Vol. 34, No.4 www.arlingtondemocrats.org April 2009 YD date auction sizzles big time, sells a jersey for $700 Many of the members of the Arlington Young ton Capitals jersey that prompted a bidding war be- Democrats are too young to remember the Beatles— tween two buyers authorizing bids via cellphone. which could explain why so many showed up to The winning bid for the jersey (see photo below) buy a chance at love at the 8th Annual Benefit Date topped out at a cool $700, the highest price for any J-J Auction. item ever auctioned at the event. Twenty-five brave auctionees wearing “lucky” Auctioneers Elisa Ortiz and Anne Marie Purdy shamrock nametags stepped up to the auction block kept the crowd entertained with their witty banter Dinner before a sizeable crowd throughout the evening and encouraged the crowd to loosen their wallets as March 12 at the Clarendon Grill. the night wore on. ACDC Program Chair Karl Johnson took Each year the proceeds from the event are split home the top dollar bid for the gentlemen ($350 – a between the Arlington Young Democrats and a char- Friday, record for a male auctionee!), while Saara Abawi ity beneficiary. The 2009 auction raised well over set the high bid for the ladies ($475). The event $3,000 for the Arlington Food Assistance Center, even featured dates with cheerleaders from the Wiz- an Arlington 501(c)(3) organization that provides May 15 ards and the Ravens – proof that young Democrats supplemental groceries to Arlington residents who come in all forms. cannot afford to purchase sufficient food to meet Details on A number of local businesses donated prizes their basic needs. for raffle and auction, from yoga sessions to gift A variety of Arlington and statewide Demo- page 2 certificates to gelato and wine tastings. But the most cratic candidates and elected officials served as sought after prize of the night that turned the dance sponsors or donated items for the auction, ensuring floor of the Clarendon Grill into Arlington’s own another successful event benefiting a local charity version of Christie’s was an autographed Washing- and the Arlington Young Democrats.

DID I REALLY HEAR 700? — The Young Dems auction hit warp speed at this point when the jersey held by Jen Amore went for $700 as dual auctioneers Anne Marie Purdy (left) and Elisa Ortiz (right) worked the crowd. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 2

Report from Chairman Peter Rousselot Obama budget—Resources for change In 2008, Barack Obama was elected luxury of just focusing on Wall Street,” Presi- Over the next several weeks, all Arling- President in no small part because he prom- dent Obama said. “They don’t have the luxury ton Democrats should be looking for as many ised that, unlike his hapless Republican pre- of choosing to pay their mortgage or their opportunities as possible to engage our fel- decessor, he would be able to “walk and chew medical bills. They don’t get to pick between low volunteers and voters in conversations gum at the same time.” President Obama’s paying their kids’ college tuition or saving about President Obama’s budget goals, and first federal budget delivers on his winning enough money for retirement.… They have the reasons why he is pursuing them. The campaign promise. to do all these things,” our President con- Arlington County Democratic Committee will President Obama’s budget keeps our fo- cluded. be developing and publicizing plans and op- cus on the forest—not the trees. President Obama has challenged law- portunities to help us engage in this way. “To kick these problems down the road makers who oppose his budget plan to offer for another four years or another eight years constructive alternatives. He said he wel- would be to continue the same irresponsibil- comed ideas from both parties, but would not ity that led us to this point,” President Obama accept another period of political tactics. said in an appearance with the heads of the “‘Just say no’ is the right advice to give J-J coming congressional budget committees. “That’s not your teenagers about drugs,” President Obama why I ran for this office. I didn’t come here to said. “It is not an acceptable response to what- pass on our problems to the next president or ever economic policy is proposed by the other early this year, the next generation.” party. The American people sent us here to President Obama has strongly disputed get things done.” the idea, advanced by some congressional President Obama’s focus on the big pic- Fri., May 15 leaders (including some Democrats), that he ture is sure to appeal to the many volunteers It’s early this year! The Jefferson- should focus first on fixing the banking