Virginia's Former First Lady Anne Holton Tours Small Businesses in Leesburg

Former First Lady Anne Holton had the chance to tour historic downtown Leesburg on Saturday. It was the eighth stop on Holton’s ongoing small business tour, on behalf of her husband, former Governor and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Tim Kaine.

Prior to a meet and greet at Shoes Cup and Cork, Holten was led by former Supervisor and Town Council candidate Kelly Burk, Mayor Kristen Umstattd and Senator Mark Herring (D), to places such as La Lou Bistro, L Gifts & Home Furnishings, China King, Caulkins Jewelers and Rouge Boutique.

At each stop, Holten asked business owner's how they have been doing and what could be done to promote the benefits that each small business has to offer.

“Urban communities like this just have so much potential and if we can get folks to take advantage of them and realize what a gem you have here, they are the future and have so much to offer in terms of quality of life,” Holten said. “My hopes and dreams would be that all these businesses are widely successful as part of your great local community.”

Jobs and the economy are clearly the front and center of everyone’s mind, Holten said. Finding out what can be done to support local small businesses across the Commonwealth is a big part of this year’s campaign.

“It’s a beautiful community and you’ve got lots of exciting opportunities going on down here,” Holten said. “Small is our strength.”

Following the tour, Herring introduced Holton to more than 30 local business and community leaders at Shoes.

In her remarks, Holton had a chance to share Governor Kaine’s approach to job creation through the development of a talent economy.

She spoke to the group specifically about Kaine's forward-thinking policies to grow the economy, educate Virginia's best and brightest and find common ground to address fiscal challenges.

“I am delighted she decided to stop here in Leesburg,” Umstattd said. “I think she learned a lot here and I hope it will be valuable to her husband should he win the U.S. Senate seat.”

Kaine faces the winner of the June 12 Republican Primary in Virginia. George Allen, Jamie Radtke, state Del. Bob Marshall (13) and E.W. Jackson on their certification to appear on the June 12 GOP U.S. Senate primary ballot.