are you ready to score 21/51? - arlington democrats

Vol. 32, No. 5 www.arlingtondemocrats.org May 2007

The new headquarters is shaping up and get-ting ready for its first official event — the AprilSteering Committee meeting on Wednesday, the25th. Members of the Office Committee have beenhard at work making all of the preparations to en-sure the space is ready as full-fledged headquarterson May 1.

The office is located at 2009 N. 14th Street,

Happy 400th

birthday,

Virginia

May 13,

1607

Platt offers $1,000challenge grant

The April 13 deadline for filing for the Demo-cratic primary came and went with only one con-tested race emerging in Arlington—challenger BobJames against incumbent Frank O’Leary for trea-surer.

There are 14 posts up for election this year inArlington. Ten incumbents filed for re-election anddrew no primary opposition. Paul Ferguson filedto succeed retiring David Bell as clerk of the courtwith no primary opposition. Mary Hynes filed tosucceed Ferguson on the County Board and alsodrew no opposition.

That leaves two contested posts—the treasurer

James challengesO’Leary for Treas.

continued on page five

Suite #612 [see map on page three] three blocksfrom the Courthouse Metro, next to the ArlingtonPolice Department. Parking is available in the rearon weekends and evenings and there is plenty ofmetered street parking.

The space has been cleaned, freshly painted(appropriately, in Democratic Blue!); new carpet has

continued on page three

New HQ painted blue—what else!

As part of the statewide effort to win Demo-cratic majorities in the Virginia State Senate andHouse of Delegates, Arlington has formed its own“21/51 Coordinating Committee”—the term 21/51referring to the number of seats needed, in the Sen-ate and House respectively, to hold a legislativemajority.

The committee aims to mobilize the county’sDemocratic resources—particularly volunteers—incompetitive Senate and House races throughoutNorthern Virginia. Specific activities will includephone banking, voter ID, lit dropping and canvass-ing, among others

“This effort is critical for many reasons,” said

Committee Chair Chris King. “Not only does Gov-ernor Kaine need more allies in Richmond to effec-tively address the pressing issues of the day, but the2011 congressional redistricting is right around thecorner. Having a Democratic majority in the Gen-eral Assembly during the redistricting process isvital to Virginia’s future.”

The committee will work with the DemocraticParty of Virginia’s Coordinated Campaign, as wellas with Arlington’s own Joint Campaign.

Chris King will chair the committee, withMary Detweiler as deputy chair. Committee mem-bers include Delegates Bob Brink and AdamEbbin, along with Antonia Scatton, CharleyConrad and Kip Malinosky.

To participate, please contact Mary Detweilerat [email protected] or by phone at 703-400-1025.

Are you ready to score 21/51?

Don’t forget to vote

in the School Board

Caucus, Saturday,

May 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m,

Kenmore School, S.

Carlin Springs Road

at Rt 50.

Our monthly

meeting has

been moved

yet again

We’re back

in the Arlington

Mill Community Center, 4975

Columbia Pike, 0.6 miles west

of George Mason Drive

ACDC Parliamentarian Bob Platt has pledgedto donate $1,000 for the new HQ’s capital needs ifdonations totaling that amount are received fromothers by May 31.

As further incentive, he and Committee ChairPeter Rousselet said the conference room in thenew headquarters will be named in honor of long-time Headquarters Chair, campaign manager forcountless County Board candidates and doer-of-all-things for ACDC, Lucy Denney.

You can join those seeking to honor Lucy bydonating to the capital needs of the new office andyour contribution will be matched by Platt’s grant.

Make your donation on-line atwww.arlingtondemocrats.org or by sending a check,made out to ACDC, to P.O. Box 7132, Arlington,VA 22207. Please write “$1,000 challenge” or“Lucy Denney Conference Room” on your check.

