DemocratThe The Newsletter of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee

January 2015 Volume 2, Issue 1

U.S. House and Senate Swearing-In Ceremonies: Proud to be a Democrat

House Speaker John Boehner swears in Donald Beyer to the U.S. House of Representatives on the opening day of the Vice-President Joseph Biden swears in Mark Warner to the U.S. Senate on the 114th Congress. Accompanying Beyer is his wife Megan opening day of the 114th Congress. Accompanying Warner is his wife, Lisa Beyer. Collis and his daughter, Eliza Warner.

House Speaker John Boehner swears in Gerry Connolly to his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives on the opening day of the 114th Congress. Accompanying Connolly are his wife Catherine Smith Connolly, his daughter Caitlin Connolly, his parents, his siblings, and friends and staff.

1 www.fairfaxdemocrats.org Message from the FCDC Deadlines for Chairman Sue Langley The Democrat

February 2015 Edition Friday, January 30, 2015 March 2015 Edition We usher in the New Year with this year. A Democratic senator Friday, February 27, warm greetings and wishes for a represents every citizen of Fair- 2015 fresh start, prosperity, health, fax County, and we strive to in- Articles/ photos must be and happiness in 2015. There is crease our dominance among submitted as attach- much hope for Fairfax Demo- the delegates we send to Rich- ments to thedem- crats this year, as incumbent mond. Presently 4 of the 17 del- ocrat@fairfaxdemocrats. candidates will be seeking egates with precincts in Fairfax org. All submissions are reelection to both state and lo- County are from that other par- subject to a word limit cal government offices. Our vol- ty. Democratic challengers have and editing. For more unteer energy will be critical to been recruited in three of those information, contact the- the success of those efforts. races. Even though Democrats democrat@fairfaxdemoc rats.org. Compared to our opponents, serve in the minority in both what we lack in campaign cash houses of the General Assembly, we make up for with a volunteer Governor McAuliffe’s veto pen force of unmatched vigor—as stands at the ready should Re- we just saw in Kathleen Mur- publican majorities stray too far phy's magnificent win.. from mainstream .

Published monthly by the The Road to Richmond brunch In Fairfax County local elections, Fairfax County Democratic was a resounding success, in the Board of Supervisors and the Committee that the dining room at the School Board will appear on the 2815 Hartland Road, Suite 110 Springfield Golf and Country 2015 fall ballot along with Con- Falls Church, VA 22043 Club was filled to capacity, the stitutional Offices of the Com- Tel: (703) 573-6811 Fax: (703) 560-7004 crowd full of Democratic activ- monwealth’s Attorney, Sheriff, ists was ready to be entertained and Clerk of the Court. The Soil http://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org and informed, and the speakers and Water Conservation District Editorial Team: Terry Matlaga Bell, did not disappoint. Nearly 40 will also stand for election. We Michael Fruitman, Linda Waller elected officials from national, intend to have Democratic can-

Views expressed do not necessarily state, and local government lev- didates for all of these local posi- represent those of the FCDC unless els were recognized in attend- tions. expressly approved by an appropriate ance. committee resolution. With an election every year in Every member of the Virginia Virginia, alternating between Copyright@2014 General Assembly, from both Federal and non-Federal years, the Senate and the House of there is always much to do. Delegates, stands for election While we have much to cele- (continued on page 4) The2 Democrat 2 Kathleen Murphy Wins 34th District Delegate Special Election

