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Home , Dawn Adams, Ed Gillespie, Ralph Northam

Vol. 42, No 12 www.arlingtondemocrats.org December 2017

RETIREE COLUMN

ACDC must pick a new chairman in January as Kip Malinosky is retiring. See page 5 for all the de- tails.

Jay Fisette is retiring Big turnout, big blowout after 20 years on the It was a political tsunami, a great Blue Wave about going to vote, instead of staying home as usual that crashed across the commonwealth on Election for a state election, said Quentin Kidd, director of County Board. Read his Day and carried off much political wreckage. Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Farewell Address on Left standing above it all was Gov.-elect Ralph Public Policy. Page 9. Northam, a genteel physician who hardly looked or “I think people saw those ads and it just made sounded like a revolutionary. But then has their anti-Trump feelings that much stronger,” he historically preferred calm and measured political said. Most voters decided early on who they liked leadership and has usually rejected hotheads. — based on what the student pollsters at the Wason Exit polling showed a significant portion of Center were hearing. “Those numbers were baked the voters only made up their minds in the final week in four or five weeks in,” Kidd said. of the campaign. Not about whom to vote for, but continued on page three Big problem with split precincts Former ACDC Chair Jim Four seats in the 100-seat House of Delegates to a precinct is greater than the incidence of voter Turpin is closing down are going to a recount this month, but the most con- fraud in Virginia at this point. So,… if we’re wor- troversial of those results cannot be fixed by a re- ried about different aspects of elections, why would his winery in Nelson count since the issue is wrong ballots being given we place more emphasis on one potential problem, County. Read all about it to voters. which might be fraud, over another one, which ac- on Page 8. There is a possibility that a judge will order a tually has a larger effect, which is a misassignment new election. of voters.” While the GOP has talked at length about voter In fact, since 2011, Republicans in the Gen- fraud in recent years, it has taken no action on “split eral Assembly have refused all requests from local precincts,” where the chances of simple confusion jurisdictions to shift district boundaries so as to are vastly multiplied. avoid split precincts. In 2011, the GOP redistrict- Michael McDonald, an associate professor of ing maps split 224 or 9.4 percent of the precincts in political science at the University of and a the state. Local registrars in many jurisdictions have former George Mason University professor, told addressed the problem by redrawing precinct bound- WTOP, “The possibility of people being misassigned continued on page eleven ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 2

Report from Chairman Kip Malinosky The case for hope Now this is a strange thing to say, given cent of U.S. adults say that both the rich and Democrats were expected to win six seats in the state of our Republican-led government, corporations pay too little in taxes. On health the House of Delegates. We won at least 15, but looking toward 2020 and beyond I am care, 60 percent say that health should be the including the first two Latinas, two Asian- hopeful about the direction of the country. It’s government’s responsibility and a growing Americans, lesbian and transgender delegates. true that with our current President any num- share of Americans, especially younger In 2009, about 800,000 Democrats voted in ber of nightmares, from nuclear war to eco- Americans, support single payer . the gubernatorial election. In 2017, about nomic catastrophe, are not out of the realm of On , a record 62 percent of 1,400,000 Democrats voted. Virginia shows plausibility. Climate change is on an ex- Americans believe it is happening now and that a more progressive, younger Obama coa- tremely dangerous trajectory. Income in- 45 percent say they worry a great deal about lition is on the rise. equality has reached levels that are threaten- climate change. On gay marriage, a record 62 Third, our cruel and incompetent Con- ing to both democracy and economic growth. percent of Americans now favor it. And on gress actually shows some rays of hope when Yet, I remain hopeful. Not the kind of hope immigration, the number of Americans who one looks at the Democrats. Democrats are that turns on the wheels of inevitability or ig- want to decrease it is a near-record low, and pushing policies for a $1 trillion job and in- nores the very real perils of our present, but the number of Americans who want to in- frastructure bill to fix roads, bridges and air- the hope that a much more perfect union can crease immigration is near a record high. ports, taking on corporate consolidation and be realized with tremendous efforts of ordi- Second, Virginia showed the world that lack of competition, health care plans with a nary citizens. Why? Americans now are voting on issues they care Medicare buy-in and strong public option as First, Americans on the whole are be- about and rejecting . Polls had sug- well as a single-payer plan, a plan for 100 coming more liberal than they have been in gested might win the percent clean energy by 2035, and plans to decades and on some issues more liberal than ’s race by three points. He won by strengthen unions. This is a more progressive they have ever been. It used to be a cliche nine. The top issue was health care, and agenda than the platforms that either Presi- that Americans are philosophically conserva- Northam won these voters by 77 percent. This dent Obama or Secretary Clinton ran on. Fur- tive while operationally liberal. Not any more. win was with a progressive platform includ- thermore, the Republicans in Congress are According to Pew Research, more Americans ing: expansion, a $15 minimum now clearly demonstrating that they care noth- favor bigger government with more services wage, gun control measures, and keeping Vir- ing for norms and regular order of the Senate than vice versa. On taxes, more than 60 per- ginia in the Climate Alliance. Furthermore, in pushing radically harmful and unpopular bills on health care and tax cuts for the rich. Democrats should not follow the Republican example of legislative cynicism, nor should Jerry Botland they allow the hundreds of filibusters that blocked a DREAM act, health care plan with Computer Consulting a public option, and a larger economic recov- ery act in 2009-2010. Troubleshoot and resolve computer and After 2016, I don’t want to make any pre- computer related problems. dictions about what 2018 and beyond will Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. bring, but there are very real reasons for hope. Transfer old files, address book and emails A large majority of Americans want a more liberal, active government. Virginia showed from an old computer to a new one. that Democrats can win on expanding health Phone: (202) 744-0542 — [email protected] care and fielding scores of new, diverse can- didates. Republicans in Congress are show- ing the world they cannot govern, and Demo- crats in Congress are showing they should govern. Come what may, let’s get to work electing Democrats. Published monthly by the Arlington County Democratic Committee 2001 , Suite #604, Arlington VA 22202 Mailing address: P.O. Box 7132, Arlington VA 22207 Tel: (703) 528-8588 http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org Chair: Kip Malinosky — [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: 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 ©2017, ACDC, All Rights Reserved ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 3