ACDC Voice, May 2007, ACDC Voice, May 2007, Page 2ACDC Voice, May 2007, Page 2ACDC Voice, May 2007, Page 2ACDC Voice, May 2007, Page 2

Report from Chairman Peter Rousselot

Published monthly by theArlington County Democratic Committee

2009 North 14th Street, Suite #612, Arlington, VA 22201Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321

http://www.arlingtondemocrats.orgChair: Peter Rousselot —703-276-1584 (o), [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief: Barbara van Voorst —703-522-6294 (h), [email protected] Editor: Warren L. Nelson —703-243-7867 (h), [email protected]

Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC unless expressly approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution

Copyright ©2007, ACDC, All Rights Reserved

As we move into our wonderful newheadquarters (see the related story on pageone), it is helpful to re-cap the strategy thatACDC followed in choosing our new loca-tion.

ACDC headquarters had been at 4620Lee Highway for 22 years (1985-2007). Priorto 1999, ACDC had a headquarters withoutany on-site printing operation.

During the last 22 years, there have beendramatic changes in Arlington. Those changesincluded major increases in residential den-sity along the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor.Many of these new residents are Democrats,interested in national politics, but not well-connected to local politics. Many lack theirown cars. Yet, they are dedicated and want toget involved in turning Virginia and the na-tion in a “bluer direction.”

These are the volunteers we need tomaximize Arlington’s potential to deliverstatewide elections for Democrats. How bestto engage this wonderful resource of Demo-cratic talent?

Two campaigns temporarily headquar-tered in Arlington highlighted the intrinsicbenefits of having a headquarters in a metro-accessible location in the R-B Corridor. In2004, Jim Moran and the Kerry-Edwardscampaign joined forces to run a headquartersin the heart of Clarendon. In 2006, the Webbfor Senate campaign ran its statewide head-quarters in Courthouse.

Those two campaigns demonstrated thetremendous advantage of a Metro-accessiblelocation as a staging area for all kinds of vol-unteer activities, including canvassing, litdrops, and other traditional door-to-door voteroutreach. In both cases, volunteers not onlyfrom Virginia, but also from D.C. and Mary-land, were able to hop on the subway, get off,walk to those headquarters, pick up their ma-terials, and get going—in many cases to voterdestinations in Arlington precincts withinwalking distance. Those volunteers also wereable to participate in phone banking fromthose Metro-accessible locations.

With the invaluable assistance of County

Board member Barbara Favola, and the do-nated time and talent of commercial real es-tate broker Tim Reese (Buck & Associates),we have been able to find our own wonderfulnew Metro-accessible headquarters site (200914th Street N., Suite 612)—the best of themany sites that Tim showed us. We plan totake advantage of exactly the same volunteerenergy that powered the Moran-Kerry and theWebb campaigns, while continuing to conductall of the traditional operations out of ourheadquarters that ACDC has always con-ducted (other than on-site printing).

Taking advantage of the great suite de-sign provided to us at no cost by Jon Hensleyand Sunny Carroll of the architectural firmJon Hensley Architects PLLC, implementedso well by our talented headquarters designteam (Kate Mesches and Libby Garvey, Co-Chairs, along with Lucy Denney, CharleyConrad, Marc Kelly, Gabe Snow, and EricWolf), we have created a space that will bemuch more attractive and welcoming as agathering place for all kinds of meetings andactivities—a fun place just to hang out. As anadded bonus, our new headquarters is withinwalking distance of the offices of all of ourDemocratic County Board members andDemocratic Constitutional Officers.

As we start this great new chapter inACDC’s rich history, we welcome your owncreative suggestions for making our new head-quarters as productive a location as it can be.There is nothing that we cannot accomplishwith a positive, optimistic and forward-look-ing attitude. Welcome to the new neighbor-hood!

The collection of boxes of breakfast ce-real for the Arlington Food Assistance Cen-ter (AFAC) is continuing. Last month 35boxes were donated and delivered to AFACfor distribution to their clients. THANK YOU!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRINGBOXES OF CEREAL TO THE MAY 2ACDC MEETING. THEY ARE UR-GENTLY NEEDED

Joan McDermott and Sarah Zevin,Co-Chairs, Democratic Values in Action

Democratic Values in Action

New headquarters, new strategy

New!

Donate cereal at May2 ACDC meeting


Bumper Stickerof the Month

Next Monthly Meeting—All Dems InvitedWednesday, May 2, 2007, 7 p.m.

County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson will lead a discussionpanel on climate change and ways in which Arlington and theCommonwealth can take the lead in dealing with the issue.�

THIS MONTH [again], WE MEET AT:

Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia

Pike, 0.6 miles west of George Mason DriveSUPPORTSUPPORTSUPPORTSUPPORTSUPPORT

OUR TROOPS;OUR TROOPS;OUR TROOPS;OUR TROOPS;OUR TROOPS;

BRING THEMBRING THEMBRING THEMBRING THEMBRING THEM

HOME NOW!HOME NOW!HOME NOW!HOME NOW!HOME NOW!

New HQ being readied for volunteers

HQ

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Pa

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County

Bldg

continued from page one

Police

HQ2009 N. 14th

Suite 612

M

been installed; new anti-glare window filmapplied and all ceiling tiles have been replacedall at no additional cost to us. The ceilinglighting in the conference room and recep-tion area have been recessed and the suite doorsignage and building directory listing will becompleted soon.

Charley Conrad, along with PeterRousselot and Kate Mesches, supervised thepick up and delivery of donated office furni-ture and equipment from a number of loca-tions to the new office. Karla Hagan andKate Mesches ventured out to IKEA to se-lect new desks, reception chair, storage cabi-nets, conference room tables and a “kitchen”storage unit.

Eric Wolf coordinated the wiring of theentire suite for phone, computer and TV andeverything should be hooked up and function-

ing by May 1. And Kate Mesches was onhand to receive the furniture and refrigeratorshipments as well as to unpack and organizeall of the office supplies which came overfrom the Lee Highway headquarters.

A “furniture assembly” morning broughtout Peter Rousselot along with a number ofdedicated Young Democrats, including GabeSnow, Christi Fanelli, Amanda Wolfe andJim McBride, with tools in hand to put to-gether all of the IKEA furniture which in-cluded 28 separate boxes.

Arlington Young Democrats (AYDs)swept away the competition at the VirginiaYoung Democrats (VAYD) Convention lastmonth with five of its members elected tothe VAYD Executive Board.

Jon Alex Golden won election as presi-dent of the statewide group in a landslide andmotivated the crowd with a rousing accep-tance speech. Other AYDers elected wereJames Martin, VP of membership; AndrewAlmand, re-elected as treasurer; Amy Lewis,national committeewoman; and JeremyCaverly, northern region chair.

In addition, Christi Fanelli, who wasCongressman Jim Moran’s deputy cam-paign manager last year, won honorable men-tion as Female Young Democrat of the Year.

Arlington also won “Club of the Year”based on the chapter building and campaignefforts on behalf of Senator Jim Webb andthe Democratic ticket last year.

AYDs dominatestate convention


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Arlington Chamber of Commerce

School Board caucus campaign

Abby Raphael Mark DorfmanOur School Board endorsement campaign is winding down; a

photo finish appears likely. The final “Experience Counts” endorse-ment campaign event is our Family Field Day on April 29 from 2-4p.m. at Lyon Park. We will have a 3-in-1 moonbounce, face paint-ing, games, and treats, so please bring your family and friends. Thereis no charge but a small donation is appreciated.

I want to thank our campaign manager Jody Olson, treasurerBetsey Wildhack, data base manger Kathleen McSweeney, schoolscommittee chair Sue Super, and deputy campaign manager AdamBalutis for their remarkable skills, inspi-ration, and dedication. I also have to thankmy wife, Lynn, who has been at my side,and who soldiered on despite job stresses,family crises, and knee surgery.

And I must thank Sheila Billingsley,Donna Budway, Bertra McGann, JoanMcDermott, Frank Wilson, Judy Beck,Wilfredo Bohorquez, Ellen Bozman, JimTurpin, Lucy Denney, and the host ofother dedicated Democrats who steppedto the fore with early, enthusiastic en-dorsements. I am deeply grateful for theirfaith and confidence.

Now it’s all about Saturday, May 5. I hope that you all—thosewho have children in our schools and those who do not—will makeyour voices heard in this exemplary exercise of grass roots Demo-cratic politics. The management of half of our tax dollars and theClass of 2020 await your judgment. I hope that I have earned yoursupport. I humbly (but assertively) ask for your votes.

It has been my privilege to listen to voters talk about our schools—at their doorsteps, during community meetings, at debates, and duringmy girls’ soccer practices. These conversations have helped me under-stand what we are doing well and where we can do better for our stu-dents throughout Arlington.

Our challenges include eliminating the achievement gap, prioritiz-ing capital improvements, improving communication, and retainingquality teachers. My current work on three countywide advisory com-mittees (addressing budget, curriculum and nutrition), and my experi-ence as a former PTA president, give me theknowledge and perspective to develop solu-tions and build consensus. As a former As-sistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Arling-ton, I have the sound judgment necessary tomake tough, fair decisions.

My focus on the ABC’s of success –achievement, budget and community – hasresonated with citizens. I am honored to havethe support of so many parents, teachers,civic leaders and current and former electedofficials, including: Libby Garvey, BarbaraFavola, Ed Fendley, Sally Baird, Dick Trod-den, David Bell, Brian Moran, Mary Hynes,Judy Connally, Helen Fahey and Richard Barton.

Mark Dorfman and I have run issues-oriented, positive campaignsin the best tradition of our party. Many thanks to all those who haveworked so hard to bring my leadership, vision and experience to theSchool Board.

I ask for your vote on May 5. Learn more at www.abbyraphael.org

ACDC May, Apri l 2007, ACDC May, Apri l 2007, Page 5ACDC May, Apri l 2007, Page 5ACDC May, Apri l 2007, Page 5ACDC May, Apri l 2007, Page 5

When Frank O’Leary first ran for Treasurer, he asked the citi-zens of Arlington to invest in the future. Through efficient and effec-tive management he has transformed the Treasurer’s Office into acustomer-focused organization.

You can pay your taxes and fees overthe Internet, by phone, by mail, and at over70 bank branches and 40 Global Expressand 7- Eleven outlets.

Frank also created a Taxpayer Assis-tance Program to help taxpayers who lackthe funds to pay their taxes. And he reducedthe tax delinquency rate from over 9% toless than 1% – the lowest in Arlington’shistory and throughout Virginia – whichreduces your tax burden by ensuring thateveryone pays their fair share.

Due to programs like these, yourTreasurer’s office is now recognized as anational model. Continuing the progress,Frank is working to establish a Customer Care Center to make iteasier for citizens to be served in a professional, private manner.

He further proposes to design and implement a first-of-its-kindcustomer-focused computer system for tax administration.

He also proposes to create a federal program to enable Arling-ton and all local governments to collect delinquencies from federaltax refunds. This legislation has been sponsored by U.S. Senate Ma-jority Leader Dick Durbin.

To get involved in Frank’s campaign, please contact campaignmanager Christi Fanelli at [email protected] or visit our website at www.frankoleary.org to learn more about Frank’s accomplish-ments and plans for the future!

Bob James’ energetic campaign for Treasurer is finding tractionamong Arlington Democrats for his progressive ideas to be more thanjust the tax collector. As the Sun Gazette editorialized, “James…hassome serious credentials to make this challenge.”

Bob’s extensive service in local government includes seven years’professional experience as Deputy General Counsel to the Chief Fi-nancial Officer for the District of Columbia, as part of the team thatturned around its government finances. He served on Arlington’s FiscalAffairs Advisory Commission, VA’s State Central Democratic Com-mittee-8th District, and as Vice Chair of the Democratic Black Cau-cus.

Bob will connect the Office of Treasurer with the growth andcommunity development of Arlington. Vision, integrity and account-ability support his platform to:

•��Bring transparency to activities of theTreasurer’s office regarding collections, in-vestments, and spending taxpayer money,and establish an internal audit unit report-ing directly to the Treasurer.•��Dump the decal.•�� Change the way the Treasurer providesleadership on financial matters; createmeaningful performance measures; and le-verage public funds on deposit to providefinancial literacy programs for youth andincrease lending in underserved communi-ties.

There has been no discussion of theTreasurer’s duties for 24 years. Democrats

say that it’s time. JOIN US! Contact Bob’s campaign atwww.votebobjames.org.

Bob James Frank O’Leary

County Treasurer primary campaign

nomination, to be decided at a June 12 primary, and theSchool Board endorsement, to be decided at a May 5 partycaucus, between Abby Raphael and Mark Dorfman.

The primary and caucus will determine the Demo-cratic slate for the November elections. At this point, oneRepublican and one Green Party candidate have declaredto run for the two open County Board seats. But no oneelse has yet declared for any of the other positions up forelection in November.

The Republican is Michael McMenamin, who finisheda distant second last year to Democrat Chris Zimmerman,and the Green Party entrant is Josh Ruebner, who finishedan even more distant third to Zimmerman last year.

Here are the Democratic candidates:Constitutional offices:Sheriff—Beth Arthur

Commonwealth’s Attorney—Richard TroddenCommissioner of revenue—Ingrid MorroyClerk of court—Paul FergusonTreasurer—Primary between Frank O’Leary and BobJamesCounty Board—two seatsWalter TejadaMary HynesSchool Board—one seatCaucus contest between Abby Raphael and Mark DorfmanState Senate—two districts in ArlingtonMary Margaret WhipplePatsy TicerHouse of Delegates—four districts in ArlingtonBob BrinkAdam EbbinAl EisenbergDavid Englin

Treasurer only primary challengecontinued from page one

Donkey EarsListening to the doings of Arlington’s Dems

as overheard byas overheard byas overheard byas overheard byas overheard by

Dan Steen and Warren NelsonDan Steen and Warren NelsonDan Steen and Warren NelsonDan Steen and Warren NelsonDan Steen and Warren Nelson


Getting up in years: It is time for all of us to wish Virginia a very happy 400thanniversary. Arlington events celebrating the quadricentennial are beinghandled by a committee chaired by Joan McDermott, co-chair of ACDCDemocratic Values in Action and long-time precinct captain in Rock Spring.Joan suggests a few books you might wish to peruse if you want to bone up onyour history and learn the real story about Pocahontas and John Smith. (Thereality is better than the fairy tales.) There’s “Love and Hate in Jamestown—John Smith, Pocahontas and The Start of a New Nation,” by David Price(which your donkeys really enjoyed), “A Land as God Made It—Jamestownand the Birth of America” by James Horn, and “Blood in the River—JamesTown 1607” by Arlingtonian Elisa Carbone. The last is written for kids butolder folks will enjoy it, too. The Arlington Library will have an exhibit allthrough May on archaeological work at Jamestown, just in case you really wantto dig deep into this subject.

Kermit’s way: County Board Chair Paul Ferguson launched his green initiativefor the county in January. Now he’s been named national chair of the greencampaign initiated by the National Association of Counties (NACo). Paul willhead a committee of 12 county officials and 11 corporate members to spear-head programs in air quality, energy efficiency, green buildings and the like.

Tons of work: The Arlington Inter-Service Club Council has honored Edd Nolenas its Man of the Year for his many eons of volunteer work for many causes inthe region. The Voice is only an eight-page rag so we don’t have space to listthem all—such things as Kiwanis, the Arlington Food Assistance Center, youthgroups at high schools, the Arlington Interfaith Council, Resurrection LutheranChurch and Vanguard Services. By the way, did we mention that he has beenfor years one of the Democratic captains in Rock Spring precinct? That makesEdd our Man of the Year.

Stripped from the ballot for now: As we mentioned in previous columns, TomHasman, formerly captain in Clarendon precinct, was running for a seat on theCity Council in Rochester, New York, last month. Did he win? No. Tom firstasked for the residency requirement and was told it was one year. For the U.S.Senate, it is one year—but for City Council, it turns out to be two years. SoTom was short 84 days to be eligible in this election. Still, he made lots ofcontacts and had something of a dry-run to get ready for next year.

More fun than retirement: A lot of ODs (Older Dems) contemplate the joys oflife in retirement. But may we suggest you contemplate the joys of gettingready to retire. As we reported two months ago, Dave Bell will retire as clerkof the court at the end of the year. But his last year is turning into one bigfestival. It seems everyone around the county now wants Dave to speak tothem and draw on his 30-year collection of stories and reminiscences. Why,Dave remembers way back when electric typewriters were cutting edgetechnology and his office only had three of them, when there was not a non-white face to be seen among the court staff, and when no building around thecourthouse reached beyond the dizzying altitude of three stories.

