M. Warner speaks to Manassas Rotary

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: May 28, 2008

Democrat Mark Warner brought his race for election to the U.S. Senate to Manassas on Wednesday.

He spoke at a meeting of the Manassas Rotary Club and helped hand out scholarships and the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards.

"I guess I'm sandwiched in between lunch and the scholarship presentation," he said, adding that in the interest of time, "I'm trimming my talk from 20 minutes to 10."

"I want to apply my skills as a business executive and what I learned as this state's chief executive, to the very serious challenges facing our nation as we seek to compete in this global economy," Warner said.

Warner said if elected, he plans to form a non-partisan committee made up of both Democrats and Republicans and with a new president and Congress in January 2009, "we will once again have a chance to get it right."

Warner said he will focus on:

• Changing our energy policy.

• Health care.

• Education.

• Investing in America's neglected infrastructure.

With Rotary President Karen Wayne, Warner helped hand out certificates and $1,000 scholarships to Courtney J. Drenta of Manassas Park High School; Christina D. Filbert of Osbourn Park High School; Evan M. Leggett of Osbourn Park High School; and Ana R. Zambrano of Stonewall Jackson High School.

The two also helped honor and present awards to the winners of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher of the Year. They were Ann P. Kulakowski of Osbourn High School for Manassas City Public Schools; Lisa Racine of C.D. Hylton High School for Prince William County Schools; and Jeff Florio of Manassas Park High School for Manassas Park Public Schools.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.