Genteel doc Next Monthly Meeting All Dems Invited On the crushes the Wednesday, December 6, 6:45 p.m. road again . . . . . Fairlington Community Center Republicans 3308 South Stafford St. continued from page one The surge in turnout was heaviest in This “meeting” will be our annual holiday potluck combined Northern Virginia, where it crushed the GOP, with something of a victory party as well. Come prepared not only in the statewide races but in the to have a good time! Please bring a dish or beverage to House of Delegates contests as well. share with your fellow Dems. Note that we will start at 6:45 Republican gubernatorial candidate ’s ads trying to link Democrat p.m., 15 mins earlier than usual, because we must clear out Northam to the murderous MS-13 gang and of Fairlington at 8:45 p.m., 15 minutes earlier than usual. campaign messaging about Confederate heri- In between the partying, we will also hear from candidates tage reminded Virginia opponents of Presi- for next month’s election of ACDC chair and vote on three dent how much they disliked him, Kidd said. policy resolutions dealing with immigration, the Trump visa Neither Trump nor Jeb Stuart was on the restrictions on Muslims, and a proposal for the county to ballot, but both took a shellacking. cease doing business with Wells Fargo. Gillespie “was just looking for a Hail Mary pass; they were taking a chance and it backfired,” John McGlennon, chairman of the government department at the College of Wil- of reaction to an outside group’s attack ad fea- “Trump was undoubtedly a factor in liam and Mary, told the of New- turing a truck with a Gillespie bumper sticker driving interest and the surprising results port News. and a Confederate flag running down young across the board,” McGlennon said. The rela- In the outer suburbs of Northern Virginia, Hispanics, the late decisions to vote and the tively large percentage of people in the exit beyond the Beltway, Republican candidates’ distaste many Virginians feel for Trump seem poll describing themselves as Democrats re- fliers attacking opponents on immigration and to have had a bigger impact, Kidd said. flects that, he said. Confederate statues upset many Republicans Preliminary exit polls reported that Turnout of 47 percent of registered vot- already uneasy about Trump, said Stephen nearly 1 in 5 voters said they made up their ers — the highest percentage in two decades Farnsworth, a political scientist at the Uni- minds to vote in the final week of the cam- — was not up everywhere, he noted. Demo- versity of Mary Washington. paign and that 60 percent of them voted for cratic strongholds generally saw surges, while And while many pundits felt Northam’s Northam. A bit more than 40 percent said they Republican areas witnessed little growth, campaign was stumbling because of the lack were Democrats. McGlennon said. In the heart of Virginia’s Trump Country, turnout in Tazewell County, the most GOP jurisdiction in the state this year, slipped to 10,088 from 10,135 in 2013, the last year with a gubernatorial election. Kelly Harvey-Viney, director of Hamp- Bumper Sticker ton University’s Center for Public Policy, told the Daily Press she was surprised by the turn- out. “Based on the numbers, Democrats were of the month able to get their people to come out and vote,” she said. The exit polls show about one-third of voters came out to express opposition to Trump, about one-sixth to show support for him, with roughly half saying he was not a factor. “Whether voters say that was their mo- tivation or not … may be obscured by exit polls that only interview those who did vote, McGlennon said. “Did Trump depress GOP turnout? Pretty likely that it did.” Northam said, “I don’t think there’s any continued on page ten ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 4 All Arlington Donkey Ears precincts Listening to the doings (including the of Arlington’s Dems as overheard by GOP one) go Dan Steen and Mädi Green big for Dems Fire alarm: Former School Board Member Abby Raphael’s home was saved from Arlingtonians turned out in huge num- going up in flames by a quick-witted neighbor who noticed a fire burning behind bers for the November election, giving a big the Raphael home and called 9-1-1. Abby reports the family was enjoying a edge to statewide candidates. meal at a Thai restaurant the night before Thanksgiving and no one was at home. The turnout in Arlington was 58.5 per- “We are thankful to the Arlington County Fire Department for its quick response cent of registered voters, about 11 points and for extinguishing the fire just before it reached our shed and woodpile,” ahead of the statewide average. Abby said. The shed had the family lawnmower and a can of gasoline. She Each of the three statewide candidates reports that the fire marshal found a candle in the backyard. “It appears that drew just a bit less than 80 percent of the votes perhaps someone was hanging out in our yard and lit a candle,” she said. “Very cast in Arlington. They won every single pre- scary.” cinct. In Madison precinct, the heaviest Re- New county building name: The County Building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd is being publican precinct in Arlington, Ralph named after Ellen Bozman, who started her activism in Arlington fighting Northam drew 66.9 percent. In other words, school segregation, went on to press for an extended day program in county in traditionally the worst precinct for Demo- schools and finished with six terms on the County Board from 1973 to 1997, crats, Northam got more than two-thirds of when she was succeeded by Jay Fisette. Bozman, who died in 2009, served 24 the votes. years on the County Board, longer than anyone else. At the high end, in Campbell precinct, Singing out: ACDC Communications Director Jason Rylander will unleash his Northam won 88.4 percent of the vote. Re- fabulous voice at the Kennedy Center this Christmas. He