sys- and voters here in Arlington who worked so Jackson Dinner will be held Friday, May 15, tem. He noted that his administration is work- tirelessly to elect him to the presidency. These rather than in June. ing aggressively to loosen bank credit and get are the words, the philosophy, and the breadth The event, which has sold out the last people working again, but that real economic of vision that drove his electoral margins in few years, is ACDC’s most important recovery requires many actions at once. Arlington, and Arlington all by itself provided fundraising vehicle, not to mention the most “The American people don’t have the 21% of Obama’s margin of victory in Virginia. heavily attended event. With this year’s hotly contested prima- ries for governor, lieutenant governor, and the 47th District of the House of Delegates to be held just 25 days later, it’s even hotter than Jerry Botland usual. Once again, the dinner will be held at Computer Consulting the Arlington Westin Hotel, 801 N. Glebe Road, in Ballston—the site of the past three Troubleshoot and resolve computer and J-J’s. That makes it easy since you already computer related problems. know where to park. Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. Ticket prices remain the same as last Transfer old files, address book and emails year: $125 per person, with discounts for from an old computer to a new one. Roosevelt Society members ($115) and Young Democrats ($100). VIP tickets will be $250 Ph# (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] and will entitle purchasers to attend a special reception prior to the dinner. As of The Voice’s deadline, the keynote speaker remains a surprise, but you can be Published monthly by the sure it will be someone of great appeal. Re- Arlington County Democratic Committee cent keynoters have included Governor Tim 2009 North 14th Street, Suite #612, Arlington, VA 22201 Kaine and DNC Chair Howard Dean. Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 Invitations will be in the mail soon. If http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org you can’t wait, you may buy your ticket online Chair: Peter Rousselot —703-276-1584 (o), [email protected] after the first week in April by going to the Editor-in-Chief: Barbara van Voorst —703-522-6294 (h), [email protected] ACDC website, www.arlingtondemocrats.org Deputy Editor: Warren L. Nelson —703-243-7867 (h), [email protected] and clicking on “Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.” Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC Co-chairs of this year’s dinner are Bree unless expressly approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution Rahm and Gabe Snow, who also co-chaired Copyright ©2009, ACDC, All Rights Reserved last year’s event. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 3

Next Monthly Meeting— Bumper Sticker All Dems (Volunteers Especially) Invited of the Month Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 7 p.m. We can fix NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson America, just Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street don’t Rush it Dan Chenok, who headed technology for the Obama Transition Team, will speak about the technology the new Administration is adopting to involve citizens in the policy process, to ensure that government is transparent and accessible, and to main- tain a line of communication between people and president. Fisette running again; Lander is unopposed Arlington County Board Vice Chair Jay Fisette declared his candidacy for re-election at the March ACDC meeting. Fisette, who is currently serving his third term on the Board, said his campaign will be based on the theme of sustainability—both fiscal and environmental. He called environ- mental sustainability “the challenge of our generation.” He also said he is committed to preserv- ing diversity in our community. As of The Voice’s deadline, it does not appear that Fisette will have any Democratic primary opposition, although the deadline for filing is not until April 10. The deadline for filing for those seeking ACDC’s endorsement in the School Board contest passed March 9 and James Lander PC HELP was the only candidate who filed. This means that Lander will garner the coveted endorse- Want help with setting up, networking, upgrading, ment and there will be no need to hold a fixing, or just using your new or old PC? “firehouse primary” this year. The deadline for Republicans, Greens and independents to file for the November Affordable, personalized assistance. ballot is June 9, so Jay and James must wait Evenings and weekends. Your home or office. to see if they will have fall opposition.

