Virginia Senate Candidate Mark Warner Walks A Day in the Shoes" of SEIU Personal Care Assistant"

FallsChurch, Va.-- As part of SEIU's program to ensure that candidatesrunning for political office know what life is like for working people,today Virginia Senate candidate and former Governor Mark Warner walkeda day in the shoes of SEIU personal care assistant (PCA) Shareen Miller.

Warnerassisted Miller in caring for her client Marisa Laios--preparing andserving lunch, assisting with exercises and wheelchair transport, andworking with Marisa on the college application she cannot complete onher own because of her disability.

Laioslives with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, and with the assistance of dedicatedPCAs like Miller, she leads a full and engaged life despite herphysical limitations. "Shareen makes it possible for me to continue tolive at home and receive the care and assistance I need each day," saidLaios. "Without her help and companionship, I would not be able toenroll in university classes next fall as I am planning."

Milleris one of 1,300 personal care assistants across Virginia united in SEIULocal 5 /Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants. She is paid$12 an hour by the state of Virginia. But because the number of hoursshe can work for Laios each week is determined not by Laios' day-to-dayneeds but by the state, Miller often finds herself working for free togive Laios the care she needs. Like most PCAs in Virginia, Miller isnot able to receive health benefits, training, or sick days through herjob.

"Thework we do makes an active and dignified day-to-day life possible fortens of thousands of Virginia residents like Marisa," said Miller."After walking a day in my shoes, I hope the Governor understands howimportant and rewarding my work is--and the changes we need to continueto provide the care our clients need and support our own families."

SEIUmembers across the country are inviting candidates for races from Mayorto Governor to experience firsthand what it's like to work and raise afamily in America. To date, presidential candidates Senators Obama andBiden; former presidential candidates Senators Clinton, Dodd, Edwards,and Governor Richardson; Senate candidates Rep. Tom Allen in Maine, AlFranken in Minnesota, Bruce Lunsford in Kentucky, and Rep. Tom Udall inNew Mexico; Governor Chris Gregoire in Washington; and several localand state candidates have participated.

You can watch videos of candidates walking a day in the shoes of SEIU members at www.WalkADayInMyShoes2008.com.