will be the tenor soloist publican Ed Gillespie did not even break 11 for the 46th Annual Messiah Sing-Along in the Concert Hall on December 23. percent in Campbell precinct. Whipple honored: Mary Margaret Whipple, former Arlington School Board The benefits of emphasizing absentee member, former County Board member and former state senator, was honored balloting and early voting also were proven. Nov. 14 with the Arlington Bar Foundation’s 2017 William L. Winston Award. Of all those ballots, Northam won 85.4 per- “I consider Mary Margaret Whipple to be one of the most transformative figures cent. The absentee and early votes commonly in the modern history of Arlington,” said longtime Clerk of the Circuit Court trend toward Democratic candidates. David Bell during the ceremony, held at the Washington Golf & Country Club. The sole Republican running locally was “Our nation needs more politicians like Mary Margaret Whipple to provide Adam Roosevelt, who challenged Alfonso leadership in the way campaigns should be conducted,” Bell said. Lopez in the 48th House of Delegates Dis- Northam picks a pack of Arlingtonians: Gov.-elect Ralph Northam has named a trict. Roosevelt won just 18.5 percent of that pack of people from Arlington to his transition team. Here they all are: Sen. vote, as even Arlington Republicans seemed Barbara Favola; Del. Alfonso Lopez; County Board Member Jay Fisette; uninterested in having any more Republicans former County Board Member Walter Tejada; Virginia State Director for CASA in the House of Delegates. Michelle LaRue; former Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu; former Deputy For local office, Erik Gutshall won a Secretary of Heath Jennifer Lee; plus Sen. , who is from Alexan- seat on the County Board, defeating two chal- dria, but represents a chunk of Arlington. lengers and winning 62.8 percent. Trump’s reality: The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has approved Monique O’Grady won a seat on the a request from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort for 70 visas to bring in foreign School Board with 70.4 percent against two workers for the winter season, the Palm Beach Post reports. The foreign workers challengers. will comprise 20 cooks, 35 waiters and 15 maids, apparently skills that just Gutshall will be sworn in Tuesday, De- cannot be found among American workers. Top pay will be $13.34 an hour for cember 19, and invites everyone to attend the the cooks. During the campaign, Trump condemned businesses hiring foreigners ceremony and followup reception at 5 p.m.in and said, “We believe jobs must be offered to American workers first.” Before the County Board Chambers (Room 307) of they can apply for foreign worker visas, businesses must run at least two ads in the County Building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. newspapers. said Mar-a-Lago ran two classified ads in tiny type with no phone number or email address. Applicants could only use snail mail or fax. The Palm Beach Post said the local employment agency reported having 5,126 qualified candidates for hospitality jobs on its registry. Trump also hires foreign workers for his vineyard in central Virginia. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 5 Big vote for ACDC officers in January The biannual—”reorganization” of After the captains are elected, the meet- ACDC will be held at the January monthly ing will turn to the Steering Committee and meeting with a new chairman to be selected its 15 elective positions, viz., chair; deputy at the top of the agenda as Kip Malinosky is chair; precinct operations chair; finance chair; retiring after four years at the helm. press and public relations chair; outreach and “Reorganization” is the term the state visibility chairs (three); communications di- party uses for what most people call elections. rector; The Voice editor; volunteer coordina- Chairman All precinct captaincies and all Steering Com- tor; secretary; treasurer; sergeant-at-arms and Kip mittee elective posts will be on the ballot at parliamentarian. Malinosky the January meeting, which will be held on The same deadline for filing a nomina- the second Wednesday of the month, January tion form, the same $25 filing fee and the same is 10, rather than the usual first Wednesday. waiver rule apply to these posts. retiring All elective positions are for two-year Those attending the January meeting after terms. must check in between 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 four Anyone wishing to run for either a pre- p.m. The meeting will be called to order at cinct captaincy or a Steering Committee post 7:15 p.m. years. must file a form declaring their candidacy and If a ballot for any precinct captain is re- enclosing a filing fee of $25 at ACDC Head- quired, only registered voters from the con- quarters, 2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Suite tested precinct can vote. Hint: While captains 604, Arlington VA 22202, no later than 7 p.m., elected in January must be living in the pre- Monday, January 8. cinct where they run, captains elected later in The forms will be posted on the ACDC the cycle can come from anywhere in the candidate or endorsee who lives in Arlington. website, www.arlingtondemocrats.org, the county. Therefore, if three people seek to run That last phrase may confuse some evening of December 6 after they are ap- in a precinct with two captains, it is usually people, but a number of state senators and proved at that monthly meeting. Those run- suggested that one step down and wait to be delegates representing Arlington can come ning for chair will announce their candida- elected the next month in another precinct from Alexandria or Fairfax County because cies at that meeting. with a shortfall of candidates. their districts cross county lines. Only those Arlington now has 54 precincts. ACDC After the captains are elected, the elec- who live in Arlington can vote in the ACDC has three captains in each of the 18 biggest tions for Steering Committee will be held. elections. precincts (defined by the number of voters in The electorate for the Steering Committee is The 18 precincts that qualify for three last month’s gubernatorial election) and two not everyone attending the meeting. It is: the precinct captains are: 24 Woodlawn; 18 Park captains in the other precincts. That makes a newly elected precinct captains; the immedi- Lane; 09 Columbia; 26 Fillmore; 22 total of 126 captains. ate past chair of ACDC, Kip Malinosky; the Abingdon; 28 Wakefield; 10 Wilson; 17 For this election, a candidate for precinct president of the Arlington Young Democrats Overlee Knolls; 29 Dominion Hills; 40 Vir- captain must be a registered voter in the pre- and one other designee from AYD; members ginia Square; 08 Hume; 19 Rosslyn; 02 cinct for which he or she is seeking a cap- of