Vol. 39, No. 12 www.arlingtondemocrats.org December 2014 Warner wins due to huge Arlington voter margin Sen. won re-election to a sec- ond term in the fall election—but by a stunningly close margin statewide. It was so close that once again it was only the turnout by Arlington Demo- crats that provided the margin of victory. It was the fourth time in the last quarter-cen- Don’t take tury that a Democrat won election to a state- wide post with the Arlington electorate providing lished polls had showed him in trouble. Although a nap yet! the entire margin for that victory. his margin shrank as the election got closer, the The accompanying table shows those elections. worst poll—and the last one published before the There’s another In that quarter-century, Virginia has held 37 election—had him up by seven points. campaign for the statewide elections for senator, governor, lieuten- In the end, he won by only 0.81 percentage ant governor and attorney general. In four of these points. Warner did not get a majority because of House of Delegates elections—more than 10 percent of the total—the the third party candidate, libertarian Robert Sarvis. underway right next Democratic candidate has won statewide only be- The result was 49.15 percent for Warner, 48.34 per- door to Arlington. cause of the huge margin provided by Arlington cent for Republican , 2.43 percent for voters. Sarvis and 0.08 percent write-ins. See Page Three The outcome once again underscored the im- It appeared that the Warner campaign sensed portance of turning out a large Democratic major- trouble brewing, as the senator poured an unusu- ity in Arlington even when there is no question of a ally large amount of money into television spots the Democratic victory in the county. Arlington’s votes last two weeks of the campaign. That may have are needed to counter the GOP majority in many spelled the difference between victory and defeat. counties to the south. Nationally, Democrats lost all but one of the Warner’s narrow victory was a shock. No pub- Senate races considered closely fought. Beyer cruises to easy victory Don Beyer easily won elec- precincts in the district, Beyer The GOP tion to his first term in the US won all but three—all of them in House of Representatives in a Fairfax County. convincing landslide. In Arlington County, Beyer is up to Beyer won 63.08 percent of even won the often-GOP Madison the vote in the Eighth Congres- precinct, pulling down 57 percent new she- sional District. That was only of the vote there. That is normally, 1.51 percentage points less than the worst precinct for Democrats Jim Moran won two years ago. in Arlington. But in this race, nanigans! The 2012 election was the only Beyer’s lowest count in Arlington other election in the Eighth Dis- was in Crystal Plaza precinct, Another idea for trict with the same boundaries as which is Crystal City, where he got screwing the voters. now. 55 percent of the vote. The Eighth District encom- See Page Six passes all of Arlington, Alexan- DON BEYER dria and Falls Church plus parts of Fairfax County. Of the 163 . . . congressman-elect ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 2