The walk routes were walked, doors were knocked, and phone num- bers were dialed and dialed again. Voters were pressed to show up on Special Election Day, January 6. The winter weather was lousy. And when the votes were counted, Kathleen Murphy emerged victorious over her phantom opponent, Greg Parisot. When the Virginia House of Delegates convenes for session on January 14, Kathleen Murphy will become the newest Democratic Delegate to represent a former Republican district in Fairfax Coun- ty. She fills the unexpired term of Barbara Comstock, who resigned from the 34th House District seat and won Frank Wolf's seat in the U.S. Congress. Kathleen will represent the district in the Vir- ginia General Assembly, encompassing areas of McLean, Great Falls, and Eastern Loudoun County. In Fairfax County, Democrats have a good record of winning Special Elections. Having a deep bench gives us an advantage when a vacancy must be filled on short notice. A compressed time frame for campaigns to get their voters to the polls poses another significant challenge. Comstock resigned around Thanksgiving, and the Speaker of the House (Republican Bill Howell) set the Special Election for January 6, allowing only the month of December for campaign- ing. We knew before all the votes were counted that our candidate, Kath- leen Murphy, had a modest lead in absentee votes. Volunteers from around the county showed up and knocked doors, entered data, filled the phone lines, and supported an admirable field operation of paid staff. Kathleen ran an outstanding race that led to her Special Election victo- Fellow Northern Virginia Democratic delegates congratulate ry. Democrats everywhere can be their newest caucus member. (L-R) , Eileen Filler- proud of the way she focused her Corn, Alfonso Lopez, , Kathleen Murphy, Marcus Si- message on Democratic values. Her mon, , Michael Futrell, and Scott A. Surovell (Photo opponent’s negative television adver- Courtesy of Alfonso Lopez.) tising and false attacks are character- istic of Republican strategy. Kathleen’s message was positive and emphasized the values Democrats embrace, including sensible gun controls, a woman’s right to choose, compassion for the poor, ex- pansion of Medicaid, and a fair shake for working Virginians. In electing Kathleen Murphy, the vot- ers of the 34th House District made the smarter choice. Congratulations, Kathleen, and best wishes in Richmond.

The Democrat 3 3 Another Sellout Crowd for Road to Message from the Richmond Brunch FCDC Chairman Sue Langley Despite this year’s early out- Delegate Surovell offered a trib- break of flu threatening to limit ute to the first progressive Dem- (continued from page 2) attendance, FCDC hosted its fifth ocrat elected in Fairfax County, consecutive sellout Road to Rich- Congressman Herb Harris, who mond brunch at the Springfield passed away at the age of 82 last brate from last year, the vision Golf and Country Club on Sun- Christmas Eve. With his election must always be forward. So day, January 4. Former FCDC in the post-Watergate era, be- we are on to the state and Chair Rex Simmons and wife ginning in 1974, Herb Harris local elections. The challenge Nancy are club members and launched Northern Virginia’s we face is inspiring and in- sponsor our use of this facility long and persistent growth in each January. Turnout included the number of Democratic elect- forming our Democratic voters over 200 Democratic activists ed officials to today, when our so they go to the polls in No- from all over local governments vember because when Demo- Northern Virgin- are both dominat- crats vote, Democrats win. ia, and featured ed and effectively And when Democrats win, elected officials governed by Demo- good things happen. Let us from all levels of crats. Turning Vir- face the challenge with re- government as ginia purple and newed energy and enthusi- well as local Northern Virginia asm. press and public blue started with access television Congressman Har- coverage. ris’ election and continues today. In attendance were nearly 40 current and former Democratic In closing remarks by event chair Mark Your elected officials, including Con- Bruce Neilson, the Road to Rich- gressman-elect Don Beyer, Lieu- mond committee was recog- Calendar: tenant Governor Ralph Northam, nized, including FCDC Executive and Congressman Gerry Connol- Director Frank Anderson, Mason FCDC General Membership ly. District Committee Chair Rachel Meeting, Tuesday, January Rifkind, Finance Chair Sue FCDC Chair Sue Langley wel- 27, 2015 at 7:30 PM Location: Thomas, Treasurer Nadja Gold- comed the crowd; other speak- Falls Church High School ing, Dranesville District member ers included Northam, Connolly, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church Sue Boucher, FCDC Vice Chair Beyer, Senator Janet Howell, Matthew Bell, and Fairfax Young House Democratic Caucus Chair Democrats President Morgan Visit the FCDC meeting and and Delegate Scott Surovell, and Jameson. Visit the event photo event calendar for an up-to- Chairman of the Fairfax County collage on page 8. date schedule of county com- Board of Supervisors, Sharon mittee, subcommittees, and Bulova. Each offered insights on Photo Credits: Alfonso Lopez, Cathy the functions and current priori- Read, Terry Matlaga Bell. magisterial district meetings ties of government at the local, and upcoming democratic state, and federal levels. fundraisers.