the Democratic State Central Committee Ashton Heights; 36 Marshall; 31 Lexington; taincy or have served as a captain in that pre- who live in Arlington; and anyone elected to 12 Fairlington; 46 Central; and 16 Lyon Vil- cinct for at least six months before the elec- public office in Arlington as a Democratic lage. tion. Any and all who are interested are en- couraged to file. Training sessions will be offered in the spring, so captains can be up to speed for the elections this fall, which will include the re-election of Sen. . The filing fee of $25 is non-refundable. However, the party does not want anyone deprived of the ability to run by financial cir- cumstances, so anyone who feels unable to pay may appeal to Chairman Malinosky, who has the authority to waive the fee. That ap- peal should be filed with the nomination form. The precinct captain elections will be the first order of business at the January meeting. To be honest, ACDC was last able to find can- didates for all the captains’ slots when Noah ran. So, the standard is for all those running to be declared elected without any ballot needed. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 6 Blue Wave stunned both campaign bosses by Eric Wiener being asked about his reaction to Trump’s lat- point on. When asked why the Northam cam- Neither of the campaign managers in the est tweet, which countered their strategy of paign did not more forcefully denounce the gubernatorial race saw a Blue Wave about to trying to keep the race about Virginia issues. ad, he indicated that the Latino community crest in Virginia and neither believes that his Print media still sets the framework for cov- felt under attack, and justified in their re- own campaign spots went overboard or hurt erage and a stream of bad print about the sponse, and he was not going to condemn the their campaigns. tweets made running the campaign harder. Latino Voters Fund for expressing their con- The two managers met a week after Elec- Komar revealed that the Trump question cerns. tion Day for a post-mortem on the stage at worried the Northam camp during the pri- The statement by Leavitt that failing to the Schar School of Government on George mary, when opponent was por- run the controversial spots about MS-13, Con- Mason University’s Arlington campus mod- traying himself as the anti-Trump Democrat. federate monuments and voting rights resto- erated by Mark Rozell, dean of the school. It was to prick that balloon that Northam de- ration would have been “political malprac- Such forums are sponsored after each elec- scribed Trump as a “narcissistic maniac,” a tice” drew the attention of The Washington tion by the Virginia Public Access Project jarring turn of phrase coming from the gen- Post editorial board. The Post said the elec- (VPAP), and this one drew immense interest, teel Northam that drew immense attention. tion stands as a warning to “future campaigns packing an auditorium and two overflow Komar said, “It gave a great clarity that we and candidates who may be tempted to gain rooms. were not going to cede that lane.” political advantage in racially charged wedge The campaign managers were Brad The issue of television ads was raised. issues.” Such ads did not work in this cam- Komar for Ralph Northam and Chris Leavitt Leavitt defended Gillespie’s ads on Confed- paign, it said, and damaged the moral stature for Ed Gillespie. Komar had guided erate statues by citing polls showing a major- of the campaign and the candidate. Northam’s 2013 campaign for lieutenant gov- ity of Virginians want the statues to remain in The exit polls showed that health care ernor, and Leavitt had managed Gillespie’s place. MS-13 had been the subject of several was a major concern and that Medicaid ex- unexpectedly strong showing against Sen. stories about murders in Virginia. The MS- pansion and preserving Obamacare were is- in 2014. 13 ads were directed toward “independent sues that brought voters out to the polls. Con- Rozell asked both managers whether voters” worried about crime. federate monuments, conversely, ranked very Trump’s victory last year changed their strat- Leavitt argued that the tactic was suc- low in people’s minds. egies. Komar said it did not change the cessful in that Gillespie won independent vot- The Democrats benefited from early Northam strategy. But the Gillespie campaign ers 50% to 49%, a statistic disputed by Komar. voting. While Republican absentee voting decided it had to make the election about lo- To not attack Northam on these issues, Leavitt went up, Leavitt acknowledged that their vot- cal Virginia issues and stay away from na- argued, would have been “political malprac- ers seem to resist early voting. tional controversy. tice.” Asked to give advice to the campaign Both men, right off the mark, indicated He characterized the ads as policy, rather manager for , a vulnerable they were quite surprised by the results of this than personal attack. He characterized the Northern Virginia Republican congress- year’s election. Northam’s manager indicated Northam campaign’s “ Ed” ad as a per- woman, Leavitt simply replied “Good luck!” he had no indication this would be a wave sonal attack, rather than a policy attack, and He did say that it was important for Republi- election until three days before Election Day. disputed that Gillespie had run a vitriolic cam- cans in Washington to actually achieve some- Democratic polling had consistently put paign and stated that he had no regrets about thing before the 2018 elections, or the Big Northam up by three to four points, but the the strategy. Blue Wave would come down on them, too. campaign assumed that a more conservative Hard feelings came to the fore over the electorate would show up at the polls, and so pro-Northam ad spon- downplayed that consistent lead in their expec- sored by the Latino Vot- tations and strategies. Thus, the margin of vic- ers Fund, which showed tory came as quite a surprise to the victor. Gillespie supporters in Similarly, Leavitt, speaking for the pickup trucks chasing Gillespie campaign, stated that on election Hispanic kids. Komar, night, the campaign thought the vote would speaking for the Northam be close, and they might pull off an upset. campaign, disavowed They were genuinely shocked at the result. having produced or au- They did not see the Blue Wave coming. “We thorized that controver- saw some signs, of course,… but we never sial ad, which was pulled saw it get to where it was.…We were at a place within a few days. This where this insurgence of votes was unstop- led to a Joe Wilson mo- pable.” ment, with a man identi- Rozell then quoted Trump’s post-elec- fied as the Gillespie digi- tion knife twisting tweet at Gillespie’s ex- tal campaign director pense. Should Gillespie have been more shouting out, “You lie,” Trumpesque? Komar said Trumpism without in the middle of the fo- AFTER ACTION — Brad Komar (right), campaign Trump was a disaster for the Republican Party. rum. Komar looked vis- manager for Ralph Northam, and Chris Leavitt (cen- Leavitt lamented that Gillespie was always ibly annoyed from that ter), campaign manager for Ed Gillespie, give their analyses at GMU. Mark Rozell (left) moderated. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 7

