Anne Holton, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam celebrate Labor Day at Rep. Bobby Scott’s annual picnic

NEWPORT NEWS — When Anne Holton took the stage at Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott’s annual Labor Day Celebration, she evoked her background in education.

The former Virginia secretary of education and wife of vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine quizzed the audience — one that swarmed her for photos — by asking if any educators were in the audience.

“Really, what Hillary has asked me to do is talk to teachers. Listen to teachers, educators, parents, students and bring feedback back to her,” Holton said after her speech. “I’m excited to be doing that on the campaign trail.”

This wasn’t Holton’s first time at Scott’s Labor Day event, according to the congressman.

“She’s been several times before, Tim (Kaine) and Secretary Holton,” Scott said. “This campaign, where Tim’s running for vice president is a unique opportunity.”

In keeping with the theme of Labor Day, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam mentioned issues such as workers rights, fair pay and health care benefits in between mingling with the crowd.

“This is a perfect time for Bobby to have his picnic because he’s always been such a strong advocate for those principals,” Northam said.

Holton reflected the same ideology in her speech.

“This is a time to think of working families and to lift up our working families,” she said.

With a mind toward the election, there was a lot of looking forward among the state’s politicians.

Scott introduced Northam as the “next governor of Virginia,” and Scott was introduced as the hopeful “future senator” of Virginia.

“Today there seems to be more energy,” said Del. Marcia “Cia” Price. “People are engaged, maybe interested in Congressman Scott’s next steps.”

With an eye on the future, it was still business as usual for Northam, Scott and Price as they spoke to visitors throughout the afternoon.

“It’s a very community-based event. It’s a very diverse crowd,” Northam said. “If you want to run into politicians from around the commonwealth, especially those running for office, they’re going to be at Bobby Scott’s picnic.”

It was Newport News resident Barbara Wooten’s first time at the picnic.

“There’s something here for everybody,” Wooten said. “It’s nice for the community.”

While many visitors sported “Hillary for America” buttons and other Democratic Party signage, two people stood out from the crowd.

Anne and John Fredericks wore Donald Trump shirts to the cookout. He is the host of the “John Fredericks Show,” a morning political radio show, and a former employee of the Daily Press.

It was the second year in a row the two wore Trump shirts to the event. Anne said the Republican presidential candidate’s appeal was that he was a Washington outsider.

The two, who live in Chesapeake, are new to Scott’s 3rd District because of a redrawing of district lines earlier in the year that revised the 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts in Hampton Roads.

“Scott is very honest and really cares,” Anne Fredericks said. “It’s rare to find someone as accessible.”

This was the 40^th year of the celebration, and Price has attended nearly every year she’s been alive, having grown up nearby the Scott family home.

“It’s amazing. It shows the magnitude of the event,” she said. “Today is a day people can meet their candidate.”

And there were plenty of elected officials from the area in attendance, ranging from mayors to state delegates to city council members. Some 30 to 40 officials introduced themselves on stage, each to applause from the hundreds of people that gathered.

“Where have you been that you can talk to that many elected officials? It’s a real community opportunity,” Scott said.

Black can be reached by phone at 757-247-4607.