Sonal Shah Greets Pete Buttigieg Canvassing Volunteers

By Grace Aspinall

Pete Buttigieg said, “At a time when Americans are exhausted by cynicism, we have to rally the American people to do things that have never been done before. In the face of unprecedented challenges, it's more important than ever that we transcend the same old Washington fights of the past and put forward a vision for the future.” Buttigieg’s campaign Policy Director, Sonal Shah, brought together a group of 40 volunteers on Saturday, February 22nd to canvas for Pete and fulfill his vision.

Pete’s words draw people together to campaign for him because they understand his intent and his ability to be an effective president as they relate to his statement: “Leadership isn’t just about policy. Leadership is about what you draw out of people. It’s about how you inspire people to act.” As he explained on January 23rd: “The purpose of the presidency is not the glorification of the president. It is the unification and empowerment of the American people.” As Carter Malkasian, a volunteer foreign policy advisor puts it, “Pete is saying the right things right now. He’s young and energized and he’s trying to unite, not divide.”

Shah addressed the crowd by echoing this sentiment- “Pete is the right person for the moment and he’s the president we deserve.” She talked to the crowd about the path of the campaign and how every day brings new knowledge to bystanders of the strength of Buttigieg as a leader and front runner. She explained how the campaign learned a valuable lesson in Iowa because they affirmed that meeting people where they are, and talking to people before the election, was one of the deciding factors in Pete’s win. She applauded the people present and all who are involved in the campaign recognizing that “the many people who are now behind Pete are really making a difference.”

She spoke of Buttigieg’s role as mayor and cited “he learned at South Bend to see the underlying issues and related policies when looking at the solution to a problem.” Shah spoke of policies both becoming full-fledged initiatives and a selection of concerns still under consideration including the student loan debt, the need to assist first time home buyers with down payments, and ever emerging technology. “We have a great team working on technology and they are involved with other policy teams to assure success.” Another hot topic on Buttigieg’s agenda relates to public defenders and the disparity of their pay when compared to others in the legal profession.

As Buttigieg formerly stated: “The next president can't rely on the old playbook to solve our problems. We need the courage to break from the past—without breaking the bonds between Americans.” It is apparent that his words and actions are what his supporters are seeking in the democratic candidate. Volunteer Reggie Menesses supports Buttigieg because he feels “Pete is the most unifying candidate because he speaks across generations and political affiliations.” Justin Bunch, who traveled from North Carolina to Northern Virginia to support Buttigieg, stated he expressed his feeling that Pete is the person for right now because of “he listens and answers the question that’s being asked even if it’s a tough question.”

The Northern Virginia Campaign for Pete Buttigieg is strong and the volunteers are dedicated. For more information on events and how get involved, visit vaforpete.com.