Report from Chairman Kip Malinosky Democratic messaging matters President Obama said after the 2014 Nationally, the President’s low approval rat- able to afford to live here much longer, they election, “Republicans had a good night.” ing, stagnating wages and salaries, and the worry about school overcrowding, and they Here in Arlington, the results were mixed. We effects of sequestration combined to create a want to see their tax dollars used effectively. reelected Senator Mark Warner, but he sig- very challenging environment. But since John Vihstadt skillfully linked all of these nificantly underperformed both in Arlington President Obama took office, we have cre- concerns into a negative, repetitive narrative and around the commonwealth. Still ated more than 10 million jobs, we have pro- about the County Board that unfortunately Arlingtonians can be proud that our 28,000- vided more than 14 million people affordable resonated with the electorate. vote margin was critical in a race where health care, and we have made great strides Now we need to focus on the path for- Warner won the entire state by fewer than in protecting the environment. And yet the ward in three critical areas: 1) Party unity, 2) 18,000 votes. We easily elected Ambassador only time many Democratic candidates men- Democratic values, and 3) Expanding party Don Beyer to Congress. We easily elected tioned Obama on the campaign trail was to outreach. We need to bring back regular Barbara Kanninen to the School Board. How- run away from him. As President Clinton Democratic voters who didn’t vote for us this ever, we lost the County Board race despite a wrote four years ago in his book, Back to time, and we must ensure that our Democratic good candidate and campaign with Alan Work, “The failure to counter the GOP na- elected officials and committee members Howze. Why? And where do we go from tional campaign with an equally good one work together to address voters’ concerns. here? costs the Democrats.” We must do better. Second, we must better articulate our Demo- When I became chair, I stated, “As Here in Arlington, Democratic leader- cratic values. We have to tell people what we Democrats the issues that divide us are smaller ship has also brought great dividends. Arling- stand for and define choices early and often. than the values that unite us.” I still believe ton is a wonderful place to live: Jobs are plen- Third, we must aggressively reach out to all that is true. We win when we work together tiful; crime is rare; and schools are great. But those who didn’t vote and give them a com- and make the case for Democratic gover- this year it was not enough to run on a mes- pelling reason to support our candidates. nance. We lose when we don’t. And this year, sage of continuity. While voters like living in The Democratic Party is and must al- both nationally and locally, we entered this Arlington and overwhelmingly supported our ways be a place where people of good will election disunited and without a disciplined school, parks, and transportation bonds, many and diverse perspectives can come together message that spoke to voters’ concerns. also feel they lack a meaningful voice in our to elect candidates who will make our com- To be sure, the winds were against us. community. They worry that they won’t be munity stronger. While these are challenging times, our future is still bright. If working to- gether as Democrats, we can make Arlington an even better community. The holidays are a Jerry Botland good time to relax and reflect, but then we should get back to work. Computer Consulting Troubleshoot and resolve computer and Democratic Values in Action computer related problems. Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. Transfer old files, address book and emails Call for cereal from an old computer to a new one. The cereal drive is doing better this 350 Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] year, but we still have a way to go to meet the goal of 350 boxes by year’s end. As of Thanksgiving, we were at 278 278 boxes or 80 percent of the annual goal with 90 percent of the year complete. That’s bet- Published monthly by the ter than usual at this time of year—when Arlington County Democratic Committee the campaigns have focused attention else- where and caused an autumn fall in serial 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite #604, Arlington VA 22202 giving of cereal. Mailing address: P.O. Box 7132, Arlington VA 22207 So, remember to bring boxes of cereal Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 to our monthly meeting in December or to http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org the AYD meeting or any other ACDC event. Chair: Kip Malinosky — [email protected] And if you forget to bring a box, there’s a Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] jar available where you can plunk down Deputy Editor: Eric Wiener — (703) 524-6899 (h), [email protected] some cash toward the cause. Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC All the cereal goes to the Arlington unless expressly approved by an appropriate committee resolution Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to help the Copyright ©2014, ACDC, All Rights Reserved less fortunate. ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 3

Surprise— Next Monthly Meeting All Dems Invited There’s a Wednesday, December 3, at 6 p.m. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd campaign Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street It’s the Democratic Party—and that means we on right now know how to Party! This month’s meeting will be light Yes, there’s another election coming up on party business and heavy on holiday partying—and in just a few weeks. No, we’re not kidding. The election is not in Arlington, but just will start at 6 p.m. There will be lots of nibbles and adjacent to it, to the north. plenty of time to circulate among fellow Dems, reflect It’s a seat in the House of Delegates that on 2014 politics and look ahead to the new year. is being vacated by Republican Barbara Comstock, who won the race to succeed Frank And a reminder: the holiday party is potluck, Wolf in Congress. so bring your favorite holiday snacks and share them Her district starts where the George with your Democratic family. Dips, brownies, cookies. Washington Parkway leaves Arlington and extends up the Potomac River through Fairfax You name it. Dig out that old family recipe for holiday County and into Loudoun County. goodies that granny brought from the old country. This is one of the few delegate districts in the state that hasn’t been gerrymandered to eliminate any mystery and any competition. In 2013, Comstock won the district by all of 422 votes. Our near winner then was help may contact the campaign by emailing of four and lives in McLean with her hus- Kathleen Murphy—and she is our candidate [email protected]. band, Bill Sudow. again in the special election to replace Murphy is president of Johnson Murphy In a three-page platform, Murphy calls Comstock on January 6. and Associates, a consulting firm based in for “reasonable” gun regulations and explains Murphy will face GOP nominee Craig McLean that helps companies and non-prof- her position in personal terms. “I lost my Parisot who won a GOP firehouse primary its build legislative strategies. Previously, she brother to gun violence,” she wrote. “Two November 15. worked on international trade issues at the gunmen robbed and murdered him. He was Dems are far from a majority in the Commerce Department and handled congres- the father of five young children.” House of Delegates. With computer gerry- sional affairs at the Agency for International Murphy said she wants to close the “gun mandering, the GOP has got a two-thirds Development (AID) during the Clinton Ad- show loophole” through which people can majority. But the Murphy campaign is a great ministration. She also worked on the Hill for buy guns from private gun sellers without a place to start clawing our way back. Rep. Charlie Wilson of . She is a gradu- background check. Any Arlington Dems who would like to ate of The American University and a mother