Ron Hicks DBA Systems That Work Email: [email protected]

Website: www.systems-that-work.org H/O: 703-528-1009 Cell: 571-217-9949

Arlington Chamber of Commerce FISETTE LANDER ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 4 From the rostrum to the kitchen, Charlene Bickford has done it all Former ACDC Chair and current one and three. the House of Delegates, and Ellen Bozman, Roosevelt Society President Charlene Charlene’s political activities also began then a candidate for the County Board. The Bickford admits to having voted Republi- in 1966 when she was in grad school and week after the 1973 election she was recruited can—but only the first time she walked into a helped a classmate make calls reminding ev- by Ruth Kanter to do opponent research for voting booth. eryone they knew in Virginia’s then-10th Con- Joe Fisher’s successful campaign to unseat A founding member of The Roosevelt gressional District to vote against Rep. Joel Congressman Broyhill. “That was the cam- Society (TRS)—ACDC’s sustaining income Broyhill. In 1968, the height of the Vietnam paign that hooked me for good,” she says. vehicle—and its two-time president (1993- War era, she worked to convince students that Charlene became a member of ACDC 1995 and again since 2004)—Charlene has there was, indeed, a difference between Ri- when she was Yorktown precinct captain and honchoed the events that are one of the ben- chard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Those has served in some capacity on the commit- efits of membership and that bring members were the days of large student protests and tee ever since, including her two stints as party together with Arlington’s elected officials. Charlene kept a bucket of water inside the chair and two as co-chair of the Joint Cam- TRS provides a steady stream of income door of her office building for those who had paign, not to mention her long-time member- for ACDC through monthly donations by its been tear-gassed to wash out their eyes. ship on the Kitchen Crew that prepares sump- members. This provides a regular cash flow The Bickfords moved to Yorktown pre- tuous meals for Arlington party events. critical to maintaining the committee’s on- cinct in 1973 where she began her political Her most memorable election experience going expenses such as rent, telephones, of- activities in earnest, volunteering for Ira was the 1984 presidential assembled caucus. fice supplies and printing costs. Lechner, who was running for re-election to continued on next page Charlene hails from a tiny (fewer than 2,000 population) town in upstate New York where her first votes were cast for Republi- cans Jacob Javits and Nelson Rockefeller, “the only time I have ever voted for Republicans.” She graduated from St. Lawrence University as a history/government major, having spent her junior year in Paris and Rouen—an expe- rience that “hooked me on the opportunities, culture and diversity of urban areas.” She came to Arlington to attend gradu- ate school at George Washington University, receiving her M.A. in history in 1969. She hasn’t left either Arlington or GW since. She began her professional career work- ing on GW’s First Federal Congress Project while she was still in graduate school and is now its director. The project has published 17 volumes of The Documentary History of the First Federal Congress, 1789-1791 and five more are in the works. As if that plus her political activities didn’t keep her busy enough, she also teaches a graduate course in historical documentary editing at George Mason University and serves on the Arlington Electoral Board. She has also volunteered on a number of Arling- ton community activities, particularly those involving the documentation of Arlington’s history. While in grad school, she married SLICE AND DICE — We often talk about the Kitchen Crew, but they Harlow Bickford, a former member of the famed Whipple/Hogan printing crew. Their tend to stay hidden out of sight. Here are some of them, hard at work at son, Joshua, who is a Fairfax County drama last fall’s County Board candidate auction. From left: Charlene teacher, is dad to their two grandsons, aged Bickford, Jean Marshall Crawford, Harlow Bickford and Peg Lorenz. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 5 Charlene has Donkey Ears done it all Listening to the doings for ACDC of Arlington’s Dems continued from page four as overheard by Dan Steen and Warren Nelson As Charlene tells it: “Over 2,000 people (10 per cent of the total Virginia turnout) were confined to Kenmore Intermediate School for more than seven hours. I did logistical sup- Marching from Richmond: Former ACDC Chair Larry Roberts is heading to port for Chair Sharon Davis. We were over- Washington. For the last three years, Larry served in Richmond as counselor whelmed, ran out of everything, had to cope to Gov. Tim Kaine. Now Kaine has taken on added duty as chairman of the with C-SPAN filming us all day, had no food, Democratic National Committee and Larry is being dispatched to DNC counted the Mondale caucus by passing them headquarters to hold the fort until the governor becomes a full-time chair next through the cafeteria line and ended up count- January. Larry’s title is senior adviser to the DNC chair. Kaine announced ing the votes for delegates to the state con- Larry’s new posting with a statement that said Roberts “has consistently vention far into the next day. After that, our top goal was the adoption of presidential pri- provided me with wise counsel across a range of issues, while focusing on maries in Virginia!” how state government can achieve meaningful results in people’s lives.” Arlington hasn’t held an assembled cau- The leaf shrivels: Retiring Delegate Al Eisenberg was shocked but pleased to cus ever again, shifting instead to see glimmers of bipartisanship in his final session of the General Assembly. unassembled caucuses—otherwise known as Al was assigned to the conference committee that wrote the final language of firehouse primaries—where voters just come the statute throttling smoking in the commonwealth’s bars and restaurants. and vote and don’t have to sit around all day Delegate Eisenberg reports, “Surprisingly, some of the major Republicans and vote and re-vote and re-re-vote. helped to break the back of Big Tobacco.” The pol in Al can’t help adding By Charlene’s reckoning, the most fun and exciting campaign was in 1992 when she that he’s sure they first “determined that the wind was blowing in a new co-chaired the Joint Campaign with Al direction.” The history buff in Al notes that the legislation means the com- Eisenberg. “It was like a runaway train,” she monwealth has now set sail in a new direction after four centuries tied to the says. “We couldn’t plan, print, or buy fast tobacco leaf. enough to keep up with the demand for printed Out in the vineyards: Former ACDC Chair Jim Turpin has announced that he handouts and Clinton/Gore buttons, bumper will be resigning his post as state party treasurer because of growing business stickers, shirts, hats, et cetera. Volunteers and demands. Jim moved to Nelson County and entered the winery business after money poured in. Even though Virginia didn’t go Democratic, election night—with every- finishing his 2004-05 term as ACDC chair. Jim and wife Susan have now one wearing their ‘I voted for President expanded their winery operations. Factoid of the Month: Virginia is the 12th Clinton’ buttons—was just thrilling.” largest wine-producing state in the nation. The recipient of several awards honor- Running in Illinois: From the Midwest, we hear that Jeff Kohmstedt, a ing her work for both Arlington County and former precinct captain in Oakridge, is running for the Unit 4 Board of Arlington Democrats, Charlene notes she has Education in Champaign, Illinois, where he taught school before coming to had “awesome” role models, including Lucy Arlington. Jeff and his wife just moved back to Illinois last year, so it hasn’t Denney, Mary Margaret Whipple, Ellen taken him long to dive into elective politics. The election for a four-year term Bozman, Karen Darner, Sharon Davis and “many, many more.” There can be no ques- is April 7. tion that Charlene serves as a role model for Parade nixed: We won’t have any of those great photos of Democrats march- those who have followed in her footsteps. ing arm-in-arm in the Neighborhood Day parade this year because there won’t be any Neighborhood Day parade this year. The Clarendon-to- Courthouse march down Wilson Boulevard was the idea of late County Board Here’s how to resolve Member Ellen Bozman and has been held for 12 years. Some folks com- Do you have a policy resolution you wish plained, however, that more people were marching in the parade than watch- to advance? The May 16 biennial 8th Con- gressional District Convention will consider ing from the sidewalks. We agree. But that’s because so many Arlingtonians and approve policy resolutions and pass them were marching behind the Democratic banners. County Board Member on to the state party. Submit your resolutions Walter Tejada, a staunch supporter of the parade, emphasized that it hasn’t by May 2 to Margo Horner, 8th District been killed forever but just “suspended” for this year and will be looked at Chair, at [email protected]. anew next year. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 6 Miles Patrick Your 47th Grant Hope On issues ranging from clean, affordable Patrick Hope lives with his family in the energy to civil liberties for all Virginians, Buckingham neighborhood of the 47th Dis- Miles Grant has spent years working to ad- trict. Since moving to Arlington a decade ago, District vance the 47th District’s progressive values. Patrick has been a community activist. When Miles has served as chair of he learned his neighborhood had no civic as- Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, help- sociation, he knocked on doors, asked for help delegate ing to keep our air, land and water clean while and founded one. When the Special Olym- fighting unwise I-66 expansion plans. For two pics needed a coach, he volunteered and has years, Miles chaired Arlington’s Community ever since. When ACDC needed a precinct candidates Volunteer Network, developing a program captain and then an area chair, Patrick stepped that has helped connect hundreds of forward. ACDC voted at the March Arlingtonians to service projects and engaged Patrick Hope’s most important contribu- meeting to hold a primary, rather thousands more in local issues. Miles’ count- tions, however, may come from his leader- than a caucus, to select the Demo- less hours dedicated to ACE and CVN earned ship on human services issues, where he has th cratic candidate for the 47 Dis- him a 2007 James B. Hunter Community Hero shown a knack for bringing people together trict of the State House of Del- Award and a 2008 Arlington County Out- to solve problems. He serves on the County’s egates. standing Volunteer Award. He was elected Commission on Aging, spearheaded the Under Virginia election law, Community Service Director with Arlington implementation of the 10-Year Plan to End if the incumbent delegate—in this Young Democrats in 2008. Homelessness, and chaired the Arlington case, Al Eisenberg—is not seek- Miles is committed to engaging the en- Community Services Board. ing re-election, the local Demo- tire community in the push for progressive Patrick’s work has been noticed. He’s cratic Committee (ACDC) gets to solutions. Miles took his activism online with received the James B. Hunter, III Community choose the method of nomination his environmental blog, TheGreenMiles.com. Hero recognition and the Civic Federation’s of its candidate in that election— His work earned him an invitation to the team Civic Hero award. For his human services a party caucus or a primary. at RaisingKaine.com, a progressive blog that work, he’s received NAMI-Arlington’s Rec- Upon recommendation of the helped propel Democrats like Gov. Tim ognition Award, ARC’s Russell Garth “You Steering Committee, the full com- Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb, State Sen. Chap Are Change” Award, and the VACSB’s pres- mittee voted March 4 for a pri- Petersen and others into office. He’s also a tigious Joseph V. Gartlan Award. mary. contributor to DailyKos, Grist.org and What’s Patrick, an attorney, received his B.A. The primary will be held on Up Arlington. degree from St. Mary’s University and his th June 9 in the precincts in the 47 Miles grew up in Boston and attended M.A. and J.D. from Catholic University. He Virginia House of Delegates Dis- Syracuse University. He works for the Na- has worked for a Democratic Congressman trict, which is central Arlington. tional Wildlife Federation and lives in Ashton and today is the legislative director for the Statewide primary elections for Heights. American College of Cardiology. governor and lieutenant governor You can learn more about Miles Grant Patrick, Kristen and their girls belong to will also be on the June 9 ballot. for Delegate at MilesGrant2009.com or con- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. You To date, five candidates have tact him directly at [email protected] can learn more by visiting th filed to run in the 47 District and or (703) 864-9599. www.HopeforDelegate.com. their biographies may be found here. The deadline for filing is April 10. ACDC has scheduled a can- didate forum for the 47th District primary candidates from 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, at the NRECA building, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, in Ballston, in the same room where ACDC monthly meetings are held. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 7 Alan Adam Andres Howze Parkhomenko Tobar Born at Arlington Hospital and raised in Democrat Adam Parkhomenko, is an Andres Tobar came to Arlington 33 years Clarendon, Alan Howze is a lifelong Virgin- Arlington native. ago to work with the U.S. Department of Edu- ian and Democrat. Alan’s experience in gov- Most recently, Adam was an analyst at cation. He managed programs that funded ernment and business, combined with a deep the National Center for Missing and Exploited colleges and universities to prepare disadvan- understanding of Virginia honed over a de- Children (NCMEC) in Alexandria. At taged high school students with college po- cade in Virginia politics, provide him a unique NCMEC, Adam worked on a team of cyber tential. During his career, he was an active perspective on how to deliver real solutions experts assisting law enforcement officials in member of AFGE 2607. to the serious challenges we face. cracking down on child predators, child por- After federal retirement, Andres worked Alan worked for Rep. Rick Boucher (D- nography, and child exploitation worldwide. as executive director of the National Asso- VA), and then served as Governor Mark A longtime Democratic grassroots activ- ciation of Hispanic Publications and since Warner’s political director, where he dealt ist, Adam worked as an aide to (now) Secre- 2004 as executive director of the Shirlington closely with Democratic leaders from across tary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton from Employment & Education Center. Virginia. In 2004, on the brink of a budget 2003 to 2008, working for HILLPAC, Friends A community activist since his youth, crisis, Alan served as a chief advisor to the of Hillary and Hillary for President. In April, Andres today leads service and non-profit governor in passing a budget that increased 2008, he started an online movement called organizations including president of the South funding for education, healthcare, and public VoteBoth to unite all Democrats after the pri- Arlington Kiwanis and Arlington County safety, and led Virginia to be named “Best mary season. Crime Solvers, chair of the Virginia Coali- Managed State” in America. Adam is a volunteer with the Metropoli- tion of Latino Organizations and Treasurer of Alan got into politics through environ- tan Police Departments Reserve Corps. He AHC, Inc. mental activism, and has worked for the Vir- attended Northern Virginia Community Col- Governors Warner and Kaine appointed ginia Secretary of Natural Resources, National lege and is a product of the Arlington public him to the Virginia Latino Advisory Board. Park Service, climate change consultants, and school system. After his time at Little Begin- Andres is on Our Lady Queen of Peace So- environmental non-profits. nings Pre-School in Ashton Heights, Adam cial Justice Committee and Arlington Food He has been trained as a home energy attended Long-Branch, Arlington Traditional, Assistance Center. He is a graduate of Lead- auditor and is developing a business to pro- and Swanson. He graduated from Washing- ership Arlington 2003 and received the James vide energy and water efficiency improve- ton-Lee High School. All of the schools are B. Hunter Human Rights Award, 2004. ment services. As a small business owner, located in the 47th district. Andres has served on ACDC’s Steering Alan knows how to create jobs and get our Adam previously served as the special Committee and as Glen Carlyn precinct cap- economy back on track. events co-chair for the Arlington County Civic tain. He managed Emma Violand-Sanchez’ Alan is a graduate of JMU, where he met Federation. He was one of two students ap- School Board race and was deputy on Walter his wife, Pam. Alan received his MBA from pointed to the principal selection committee Tejada’s campaign. Andres notes that he has UVA’s Darden School. He works at IBM and for Washington-Lee High his senior year by lived in three Arlington delegate districts dur- helps public agencies transform their operations. the Arlington County Public Schools. He is a ing his long residency here, with a combined He is a member of the Highland Park/ former Arlington County Democratic Com- total of 23 years in the 47th. Overlee Knolls and Leeway/Overlee Civic mittee precinct captain for the Glen Carlyn Born in Texas and raised in California, Associations. Alan and Pam live with their precinct and was named Most Promising Andres attended California State University, two children in Overlee Knolls. Check out Democratic Newcomer by ACDC in 2003. Fresno (BA) and Sacramento (MA). Visit his his website at www.AlanHowze.com. Check his website at www.voteadam.com. website at andrestobar.com. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 8 The Milk of human kindness County Board Vice Chair Jay Fisette had some moving comments at the March meet- ing that prompted us to ask him to write this reflective article.

