Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, f/k/a Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected the head of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8. It’s hard to overestimate the significance of his election.
In the 1970’s, John Paul II was an obscure Polish bishop; after being elected Pope in 1978, he became the voice of Communist resistance and contributed in a direct and immediate way to the end of the Cold War.
We don’t know how Leo will develop his papacy. (Those who analyze him on “left vs right” politics don’t understand the office). But whatever he does, it will change the world. That’s how Americans do it.
Secondly, the voting is underway in Virginia’s Democratic primary. In the LG race, I count Aaron Rouse and Levar Stoney as friends. But my vote will go to Babur Lateef for one simple reason: he’s got guts.
I first met Babur in 2011, when he ran as a longshot Democratic challenger against incumbent Corey Stewart for Board Chair of Prince William County. Ten years later, Babur was the PWC School Board Chair. He had my back when we fought both to reopen schools in 2021 and end the mask mandate in 2022.
Unlike a lot of politicians during COVID19, Babur was focused on kids. He didn’t give in to hysteria or use the public schools as a political tool. (As I will explain later, the state of K-12 education in Virginia is our most important issue). He also handled the first collective bargaining for PWC schools. So he’s ready for big boy politics. Happy to endorse Babur for statewide office.