4 The Democrat 4 From 2014 to 2015

Report from Sharon Bulova, Chairman Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Fairfax County is one of the best places in the en- is already surpassing ridership projections, and is tire country to live, work, play, and raise a family. one of the busiest Metro stations in the entire With our current population at over 1.1 million system. residents and growing, Fairfax County is planning Coming up this year, I am proud to say that Fair- ahead when it comes to services, redevelopment fax County will host the second largest interna- opportunities, and transportation options. tional multi-sport event in the world: the World In 2014, Fairfax County and the entire region Police and Fire Games. This event will showcase made significant progress in transportation. As the best firefighters, police officers, and first re- one of the founding members of the Virginia Rail- sponders from around the world during 10 days way Express, I was especially pleased last summer of spectacular competitions, games, and sporting with the groundbreakings for two new VRE sta- events. The games will be held June 26 through tions: Spotsylvania, opening this year, and Poto- July 6; visit http://fairfax2015.com to find out how mac Shores, opening in 2017. VRE is a real success you can volunteer, donate, and otherwise get in- story. It moves the equivalent of an entire lane of volved. traffic during rush hour that would otherwise be Finally, 2015 is an election year for the Board of on I-95. Supervisors. All 10 Board seats, including the The I-95 Express Lane project opened in Decem- Chairman’s, are up for election or re-election, as ber, providing added lane capacity and faster, well as members of the Virginia General Assembly more predictable travel options. The I-95 Express and the School Board. There will be many oppor- Lanes operate for about 29 miles, from Garrison- tunities for you to participate in campaign-related ville Road in Stafford County to the Edsall Road forums, debates, and activities. area on I-395. An informed and engaged community is a well- And of course, the main event in transportation served community. Thank you for playing an im- was the opening of Phase I of Metro’s new Silver portant role in making our community a great Line! Since opening day on July 26, the Silver Line place to live, work, and play. It is my honor to has been off to a solid start, carrying approxi- serve you as Chairman, and I look forward to mately 15,000 riders per weekday, exceeding ex- working with you during the year ahead. It’s going pectations. The Wiehle-Reston East Metro station to be a great year. People In the News Condolences to the family of the Hon. Herb Har- three terms. He was a confident and outspoken ris. Former VA Eighth District Democratic Con- elected official. In Congress, he introduced legisla- gressman Herbert Harris passed away peacefully tion to provide $1.9 billion in federal funds to com- on December 24. His funeral mass and interment plete the Metro system, pushed for Metro expan- was January 5. He was buried at Quantico Veter- sion to Dulles International Airport and other parts ans Cemetery with military honors. of Northern Virginia, and shepherded the 1980 After serving as a member of the Fairfax County expansion of Manassas National Battlefield Park Board of Supervisors, Harris was elected to the and the establishment of the Quantico National House of Representatives in 1974 and served for Cemetery. The Democrat 5 5 National Affairs Committee No Democrat Left Behind Pat Hynes, Fairfax County School Board Member and National Affairs Guest Author

Democrats trying to follow the na- holds with rich English vocabularies. neighborhood school by firing every- tional debate on education policy Test results have been misused, one, replacing them with college could be forgiven for not knowing twisted from their designed purpose graduates whose teacher training is which side to take. Going to the mat of measuring a snapshot of fact re- a six-week summer camp, and then for schools, unions, and public serv- tention–—a type of assessment use- abandoning everyone a few years ants is what we do. Yet, at every ful only in the classroom to plan for later when the numbers don’t add level of government, we’ve seen next steps—and given power over up. And good luck convincing anyone elected Democrats joining Republi- everything from teacher compensa- that Bill Gates is actually not an ex- cans in union busting, privatization, tion to school closures. pert in classroom instruction. and massive disinvestment in public As long as schools can be labeled as schools. Students who don't "test well" end failures, those who believe no public up in years-long remediation tracks. program should be allowed to live The confusion is that, for some pub- Teachers leave the remediation- will have ammunition to defund pub- lic school reformers, the goal is to heavy schools, or the profession al- lic education—even better if they make public schools better. For oth- together. Classroom instruction be- can blame the failure on teachers ers, the goal is to take public school comes a stressful, stultifying test and, especially, their unions. In an dollars out of public schools and put score chase. In all, a punitive system, era of job insecurity, when the small those dollars into the hands of pub- seemingly designed to frustrate stu- investor is unsafe on Wall Street, it’s lishers, bankers, real estate inves- dents, demoralize teachers, and ex- no great challenge to convince tax- tors, and religious institutions. The acerbate socioeconomic achieve- payers that teachers have too sweet true reformers, unfortunately, have ment gaps. a deal, with their due-process pro- not been watching their backs very tections and secure pensions. [Some well. Eventually, whole communities of these cynical taxpayers are FCDC suffer. When schools are labeled as members, who argue with me about This story starts with accountability. failures, property values plummet. whether we owe our teachers a dig- Quite rightly, the public expects pub- And the cycle builds, with more well- nified retirement after decades of lic schools to provide a good educa- to-do parents abandoning struggling public service.] tion to every child, regardless of zip schools for other neighborhoods, code. The devil is in how and what to charters or private schools, deepen- To be fair, NCLB and its supporters measure. We want to measure the ing the divide and further segre- were reacting to a manufactured skills we really care about, in a way gating schools and communities into crisis. International comparisons that tells the community and the haves and have-nots. show, quite plainly, that our stu- educators what to do to improve. Cue the vultures. When President dents' apples are different in color And then we want to provide the Obama describes your school as a and shape from their students' or- resources for improvement. A de- "drop-out factory," good luck de- anges. In fact, when students from ceptively simple task that the federal fending yourself against the venture high-scoring nations are compared No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law got capitalists with the corporate take- with U.S. students of similar eco- wildly wrong from day one. over playbook. Good luck protecting nomic backgrounds, our students do