“Milk” was personal to me. I took my pilgrimage to San Francisco in January 1980, 14 months after Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone had been killed. I was 24, one of the many people with a big secret who was searching for the truth about myself. I grew up without a single gay role model in school, in my family, or on TV. Instead of pretending to be something that I wasn’t, San Francisco allowed me to come out – to be honest about being gay. I never met Harvey Milk, but now I feel as if I have. Sean Penn, who won the Oscar for Best Actor in the role, was flawless. He lost himself and became Harvey Milk – a simple, likeable guy who had enough self es- teem and compassion to run for elected of- fice as an openly gay man in the 1970s. Why, you ask, did Milk open a camera store? Because we were afraid to have our pictures developed by others for fear of ex- Sean Penn (center) as Harvey Milk in the film “Milk.” posure. We feared rejection by our parents,

friends, and co-workers. We feared loneliness, der] people are honest and open than ever humiliation and physical assault. It was safe before – in all aspects of our society. in the Castro area of San Francisco. It was One thing, however, remains as true to- safe to have your pictures developed at day as it was 30 years ago—to be gay is to be Harvey’s camera store. political. The laws we live by force LGBT Harvey Milk was a simple guy who people to be political. tapped into the pain and anger of a generation Some day we will have equal health care of closeted gay people. His simple message: benefits for partners, the law won’t allow Come out. His articulation of honesty and hope people to be fired because of whom they love, inspired, nurtured and saved many lives. gay soldiers won’t be asked to lie, and we’ll I left San Francisco in 1981, lived in have marriage equality. And some day we Europe for a year, then settled in Arlington in will have an openly gay president. 1983. The stories of Harvey Milk had left an Some day a man holding another man’s impression on me, yet I never felt it was fea- hand while strolling down Main Street will sible for me to do what he had done – run for not be interpreted as a conscious political act, elected office. but will be seen for what it is: a simple ex- After 10 years in Arlington, I began to pression of love…as natural for me as it is sense the impossible was possible. Bob for you. We yearn for the day when these [Rosen, Jay’s partner of 25 years] and I dis- everyday acts are not viewed as statements, cussed the potential consequences, and I ran or felt as threatening to someone else. We for office in my new home. A few nasty phone yearn for the day when our nation focuses on calls and some voters said some ugly things the content of one’s character, and not the to my parents at the polls, but most of the color of their skin or the object of their affec- potential consequences didn’t happen. tion – neither of which is a choice. The country has changed, and it’s inevi- Harvey Milk was a good man with a table that it will change more. Young people simple message of honesty and hope who are no longer afraid of gay people. More earned his place in American history. Sean The real Harvey Milk LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gen- Penn has earned his place in history, too. ACDC Voice, April 2009, Page 9

Volunteers are important people at ACDC. We welcome everyone to pitch in, for We whatever time you have available. Talk to Volunteer Coordinators Marj Signer, Marge Epstein or Nancy Pilchen. Email want us at [email protected] or contact indi- vidual Democratic leaders. you Campaigns Galore! ACDC is proud of our strong track record in getting out the vote and electing Democrats. Help con- tinue the winning streak by volunteering with statewide and county campaigns. Statewide candidate contacts are listed in the February Voice, page three, which is available on this website. Email ad- dresses for the candidates in the 47th Delegate District primary are: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; and Miles Grant at [email protected] 8th Congressional District Convention The biennial convention will be held Saturday, May 16. Before and during the convention, ACDC needs five volunteers to staff each of three subcommittees—Rules; Resolutions; and Credentials. If you’d like to help out, contact Peter Rousselot at [email protected] Keep ACDC Strong! Be part of our dynamic fundraising team! Mike Lieberman is seeking volunteers to help on the Fi- nance Committee. Duties include direct fundraising, event planning, and data management, depending on your interests and expertise. Please contact Mike at (703) 408-3940 or [email protected] to learn more. Don’t Be Locked Out! One of our most successful endeavors in 2008 was our Building Ambassadors program – and we’re going to make it bigger and better this year. You know all those locked buildings and hi-rises with all those Democratic voters we need to reach? Building Ambassadors live in those buildings and are the precinct communication persons for their own address. Contact Maureen Markham at [email protected] Precinct Leaders Precincts are where we win! Precinct captains and leaders activate a network of enthusiastic volun- teers, coordinate lit drops, attend neighborhood visibility events, and work the polls on Election Day. Captains are voting members of ACDC and receive training, assistance and materials. Contact Maureen Markham at [email protected]

A Note from ACDC Chair Peter Rousselot: We are a party of volunteers.… Our top priority is to encourage as many volunteers as possible to support Arlington Democrats.…We are making a special effort to connect with more voters whose participation in our elections should be greater, including African Americans, Latinos, Asians, North Africans and new citizens. Talk to our volunteer coordina- tors now!