Bumper Sticker of the Month

Kathleen Murphy ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 4 Lopez named Donkey Ears to run 2015 Listening to the doings of Arlington’s Dems campaign as overheard by House Democratic Leader David Dan Steen and Mädi Green Toscano has appointed Delegate Alfonso Lopez of Arlington as the Campaign and Po- litical Chair of the House Democratic Cau- Count ‘em, Two new jobs: Rip Sullivan, our new delegate from northern Arlington cus for the upcoming 2015 election cycle. and adjoining parts of Fairfax County, has now joined the Arlington law firm of Next year the entire General Assembly will be up for reelection. In the 100-member Bean, Kinney & Korman. A graduate of Amherst College and the UVa School of House of Delegates, the GOP had a two-thirds Law, Rip has nearly 30 years of experience as a civil litigator. majority, 68-32, largely as a result of severe Straws in the wind: Brian Straw was active in Arlington Dems until he headed off to gerrymandering. Thus Lopez faces a major the Midwest to attend law school at the University of Michigan. He’s graduated challenge as Democrats fight to win in those now. And he and wife Shannon, formerly of the Kitchen Crew, have moved to districts that remain competitive. Chicago where Brian has joined the law firm of Greenberg Traurig and the couple “I am honored that the House Demo- has just welcomed a new family addition, Short Straw, aka David Michael Straw. cratic leadership has chosen me to help lead Ferguson gets award: The Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) has named our efforts to elect more Democrats to the Clerk of Court Paul Ferguson to receive its 2014 Equality Award. The award House of Delegates,” said Lopez. “Virginians cited Ferguson’s long support for gay marriage rights. It notes that under state law deserve to have a House of Delegates that Ferguson could not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples until recently but truly reflects their values and priorities. showed his support by welcoming same sex couples to his office and personally “Unfortunately, from transportation and accepting their applications to hold until the law changed—as it now has. transit to the environment to education to Time for high schoolers to confer: John Dominguez, the president of the choice to health care and economic develop- Yorktown High Young Dems is trying to revive an event last held four years ment – far too often the Republican ago—a conference of high school young Dems from all 13 jurisdictions in supermajority in the House fails to represent Northern Virginia. He’s out collecting donations now to try to materialize the mainstream Virginians. We simply cannot af- conference. ford two more years of a veto-proof Republi- Under 40 leaders: Several Dem activists have been among 40 Under 40 named by can majority in the House of Delegates.” Leadership Arlington. It recognizes young Arlingtonians who have demonstrated Toscano said, “Throughout his first two exceptional leadership in the metropolitan area. The Dems named include Paul terms as a member of the House of Delegates, Holland of Marstel-Day LLC and Andrew Schneider of the College of William Delegate Lopez has shown extraordinary lead- & Mary, both of whom ran in the instant primary to succeed Bob Brink, Kim ership, passion, and a tireless work ethic that Klingler of ASCO, who chairs ACDC’s Democratic Values in Action, Terron will serve him well as the new Campaign and Sims of Doug Pollard LLC and member of the 8th Congressional District Demo- Political Chair for cratic Committee, Krysta Jones of the staff of Rep. Jim Moran, and Ginger the House Demo- Brown, who organized the 2013 Golden Gala. cratic Caucus. I look forward to Volunteers volunteers: Stephanie Dix Clifford, who volunteers for everything working with him when not cooking up delish desserts, has been named to the county’s Volunteer to strengthen and Arlington Advisory Task Force, which helps promote volunteering in the county grow our caucus but doesn’t do delish desserts. for many years to Aloha, oi! It’s different way out in Hawaii. Society there has recently integrated come.” many Hawaiian words into everyday life, which sometimes makes it hard to Lopez is a understand a Hawaiian. The government has even changed the spelling of the partner in the firm state name to Hawai’i. One result of all these changes is that those usual email of Hoffman appeals from candidates for funds can leave you headscratching. They begin as Lopez, LLC, usual, but then.... Here’s an appeal Donkey Ears got recently from Congress- which conducts woman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu in the US House of Representatives and federal public af- best surfer. She was seeking funds for David Ige, the Democratic candidate for fairs, advocacy governor and said, “David is committed to fighting for our shared values: growing and consulting our economy and creating jobs on every island to give our families a fair shot at work on behalf of getting ahead, investing in our schools and our students to grow the next genera- clients across the tion of talent, caring for our kupuna and protecting our ‘aina.” Boy, do we need a United States. governor to protect our ‘aina. Translation next month. LOPEZ ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 5 Arlington Dem loses nomination in Wales In Arlington Dems’ “long-distance elec- was the leader of the Labor Party from 1983 tion” held in Swansea, Wales, Arlington Dem to 1992. Sonia Klein lost the Labor Party nominating Kinnock said he backed Klein for her vote for a seat in the House of Commons. “down to earth” approach, “strong practical Klein was working hard in Arlington as abilities” and “passion for justice [that] will vice chair of Precinct Operations when the ensure she gives unstinting local, personal incumbent announced her retirement and services to the constituency.” Klein filed to seek the nomination. In the end, however, the nomination was She rushed to Swansea for 47 days of won by Carolyn Harris, who is Welsh and a campaigning before the balloting on October Swansea native and had worked years on the 25. Two days later, she was back in Arling- staff of the retiring Member of Parliament, ton working the phones non-stop to get out Sian James. the vote on November 4. She spent that last The nominating electorate in Britain is week recruiting volunteers to fill vacant poll confined to dues-paying members of the lo- greeter slots and then staffed Headquarters on cal constituency party, which is this case was Election Day and made flushing calls. about 250 Swansea residents. Four years ago, London-born Klein won Like those Americans described as bi- the Labor Party nomination for a seat in East coastal, Klein is equally at home with widely CONSTITUENCY — Swansea London, but lost in the general election in the separated residences on opposite sides of the East is the red spot in the far worst result nationally for the Labor Party in Big Pond. She was born in East London, the south of Wales. 100 years. first child of Pakistani immigrants. She Britain has no rule about being a resi- worked in banking in London after college, dents were forced to sit in the adjacent park dent of a constituency, and she was ap- then came to George Washington University where some were harassed by passersby. “We proached in September by friends to run for in 1996 to earn an MBA. organized the sit-in and the headmistress hit the open seat in East Swansea in South Wales. Politically active since age 15 in Brit- the roof, suspending all of us,” Klein recalled. The region is known as one of the most-de- ain, she became equally fascinated by poli- “This was overturned when the press found prived areas of the UK with huge challenges tics in the United States and worked for the out what was going on! The next day, the head from unemployment and drugs. Bill Clinton campaign in 1996 in South Caro- apologized for her behavior. She said she had The party reserved that seat for a woman lina. a toothache.” and six candidates filed. Klein was endorsed There she met and married Michael The turning point for her political aware- by Neil Kinnock, a former Welsh MP who Klein, a West Point graduate, Airborne Ranger ness, Klein said, was at age 15 when she spent and veteran of the first Gulf War. a month in Pakistan with her father. “For the They have splashed back and forth first time, I really noticed poverty, hardship, across the Pond and have two children, both