your neighborhood from the banker very well. We have an achievement Under NCLB, we have spent the last who happens to sit on the local char- gap crisis, but it won't be solved by decade measuring mastery of trivia, ter review board, deciding whether a bankrupting schools. It will be solved of content standards a mile wide and depressed property should be pur- by taking lessons from other coun- an inch deep. Each state has devel- chased by one of his mortgage cus- tries that have no gaps. Lessons oped its own standards and tests, tomers for a new charter school. about income equality, family sup- further deepening the zip code Good luck surviving the “disruptors” port, integrated housing, teacher effect. The tests have been poorly who know nothing about education, autonomy, relevant curriculum, and designed, skewing results in favor of but get free rein to reinvent your not testing the joy out of everyone.. children from higher income house- 6 (continued on page 7) The Democrat 6 National Affairs Committee No Democrat Left Behind Pat Hynes, Fairfax County School Board Member and National Affairs Guest Author (continued from page 6) The ultimate irony is that Democrats cation (NPE). Donna Brazile and for- look at Chicago’s charter school leg- are now, at last, being led away mer Ohio Governor Ted Strickland acy. NPE endorses local school from the corporate reformers by an are founding members. NPE de- board candidates who are chal- erstwhile Republican. Diane Ravitch, scribes itself as "an advocacy group lenged by Koch-supported rivals. not just any Republican, was George whose goal it is to fight to protect, In short, NPE is the progressive, pro- H.W. Bush's Asst. Secretary of Edu- preserve, and strengthen our public public schools, pro-public employee cation and an architect of NCLB. She school system, an essential institu- advocacy organization many Demo- designed the punitive system of high tion in a democratic society." crats have been looking for. Take a -stakes tests. She made the Kool Aid, www.networkforpubliceducation.org. look at the website, like them on but unlike many around her, she Recent news briefs on NPE’s website Facebook, follow them on Twitter. soon saw how toxic it was. include complaints from Ohio about Support them if you can. And next “Common Core Test Mania,” a de- Ravitch has joined with influential time you get your photo op with the fense of teachers in response to educators and Democratic activists Time Magazine’s cover story on President, tell him the good news. to form The Network for Public Edu- those “Rotten Apples,” and a critical Book-of-the-Month contributed by the National Affairs Committee Deer Hunting with Jesus, Dispatches from America’s Class War by Joe Bageant

The late Joe Bageant wrote this through five vignettes, in which white working class should favor, incisive, funny, and at times de- he told the stories of a few peo- we Democrats find ourselves pressing account of the lives and ple and their experiences with losing ground with them to the attitudes of the white working different aspects of life and cul- Republicans. The book suggests class—that “great beery, NAS- ture in the Shenandoah Valley: that this is caused by policies and CAR loving, church-going, gun- employment and the economy, messaging that offends them or owning America that has never housing, gun ownership and their values and fails to seriously set foot in a Starbucks”—and hunting, religion, and healthcare address the difficulties in their tried to explain why they seem and the elderly. He discussed the everyday lives. Messaging that to repeatedly vote against their role of Scots-Irish heritage in does not inadvertently conde- best interests in elections. Bag- shaping working class Appalachi- scend and speaks the truth eant returned to his hometown an attitudes. Bageant concluded about the corporatist forces ar- of Winchester, Virginia, after a with his take on how a lack of rayed against working people; 30-year career as a writer, to talk education and inundation by cor- economic, housing, and to his family, friends, and former porate-influenced media has left healthcare policies that provide neighbors and try to explain his people largely unable to see real help but that are not framed them to his liberal former col- the political forces arrayed as handouts; and gun laws that leagues and other Americans against them. allow for a modicum of common who do not often interact with This book should be helpful to sense; can all help us win their his people. With a little of the any Democrat who wants to try support. Worth reading by Dems style of Hunter S. Thompson, he to understand how better to who would like to regain the began by summarizing the strug- earn the support of working- trust of people who should al- gles of the working class in class voters. Despite advocating ways have been natural allies. America in 2007. He then moved for economic policies that the 7 The Democrat 7 FCDC Sustainers Honor Roll Join FCDC’s Sustainer Thank you to our donors who have made a commitment to support the opera- tion of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee . Society… and make a commitment to Champions support the ongoing opera- Burma Bochner. Rick Bochner. Tom Greeson . Donna Rostant . Marie Ridder tion of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee with Winner’s Circle monthly or annual contribu- tions. FCDC needs you as a Nancy & Omar Kader . Sue Langley . Victoria and Steve Lee . long term sustainer to assure Nancy & Rex Simmons . Hon. Scott Surovell future Democratic victories. Benefactors Take a moment today and pledge your financial sup- Bill Ackerman . James Ebbitt . Robert Haley . Hon. Gerry Hyland . port. Cathleen McCabe. Mary Lou Melley . Jehanne Arsian & Robert Tsien . Visit http:// Bryan Graham fairfaxdemocrats.org/wp- content/uploads/2012/01/ Leadership Circle Sustainer-Society-Form.pdf Chris Ambrose. Judy & Paul Anderson . Chris Baden-Mayer & Joseph Mayer . and join today. Sean Barnett . Pris & Al Bornmann . Gregory Brandon . Roy Brooks . Barbara & Chuck Caputo . Richard Chew . Martin & Janet Fadden . Champion Level Nancy & Fariborz Fatemi . Hon. Penny Gross & Hal Gross . Michael Howard . $166 per month/ Patricia Jack . George Jones . Nancy & Omar Kader . Herb Kemp . $2,000 per year Hon. . Gene & Addy Krizek . William Lahue . Hon. Ilryong Moon . Hon. Janet Oleszek . Ginny & Rob Peters . Nancy & Edward Rice . Winners Circle Level Rachel Rifkind . Ian Rivera . Ken Sharma . Hon. Lins & Nigal Smyth . $100 per month/ $1,200 per Margaret & Howard Soroos . Robert Surovell . Jane Tarrant . Judy Thorne year

Friends Benefactor Level $50 per month/ Anonymous . Carole Appel . George Becerra . Pixie Bell . Alex Blakemore . $600 per year Andrea Bridgeman . Ellen Cantor . Janet Carver . George Cook . Meg Copernoll . Karen Craft . Ralph Craft . Sherry Dana . Lowell Endahl . Leadership Circle Level Ronald Enlow . Earl Franks . Gabriel Goldberg . Nadja Golding . Ken Gubin . $25 per month/ Gloria Haher . Elisabeth Holmes . Mary Jablonski . Morgan Jameson . $300 per year Richard Joyce . Hon . Alex Kirkland . Hon. George Lamb . Friend Level Bettina Lawton . Keith Lutman . Bruce & Rita Macdonald . Wendy Maiwurm . $10 per month/ Bridget Murphy . Kathleen Murphy . Lola Quintela . Robena Reid . $120 per year Edward Robichaud . Matthew Robinson . Raleigh Romine . Cherie Root . Alan Salisbury . Shana Singerman . Todd Smyth . Ellen Strauss . Robert & Valerie Sutter . Allen Taylor . Lynn & Mark Terry . Henry Thomassen . (Please note FCDC member- Florence Upson . Janet Vasak . Susie Warner . Bruce Waxman . Susan Weltz ship is not included in sus- tainer contribution.)

8 The Democrat 8 2015 Road to Richmond Legislative Brunch

The Democrat 9 9