Early Voting Now Underway There Is No Need to Wait Until Election Day ACDC Urges Everyone Who Can to Vote Early
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Vol. 40, No 10 www.arlingtondemocrats.org October 2015 Early voting now underway There is no need to wait until Election Day ACDC urges everyone who can to vote early. next month. You can vote right now and avoid the First of all, it’s convenient because you pick the day. crush on the day of the election. (Well, okay, there But also it avoids the embarrassment of forgetting won’t be any long lines in this off-off-year elec- Election Day. Every year, we hear from people on tion, but it’s still convenient to vote early.) the day after an election asking when Election Day The technical term is “in-person absentee vot- is. ing,” but it just means voting in the weeks before When there’s a presidential election in the off- actual Election Day. ing, there are television stations and newspaper Voting is on the third floor of the County Build- headlines screaming in advance. But before an off- ing, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, in the Registrar’s Of- off-year election like this year’s, there is no scream- Come join us in putting fice. ing factor and many people wake up Tuesday morn- stamps on envelopes for The hours are Monday through Friday from 8 ing assuming it’s business as usual. Dollars for Democrats at a.m. to 5 p.m. But there are four days with times Others miss voting on Election Day because for those who cannot vote during standard working they have a crunch at the office, were called out of the Wednesday night hours. They are: town or wake up ill. All that’s avoided by voting monthly meeting. See Thurs, Oct 22 8 a.m.-7 p.m. early. Meeting Box on Page 3. Sat, Oct 24 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID. That is now Thurs, Oct 29 8 a.m.-7 p.m. required by Virginia state law both for early voting Sat, Oct 31 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and on regular Election Day. Note that there is no early voting on the Mon- The law sets out 15 different reasons that make day before the Tuesday, November 3, Election Day you eligible to vote early. Don’t get lost in the weeds as the staff will be busy setting up the voting equip- of whether you are awaiting trial, on jury duty or ment in all 52 precincts. continued on page three Herring to run again for AG Attorney General Mark Herring has decided GOP nominee for The original 1800 to run for a second term as attorney general and governor, will try for gerrymander in Massachusetts that forego a race for governor in 2017, thus avoiding a the post again. He critics said was shaped costly and bruising primary battle for governor with has been silent about like a salamander by Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who has al- his intentions. Gov. Elbridge Gerry. ready announced his candidacy for governor. Chris LaCivita, There are no rumors of major challengers to a Virginia GOP either Northam or Herring. Democrats desirous of strategist who ran The in-and-outs of statewide office are expected to line up for the lieu- Cuccinelli’s losing tenant governor vacancy, possibly producing a ma- 2013 race for gover- gerrymandering and jor contest there. nor, sees a major redistricting—see Meanwhile, over on the GOP side, The Wash- contest for his ington Post reports it has learned that Ed Gillespie— party’s nomination two articles this who almost knocked off Sen. Mark Warner last year, next year. “The list month on pages six will seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination. of Republicans run- Gillespie has not denied the Post report. ning for governor of HERRING and seven. Gillespie is one of the rare Republicans who Virginia will be seems to appeal to GOP moderates without offend- about as long as the list of Republicans running for ing the easily-offended far right wing of the party. president,” currently 16, he told the Post. What’s more, the results of his race against Warner But the ultraright GOP leadership has opted to show he has appeal among independent voters. hold a convention in 2017 to pick nominees, sig- It is still unknown if Ken Cuccinelli, the last continued on page five ACDC Voice, October 2015, Page 2 Report from Chairman Kip Malinosky An election to protect Arlington Electing Democrats Katie Cristol and est debate he wants to save money by reduc- as currently practiced—are more likely to Christian Dorsey to the County Board is ing school funding. Clement suggested that harm growth and income inequality.” Busi- critical to protecting the middle class in Ar- we should be open to increasing class sizes. ness doesn’t take place in a vacuum. lington. After several debates and months of Arlington students and families deserve bet- Cristol and Dorsey want Arlington to campaigning, this is the clear question in this ter. remain affordable. The biggest expense for election: will Arlington support two candi- Cristol and Dorsey know that we need most people is housing, and in Arlington the dates committed to helping expand our to address our rising commercial vacancy burden is particularly steep. If the County schools, revitalize small businesses and make rates. Arlington has traditionally balanced rev- Board takes no action, Arlington is in danger Arlington more affordable or will we support enues with a near 50/50 split between the com- of losing all of our affordable housing and not candidates who want to slash county services, mercial and residential sectors. For this to re- just for young families, but also seniors who cut funding from schools, and do nothing main true and not lose more services, we need want to remain in their homes. The Afford- about affordable living in Arlington? Let’s to focus on aggressive recruitment, incentives able Housing Master Plan (AHMP) attempts examine these issues in detail. for expanding retail and creative community to restore the thousands of affordable hous- Cristol and Dorsey are committed to con- partnerships, like the WeLive/WeWork rede- ing units that have been lost over the last de- tinuing excellence in Arlington’s public velopment. This range of policies to attract cade as Arlington has become such a desir- schools. They know that at a time of expand- and foster small business growth stands in able place to live, which raises prices. A broad ing student enrollment we must not have stag- stark contrast to Clement and McMenamin and diverse community coalition supported nant or declining revenue for our schools. We who prioritize lowering the Business, Profes- the AHMP: all five County Board Members, need to build new schools and renovate some sional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax. the Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Fed- of our existing schools. Excellent schools are They believe that by initiating a race to the eration, every county commission that voted not free. Audrey Clement and Mike bottom on business taxes, we will attract more on it, and 46 of the 50 speakers during the McMenamin, the independents running for businesses. Yet, a recent study in the journal public comment period before the County County Board, do not share this view. Clem- Government and Policy, finds that “lower Board. Standing opposed to this community ent wants to see sharp cuts in funding, at one taxes are statistically insignificant in explain- consensus are Clement and McMenamin. point calling for a $5,000 cut per student, and ing state economic performance, and that tar- They don’t think affordable housing should McMenamin made clear at the Arlington For- geted tax incentives and financial assistance— be a priority, and McMenamin hasn’t pro- posed an alternative. If the middle class is going to continue to live and thrive in Arlington, the County Board must meet our needs. Our schools need Jerry Botland investment, our small businesses need revi- talizing, and housing affordability needs a Computer Consulting plan and a commitment. Christian Dorsey and Troubleshoot and resolve computer and Katie Cristol are the leaders who will ensure computer related problems. Arlington remains a vibrant community for all. Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. Transfer old files, address book and emails from an old computer to a new one. Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] Hope & Stamos at 2nd Sat meal Published monthly by the Del. Patrick Hope and Common- Arlington County Democratic Committee wealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos will be the 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite #604, Arlington VA 22202 guests at this month’s Second Saturday Break- Mailing address: P.O. Box 7132, Arlington VA 22207 fast, scheduled for Saturday, October 10. Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 All Democrats are invited to come, with- http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org out any RSVP required, for good eats and Chair: Kip Malinosky — [email protected] good conversation. Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] The Second Saturday Breakfast is held Deputy Editor: Eric Wiener — (703) 524-6899 (h), [email protected] each month at 8:30 a.m. at the Busboys and Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC Poets in Shirlington. unless expressly approved by an appropriate committee resolution The only request is that you bring cash Copyright ©2014, ACDC, All Rights Reserved to settle up the bill the old fashioned way. ACDC Voice, October 2015, Page 3 Kookoff Next Monthly Meeting kicks off All Dems Invited Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. kampaign NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd.