By Tina Fries, Sandler Center Newsletter - 8/1/2006

When it comes to lobbying the Virginia General Assembly, the early bird often gets the worm.

In this case, the worm refers to an appropriation of $1.46 million dollars in support approved this year to help construct the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. This brings total support for the project to $2 million over the state’s two-year budget cycle.

While the Virginia General Assembly begins to meet in January each year, the act of determining statewide funding priorities begins long before that. Once the budget is written, gaining approval for budget amendments can be difficult, if not impossible.

After a stint lobbying support for various community projects as vice chairman of the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, Sandler Center enthusiast Brian Kirwin had learned that the hard way. He met with Senator Ken Stolle to ask that the amount of funding they were seeking ? $1.46 million ? be included as a line item in the original state budget.

Senator Stolle agreed it was the right approach. “The reality of the situation is I think a number of these cultural venues are worthy of support,” he said. “The Sandler Center will be an attractive feature for residents of Virginia Beach, not only for the cultural activities that will take place there, but because it will help make Virginia Beach the best place to live in Virginia.”

Senator Stolle said he travels to cities all over Virginia and Virginia Beach is already worthy of that distinction. “Virginia Beach is consistently ranked as one of the safest for cities its size, it’s one of the most popular ? part of it is economic development, part of it is educational, and part of it is cultural…”

Enter The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. With the help and enthusiasm of Steven and Art Sandler ?who provided the $5 million naming gift in honor of their parents, R.L. and Reba Sandler ? gaining support for the venue from former Governor Mark Warner wasn’t difficult at all.

“I have to admit it was easy working with the Governor,” said Senator Stolle. “The Governor thought it was a worthwhile project. It also goes back to the philosophy many of us believe, that it’s much easier to justify funding requests for construction of a new facility than it is to justify funds to sustain its operating budget.”

“Plus, in this case,” Senator Stolle added, “There was a huge outpouring of support from the community and that makes it a little bit easier.”