2017 result Dem percentage Here’s how it Open seats, all Republican held turned out in 63.0

49.7 RECOUNT the delegate

61.0 contests At left is the table we ran last month (a condensed version of it) showing the 22 races 52.7 Larry Sabato said should be watched, though he didn’t think Dems could take very many Seats with Republican incumbents of these seats. We have added a new column on the 51.9 right side of the table showing the outcomes in these races, color-coded. 54.4 In the end, Dems have kept the the three 53.7 X seats previously held but Dems but thought to be in doubt—and kept them all very eas- ily. They are the three at the bottom of the 52.4 table. We picked up 15 new seats, with one sub- ject to a recount, District 68, and we lost four 54.0 of these races, though three of them are close and subject to a recount. 58.5 Of all these 22 contests, Dems only lost one badly—if you consider 51.1 percent to 49.7 X RECOUNT 47.7 percent to be “badly.” That is District 100. But the two candidates there were seperated by 1,000 votes (exactly), so this con- 54.3 test is beyond recount range. In all but six of these 22 races, the Demo- 53.0 cratic candidate for the House of Delegates did better in percentage terms than Hillary 57.9 X Clinton last year. Those six are marked with an X. 50.4 X RECOUNT All in all, an amazing outcome. 51.5 There’s Hope 50.7 for breakfast 48.5 X RECOUNT The speaker for the Second Saturday Breakfast on December 9 will be Del. Patrick 47.7 X Hope. Patrick will talk about the state of the Seats with Democratic incumbents House of Delegates, the recount challenge and the new administration taking shape. 60.9 The breakfast will be from 8-10 a.m. at the Busboys and Poets in Shirlington. 61.7 And here’s early notification that the Second Saturday Breakfast in JANUARY will 60.0 be held on the FIRST Saturday of the month. That’s because Gov. Ralph Northam will be inaugurated on the steps of the state capitol in Richmond on the second Saturday. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 8 Turpin, Prokop close down their winery Democracy Vineyards, founded by Ar- lington Democrats Susan Prokop and Jim Turpin, who was ACDC chair in 2004-05, closed down after Thanksgiving because sales have not progressed as needed. “When we entered this, we thought we would give it 10 years, and we’re close to that point. Our overall traffic and sales just weren’t improving,” Turpin told The News & Advance of Lynchburg. “We’ve enjoyed it, and it’s been very positive. It’s been a learning expe- rience of things that worked and things that don’t work.” The 45-acre Democracy Vineyards was founded in 2007 and established in 2009, with its tasting room bringing in customers since 2012. “It was always our desire to offer a com- fortable, pleasant environment in which people could enjoy some good Virginia wine. We hope we provided a few good memories to those who took us up on that offer,” the RED OR WHITE — Jim Turpin and Susan Prokop pursued a pair said in a newsletter. dream with Democracy Vineyards for almost a decade. “While we are sad that Democracy Vine- yards is closing, we are happy for Susan and When the pair founded the vineyard and ily. Jim. The decision was a difficult one for them chose the property on Mountain Cove Road, Although Prokop and Turpin said they as they made many visitors and friends they thought it “was an ideal spot to site a made a few misjudgments regarding happy,” said Maureen Kelley, Nelson winery and tasting room, assuming it would winemaking, they said they don’t believe their County’s economic development and tourism attract a sufficient customer base to support wine was bad. director.’“We know that they will certainly the business,” according to the newsletter. “For years, we received many compli- enjoy their next adventure in life.” The pair also mentioned how the busi- ments about our wines and our fair share of Democracy Vineyards was Nelson ness tried to spread the word about Democ- wine competition awards. But friendly re- County’s 10th winery, making the county a racy Vineyards through several advertisement views and shiny medals mean little if they destination for wine-lovers, Kelley said. The avenues, including an aggressive wholesale don’t result in increased sales,” they said. vineyard produced eight different democracy- and festival schedule, print media, Facebook, Naming the business Democracy Vine- themed wines such as Declaration, Emanci- Groupon and Yelp. yards also might have played a role in why pation and Velvet Revolution. They also paid the state of Virginia $900 the business didn’t do as well, they said in “The true impact on the county is that per year for two small signs on U.S. 29 di- the announcement. As Prokop often said, we lose two amazing people who contributed recting travelers to the vineyard. “Democracy is about choices—in this case, much to our community and the Virginia wine But despite the numerous ways of let- white or red.” They chose the name because world,” Kelley said. ting people know about Democracy Vine- they’re “history buffs” and “thought it would Turpin and Prokop—known in Arling- yards, “tasting room visits and wine sales re- be fun to decorate the tasting room with our ton as Turkop—mentioned multiple reasons mained insufficient to sustain, let alone grow, collection of historic and international cam- for deciding to close the vineyard, including the business,” the pair said in their announce- paign stuff and play off that theme in our location, branding, decisions they made re- ment. name, Democracy,” they said. garding winemaking and promotional oppor- Instead of Prokop and Turpin making “It didn’t occur to us that some folks tunities not being sufficient to sustain or grow their own wines or having family or partners would have a negative reaction to that name the business. to depend on to “spread the work,” they hired until we encountered that repeatedly at wine Democracy Vineyards is off U.S. 29 on an in-house winemaker who left the business festivals and from comments by some cus- Mountain Cove Road, but many of the in 2016. The pair then attempted to contract tomers. By then, it was too late and too costly county’s other wineries, breweries and winemaking with little success. to re-brand,” they said. cideries developed in the western side of the “Without any children, siblings or inves- Democracy Vineyards will keep its county along Route 151. tors to impose upon, it was perhaps foolish to Facebook page up until its license expires in “We’ve enjoyed being in business here, think that two people could manage all the June, and it might host small events in the but we just never really got a local foothold. moving pieces that winemaking and selling spring, according to the announcement. We were too far from Charlottesville, and the business entails,” they said, adding another Jim, meanwhile, will return to his career Charlottesville people were going over to 151. challenge was one of them had to be 150 miles roots as a lobbyist in Richmond where he will We just never really got enough traffic to sus- away from the vineyard to work a full-time represent the Virginia Wine Council before tain the operation,” Turpin said. job that provided health insurance for the fam- the General Assembly. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 9 Farewell address from Jay Fisette Hello, fellow Democrats. It has been a Zimmerman, Bar- privilege and pleasure to serve our commu- bara Favola and the last nity as a member of the Arlington County holdout from the “old” Board for the last 20 years. And the Arling- Board, Al Eisenberg. While ton County Democratic Committee facilitated Al left 2 years later, there my uncommon journey and supported my ef- was great stability among the forts along the way. This is a short reflection Board, as we were later on my relationship with you and with Arling- joined by Charles Monroe, ton County, and my hopes for the future. Walter Tejada and then Mary I arrived in Arlington in 1983 Hynes. Now I am the last after finishing graduate school and failing to holdout from the “old” find an affordable apartment in DC. I did not Board having been joined by know a single Arlingtonian. I had never par- some fresh young(er) Demo- ticipated in partisan politics. While I cratic talent. studied political science and international af- I like politics. I love fairs, my personal political activity was governing. We have some- largely focused on arms control and on gay thing wonderful here. We and lesbian issues. Remember, this is when have a truly high-perform- the world was fearful that ing, good government. We might start a nuclear war and fearful of the are able to do what few lo- new AIDS epidemic. I volunteered with the calities can: effective long- Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance to help add term planning. We have a Jay in 1997 Jay in 2017 to the proposed human common vision, active civic rights ordinance. engagement, we partner and While I had studied political science, I leverage, we adopt plans and then we imple- back and gave me the support that I used to do never thought it was realistic for a gay man ment, monitor and refresh those plans. This my job better – to not to be afraid or timid. to be elected to office. After buying our home smart, good government tradition began with I believe the future of ACDC and the in 1987 and meeting lots of people through some amazing Democratic leaders that I have future of our community are intertwined. my job as the director of the Whitman-Walker had the privilege to know and upon whose Both must continue to inspire Clinic of Northern Virginia, I began to be- shoulders much was built, like Joe Wholey, and aspire. Aspiring gives hope. We should come more connected to the community. It Tom Richards, Ellen Bozman, Mary Marga- never accept less from ourselves or our became clear that Arlington’s values were my ret Whipple, John Milliken, Bill Newman and leaders. Our ability to think big in spirit and values. With encouragement from Adam Jim Hunter. deed has distinguished us and should Ebbin, in 1993 I ran for the County Board seat While there are many projects and plans still. Arlington should continue to play an being vacated by Bill Newman – soon to be a that I am proud to have championed – such outsized role in our region and to advance judge. At my first ACDC meeting at the Lyon as the Community Energy Plan, cutting edge, progressive policies and ACDC Park Community Center, I was a candidate Capital Bikeshare and Walking Town Meet- should continue to lead the transformation of participating in a candidate forum. ings – the largest responsibility and satisfac- Virginia from a red state to a blue state. Arlington Democrats welcomed me - tion has come from helping to manage and As Washington continues to slip and just as we welcome every one. I was an un- guide the overall transformation of our com- slide, Arlington will be called upon to fill the known and I was treated fairly and with re- munity. Change is hard, and we have seen a void, keep the faith, and lead the way forward. spect. A month later, I won a competitive lot of it. While I see climate change as the #1 moral firehouse primary and was the Democratic Today’s Arlington is successful by any imperative of our world, I view housing nominee (only to lose in the special election measure – winning awards and boasting an affordability as the #1 moral imperative fac- by 206 votes). 89 percent citizen satisfaction rate – 32 points ing our community. We must continue to I got involved in ACDC, I ran again in higher than the national average. We excel in value the common good, not individual greed, 1997, won a primary and the general election, our core services – schools, public safety and and to exude pride in our welcoming tradi- and took my seat in 1998 – the first openly transportation. And what makes Arlington is tion and our embrace of others’ differences. gay person elected to any office in that we go beyond the core services to express Life is full of surprises. Luck is when Virginia. I’ll never forget the intensity and our values with strong human services, men- preparation meets opportunity. I will forever passion of that campaign team. My house was tal health programs, environmental protec- be grateful for my luck in finding ACDC and campaign central with the walls adorned with tions, parks and trails, libraries, the arts and to the volunteers who shared their time and flip charts and phone banks running. My non- more. We have created a complete commu- talents on my campaigns, for your advice and political parents came to live with us, nity that works – so please remember to say counsel, and for the lasting friendships that fed many, and walked door-to-door sporting “thank you” to our talented county staff when Bob and I have established with many of you. their buttons “Jay’s Mom” and “Jay’s Dad.” you see them. We feel very fortunate to have landed here in They were adopted and adored by many Ar- The trust that you placed in me gave me Arlington and, if I have my way, Arlington lington Dems. the ability to focus on our community and to will remain our home until we both stop I joined Paul Ferguson, Chris do the hard work of governing. ACDC had my breathing. Thank you all for what you do. ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 10 Jeb Stuart, The Donald worked agin GOP continued from page three shadow that Donald Trump cast over the elec- won gubernatorial races by four points, six tion,” Kidd said. “That explains in my mind points and two points. Northam’s win, in questions there’s some policies coming out probably 300,000 to 325,000 voters that may other words, was a blowout. His nine-point of Washington that are concerning to Virgin- not have shown up yesterday to vote had it margin was larger than ’s five- ians. I think … Virginia sent [a message] not not been“for them being energized by the point win last year. That is all further evi- only to this country but to this world that the 2016 election.” dence that Trump is pushing voters away from divisiveness, the hatred, the bigotry, the poli- Some 367,000 more voters went to the the GOP in Virginia—and quite likely nation- tics that is tearing this country apart – that’s polls this year than in 2013. ally. not the of America that people Not all of the new voters were Demo- The results also show a growing geo- love.” crats, Kidd said. “Let’s be clear: Republicans graphic polarization. Four years ago, there Democratic Party leaders, some Repub- turned out their votes. Ed Gillespie got more were 368 precincts in the state where the licans and other experts pointed out that the votes than did [in 2013]. It Democratic candidate for governor won by Democrats had established a strong ground wasn’t that Republicans didn’t show up, it’s 40 points or more. This year that grew to 511 game, done considerable advance research at that Democrats showed up in overwhelming precincts. the legislative district level, and were able to numbers.” As for the GOP, four years ago 359 pre- draw candidates to run in most of the 100 leg- Democratic candidates won in 49 of the cincts gave its candidate a 40-point or greater islative races. All those factors were key parts 100 House of Delegate districts. Northam lead. This year that grew to 512. of their success, party officials said. won in 58—a key statistic missed by many Gillespie won 91 of the state’s 133 lo- But those efforts might not have worked and showing there are still many potential calities; that’s just over two-thirds. But of the if there hadn’t been the visceral reaction by Democratic votes to be mined in legislative top 10 in population, he didn’t even win one. many Democrats—first to Trump’s election races. He only lost Chesterfield County outside a year ago, and then to his tweets and actions Northam’s nine-point margin of victory Richmond by a slight margin. But that loss since entering the White House, said Kidd. was the largest by a Democrat since 1985 has Republicans benumbed. A Democratic “You can’t explain what happened with- when captured the governor’s gubernatorial candidate last won in Chester- out starting with the backdrop that is the long mansion. Since 2000, other Democrats have continued on page 12 ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 11 Split precincts cause splitting headache continued from page one aries. For example, Arlington had three splits precincts in 2011, but has only one now (27 Jefferson). Statewide, there are still 140 split precincts, or 5.5 percent of the state’s 2,566 precincts. Many states forbid split precincts, but Virginia has not done that. Precincts are sometimes split to help an office-holder. But other times it is done just to help the mapmakers achieve a more math- ematically exact division of the state into dis- tricts of equal population. This isn’t the first time a split precinct problem has erupted in Virginia. Five years ago, it turned out that about 200 voters in Spotsylvania were given the wrong ballot for the US House of Representatives. But nei- ther of those races was close, so that error drew little attention. THE PESKY PRECINCT The issue only surfaced this year because IN FREDERICKSBURG a number of voters who knew the district they lived in complained that they had been given the wrong ballot. But for them, no one would have known what happened. pay for a recount. Another part of the pre- ing to do with; In the November election, Democratic cinct lies in Delegate District 88 where in- The three-member state Board of Elec- candidates for the House of Delegates won cumbent Republican Del. just won tions—two Democrats and one Republican— 54.6 percent of the ballots cast for the two re-election handily with a margin of 4,100 unanimously certified the count in the 28th major parties around the state, but jut 49 per- votes. Irony of note: Mark Cole chairs the District after consulting with the Attorney cent of the seats, in a testament to the power House Elections Committee. General’s Office and concluding that the of gerrymandering to counter the will of the Virginia Elections Commissioner Board cannot do anything to remedy all the voters. Edgardo Cortes has released a memo saying problems in the 28th District. By certifying Split precincts don’t counter the will of a total of 386 registered voters in the results, candidate Joshua Cole can “con- voters, but they make it harder to accurately Fredericksburg and adjoining Stafford County test” the election, which means asking the determine that will. In a split precinct, elec- had been assigned to the wrong House dis- General Assembly to act, or go to court and tion staffers must have two ballots on hand tricts. At least 147 of them actually cast bal- ask a judge to act. A judge can order a new and must be certain to give the correct ballot lots, he wrote. election. to each voter. At least 86 voters in the 28th District er- Three other close delegate elections have But an additional problem emerged in roneously got ballots for the 2nd District— been appealed by losing candidates and will November—errors in assigning the voters to which includes parts of Stafford—or the 88th see a recount in December. They are: the correct delegate district in a two-district District, Cortes said. And at least 61 voters in • In the 40th District in Fairfax and Prince precinct. the 88th District incorrectly cast ballots in the Williams counties, Republican Del. Timothy Further adding to this mix of confusion, 28th District. (Note the qualifier “at least.”) Hugo holds a 106-vote lead over Democrat in the precinct where this has come to the fore, Mathematically, that could change Dante Tanner. both districts in the precinct had candidates Joshua Cole from the losing candidate into a • In the 94th District in Newport News, named Cole. A person who wanted to vote delegate. Republican Del. David Yancey holds a mere for Democrat Cole may have been given the That count, however, does not include 10-vote lead over Democrat . wrong ballot and voted for Republican Cole voters who were assigned correctly but who • In the 68th District in Richmond and its without ever noticing the error. And, it needs were given the wrong ballot. No one can suburbs, Republican Del. Manoli Loupassi to be noted, the opposite could have occurred, know that number. lost by 336 votes to Democrat Dawn Adams where a supporter of Republican Cole voted Cortes previously attributed the wrongly and had already conceded. But he has now for Democrat Cole without noticing. assigned voters to a mistake last year by then- filed for a recount. The precinct in question, shown in the Fredericksburg Registrar Juanita Pitchford, The paper filings set off a process that accompanying map, lies in Fredericksburg. who would likely have become the scapegoat usually takes weeks. The recount court is Part of it is in Delegate District 28 where of this mess but for the fact that she died last comprised of the chief judge of the Circuit Democrat Joshua Cole has just lost by 82 April. Furthermore, the most recent Cortez Court where the recount paperwork is filed votes. Since that margin is less than one-half memo pointed to problems assigning voters plus two judges appointed by the chief jus- of 1 percent of the votes cast, the state will in Stafford County, which Pitchford had noth- continued on next page ACDC Voice, December 2017, Page 12 Split precincts continued from previous page tice of Virginia. Democrats need to pick up one seat to produce a 50-50 tie in the House of Delegates and force some sort of shared power agree- ment. A pickup of two would mean a one- seat Democratic majority. There is also another option. Back in 1997, the elections produced a tied Senate at 20-20 and a one-seat Democratic majority in the House. Gov. elect , a Repub- lican, was moved to name a Democratic sena- tor and a Democratic delegate to state jobs. Special elections were won by Republicans, changing the complexion of the General As- sembly. Two weeks before this year’s election. The view from the trenches Gov. Terry McAuliffe predicted that Del. David Toscano, the Democratic He told Democrats had Democrats’would pick up six to eight seats leader in the House of Delegates, says the three key factors working in their favor — in the House of Delegates, well short of the party won big in Virginia because of voter motivated voters; early vote consolidation; 17 needed to take control. As of now, Dems enthusiasm. and unique candidates. have picked up 15—and counting. “We saw tremendous energy coming out “We really boiled this down to the val- And there are still another 139 split pre- of various districts,” Toscano said in a call ues,” Ulibarri said of the delegate candidates’ cincts in Virginia that have not been checked. with reporters. “We found that the enthusi- platforms, adding that door-knocking and asm we had was unprecedented.” voter-outreach efforts were centered on each But Toscano admitted that he didn’t see candidate’s unique platform. Guv wins big a wave of this magnitude coming. “Few He said they started surveys in Northern people predicted the degree of this wave,” he Virginia and Southside, and then began look- continued from page ten said. ing at each individual district, allowing can- field in 1961, when there wasn’t a serious Re- Magazine ran a long didates to build platforms specific to the dis- publican Party in Virginia. As soon as Vir- article in its November 12 issue focusing on trict in which they were running. ginia got a Republican Party up and going, that point of enthusiasm. What it saw was Democratic National Committee Chair- Chesterfield went with it and stuck with it. overwhelming enthusiasm by Democratic man Tom Perez said Democrats represent san- Four years ago, Terry McAuliffe lost volunteers. The article was about the 32nd ity in the age of President Trump. Chesterfield by 8,000 votes. Last year, Hillary House of Delegates District in Loudoun “People are so sick of these ti- Clinton lost it by 4,000 votes. This year, County where Democrat David Reid ousted rades. They want leaders they can be proud Northam won it by 700 votes. Not a big mar- incumbent Republican Tag Greason. It starts of. And that’s why people like gin. But a big psychological blow for the with campaign manager Kathryn Sorenson [in ] and Ralph Northam were able GOP, which has seen a demographic shift over walking into last February’s meeting of the to win — because they’re sane,” Perez said the decades, first inside the Beltway in places Loudoun County Democratic Committee to on MSNBC. like Arlington, then outside the Beltway and speak to the three dozen regulars—but find- But many Democrats say what motivated now in the Richmond suburbs. ing the place jammed with 300 people. voters in Virginia was more complicated than There are three vote-rich regions in Vir- She had volunteers from all over just a reaction against Trump. ginia. Loudoun, but also from Arlington and from “It’s not just the backlash against Trump In Northern Virginia—Arlington, Alex- across the river in Maryland. This was just a from last year. It’s also the policy agenda that andria, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Fairfax week after Trump was inaugurated and people Republicans and President Trump have been City, Prince William County, Manassas and were pumped. And they stayed pumped up. pursuing in the Congress. Trying to roll back Manassas Park—Northam won by a margin She said the word was working its way through access to affordable health care for millions of 280,252, more than double McAuliffe’s Democratic groups all over the country that of Americans, and I predict this tax debate is margin of 136,537. Virginia was THE PLACE where the action actually going to be really hard on Republi- In the capital region—Richmond city, was this year, where the opportunity would be cans,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Henrico County, Chesterfield County and found to send a message to Donald Trump at Democrat, said on . Hanover County—Northam won by 59,677 the ballot box. She said she even had volun- An exit poll taken Election Day listed votes, more than double McAuliffe’s margin teers from California come into that district. five issues and asked voters which one mat- of 25,841. “There’s just this huge energy,” Sorenson tered most to them in choosing their gover- In the six big cities of Hampton Roads— told The Times, “with people saying, ‘We want nor. Health care was the overwhelming first Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, New- to do something right now; we want to effect choice at 39 percent with the other issues trail- port News, Portsmouth and Hampton— change in this election’.” ing—gun policy with 17 percent, taxes with Northam won by 88,909, not quite doubling Democratic pollster Josh Ulibarri of 15 percent, immigration with 12 percent and McAuliffe’s margin of 55.643. Lake Research saw it only slightly differently. abortion with 8 percent.