾ Perriello's office. Perriello gave the introductory remarks for the conference, telling the audience that it is all about "jobs, jobs, jobs." The congressman said the conference was designed to help the localities in the Fifth District build a competitive advantage for economic development opportunities. Representatives from federal agencies offered the conference participants an insider's look into what they fund and how to put together a competitive grant application.

From: Martinsville Bulletin

Students Share Lessons with Perriello

Fifth District U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello got a lesson in green energy and business Thursday from local high school students. Perriello visited students in Kip Wallace’s Career Pathways program at Bassett High School during a visit to the area. In the course, students work together in groups of six to explore in-depth topics for nine weeks apiece.

The students study a wide range of interests that could be potential career paths. Topics range from entrepreneurship and business practices to computer animation and video editing software, Wallace said.

“Even with 20 percent unemployment, we have students who are excited to graduate and enter the work force here or go to college and come back here to work,” Wallace told Perriello.

“I think a lot of people are looking at this area as undervalued stock,” said Perriello, D-Albemarle County.