Despite a nor’easter, dozens of RooseveltSociety members converged on the home ofCounty Board member Barbara FavolaApril 15 to pay tribute to the volunteers whohave made ACDC headquarters hum—some,for decades!

Roosevelt Society Chair CharleneBickford noted the event was to “recognizethis incredible corps of volunteers—not toencourage them to stop!”

The HQ crew, as they are often known,refer to themselves as the “Medicare Set.”This hasn’t stopped them, however, from ex-hibiting boundless energy and the ability tohaul mail trays, paper and heavy mail bags.

With the move to a new HQ, formerACDC Chair Sharon Davis provided a his-tory of headquarters over the years. Prior tothe mid-70s, ACDC did not have its own site.A crew worked once a week out of the FallsChurch Democratic headquarters.

In the mid-70s, the first ACDC site wasset up at 13th and N. Hartford Streets, now thelocation of a dog park. Pam Henriksen andJanet Spence began their twice-a-week vol-unteer stints that continue to this day. Anaddressograph was the “high-tech” means forhandling mailings.

A move to Ballston, near the IHOP, fol-lowed and computers arrived. In 1985, anoffice down the hall from the most recent HQwas opened and in the mid-90s, the move wasmade to Suite 214, “home” until last month.

The Campaign Support Center, or print-ing operation, arrived in 1999, with TomWhipple and Peg Hogan providing invalu-able services to Democratic candidates andcommittees, not only in Arlington but otherNorthern Virginia jurisdictions as well.

In addition to Henriksen and Spence,those who regularly make the HQ hum andwho were honored at the event were:Kathleen Miller, Jerry Botland, MaryLascala, Hol Bickford, Madi Green, JeanCrawford, Alice Biby, Peg Lorenz, AmyAppelbaum, Jim and Marjie Mayer, Ruthand Herschel Kanter, Rossie Kelly, MaryPurdy, Midge Wholey, Edd Nolen andAileen Whitfill. The honorees all receivedeither “motivational” mouse pads or bumperstickers stating “1-20-09: Bush’s Last Day!”

HQ crewhonored asHQ shifts


Jerry Botland

Computer ConsultingTroubleshoot and resolve computer and

computer related problems.

Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers.

Transfer old files, address book and emails

from an old computer to a new one.

Ph# 703-933-0558 — [email protected]

All voters at the upcoming May 5 Demo-cratic “firehouse primary,” more technicallycalled an “unassembled caucus,” will be re-quired to sign a declaration before voting.This sometimes produces some head-scratch-ing and discomfort.

The declaration reads in full: “I certifythat I am a resident of and registered to votein Arlington County, Virginia. I am a Demo-crat; I believe in the principles of the Demo-cratic Party; and I do not intend to supportany candidate who is opposed to a Democraticnominee or endorsee in the next ensuing elec-tion.”

This long-standing requirement comesfrom the Virginia Democratic Party Plan. Itis a state party requirement, not a creation ofthe Arlington party.

It is not a loyalty oath, as it does not ob-ligate the caucus voter to vote Democratic inthe fall. It merely asks caucus voters to statein good faith that as of the caucus they arenot planning to support someone other than aDemocrat at the next election. Why do wedo this? It is to discourage Republicans fromtrying to impact the outcome of a DemocraticParty process by intervening with their votes.We use the declaration because Virginia is oneof the states that does not have party registra-tion, hence there is no registration book tocheck to identify who is a Democrat.

Often voters look at the declaration formand ask, “What are the ‘principles of theDemocratic Party’?” The state party plan re-fers to the principles contained in the Charterof the National Democratic Party. That Char-ter includes, at Article 9, Section 17, a “Demo-cratic Party Credo” that, along with the Pre-amble, comes closest to describing what mostDemocrats view as the party’s principles. Thenational Charter is on the web at http://w w w . d e m o c r a t s . o r g / a / 2 0 0 6 / 0 1 /dnc_charter_and.php.

Another frequently asked question is,“Why is it called an unassembled caucus?”There are two kinds of caucuses: assembledand unassembled. An assembled caucus iswhen Democrats assemble in one room andall vote at the same time. Everyone must waituntil the appointed time for the vote. In anunassembled caucus, voters come and voteand leave, just as in the November balloting.They never “assemble.”

The difference with a state-run primaryis that the party organizes these caucuses, sothey are not held in the usual polling places.

In many parts of the country, they are held infirehouses, hence the popular name “firehouseprimary.” In Arlington, we usually hold themin a school cafeteria, but “cafeteria primary”isn’t a very appealing name.

The purpose of this year’s firehouse pri-mary is to “endorse” a School Board candi-date, not nominate one. That is becauseSchool Board seats are officially non-parti-

san in Virginia. The State Board of Electionsexpressly states, however, that Virginia law“does not prohibit political endorsement” ofSchool Board candidates by parties. And, asis quite common throughout the countrywhere local races are technically non-parti-san, most parties in Virginia counties and cit-ies formally endorse School Board candidatesas a guide for voters.

Dem. declaration is signed at CaucusWhy does the Virginia party require what seems to some to be a loyalty oath?

Prsrt StdU.S. Postage

PAIDMerrifield VA

PERMIT NO. 6297

ACDC VoiceACDC VoiceACDC VoiceACDC VoiceACDC Voice Arlington County Democratic Committee

P.O. Box 7132 Arlington, VA 22207

Address Service Requested

Visit our website: www.arlingtondemocrats.org

ACDC Calendar 2007ACDC Calendar 2007ACDC Calendar 2007ACDC Calendar 2007ACDC Calendar 2007

FOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATESFOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATESFOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATESFOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATESFOR FULL DETAILS AND UPDATES, visit our website:

www.arlingtondemocrats.org

Some ways you can help

May2, Wednesday7-9 p.m. - ACDC General Membership Meeting. Arlington MillCommunity Center (Note meeting location change), 4975 ColumbiaPike. For more information, 703-528-8588.

5, Saturday11 a.m.–7 p.m. - School Board Caucus Call. Kenmore MiddleSchool, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road (at intersection with Route 50).This is an unassembled caucus call for the purpose of endorsing acandidate for Arlington School Board.

10, Thursday5-6:30 p.m. - Business Social with Walter Tejada. 2111 WilsonBlvd, 22201. Co-hosted by Daniel Flores and George Munoz. Sug-gested donation $500, $1,000. RSVP to 703-379-7487 [email protected]

12, Saturday1:30-3 p.m. - Neighborhood Day Parade. Arlington Democrats willhave a parade entry. Parade begins at Clarendon Metro and ends atCourthouse. More info TBA.

19, Saturday4-6 p.m. - Gala for Mary Margaret Whipple. Held in the TiffanyRoom of the Arlington Arts Center, Wilson Blvd. Special Guest Gov.Tim Kaine. Donations will benefit Senator Whipple’s reelection cam-paign for the 31st District.

30, Wednesday7-9 p.m. - ACDC Steering Committee Meeting. Headquarters, 2009N 14th St, Suite 612. Metro Courthouse and parking available on-street or in lot behind building. For more info 703-528-8588.

Organize to Win! Join Carrie Johnson’s Data Team. The seasonstarts now! This involves elementary data entry in Excel. Require-ments: detail-oriented, basic knowledge of Excel, self-starter, com-mitted to turning Virginia blue. You can work at home on your owncomputer. Contact Carrie Johnson at [email protected] or 703-522-8940.

Precinct Captains are needed in the following precincts: ArlingtonForest, Rosslyn, Crystal City, Virginia Highlands, Glebe, Claremont,Shirlington, Arlington Mill, Park Lane, Wilson, Barcroft.Precinct captains activate a network of enthusiastic volunteers, coor-dinate lit drops, attend neighborhood visibility events, and work thepolls on Election Day. Captains are voting members of ACDC andreceive training, assistance, and materials. Contact Jim McBride,[email protected]

June6, Wednesday7-9 p.m. - ACDC General Membership Meeting. Back at theNRECA Conferece Center, 4301 N Wilson Blvd. For more informa-tion, 703-528-8588.

are you ready to score 21/51? - arlington democrats

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