struggle and also witnessed ambition, aspira- hoto born in London. Jasmine, 12, attends tion and tenacity,” she said. “I was never the

Williamsburg Middle School and Adam, 7, cou same after that visit. I never took anything attends Arlington Science Focus. All family

for granted after this.” tesy members are dual citizens. Explaining her outlook, she said, “I’m a The family moved from London to Ar-

businesswoman with a socialist heart.” ic lington early this year to help support Sonia’s In an interview in Britain for her W brother-in-law, Capt. Eddie Klein, who lost iene Swansea campaign, she said, “My experi- three limbs in Afghanistan to a roadside bomb. ences have guided my politics. I believe that She hasn’t given up her hopes for a seat the state supporting people is not just a moral in the House of Commons and continues to objective, it makes fiscal sense for the coun- have support from leaders in the Labor Party. try. We must translate that to the Right. I also The next national parliamentary election is ex- believe that to support the provision of pub- pected this coming May and constituencies lic services we must build an economy to sus- all across the country will be selecting their tain the cost, and we must translate this to the nominees in the coming months. Left. The end goal of public policy should be Her first political act was marching with a better life and better future for every citi- her parents at age seven in a demonstration in zen.” London. But she soon moved beyond march- ing. In 12th grade, she organized a school sit-in to protest a new rule requiring students to leave school at lunchtime due to lack of SONIA KLEIN funds to pay for lunchtime supervision. . . . campaigning It was an all-girls school and many stu- ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 6 GOP trying yet another voting gimmick In recent years, the GOP across the coun- of the vote in 2012 and won all 16 electoral for making changes — the current system try has tried to depress voter turnout by mak- votes. Under the proposed bill, Mitt Romney doesn’t serve Michigan well, Saul Anuzis, a ing voting more burdensome, chiefly by re- would have won an outright majority—nine former chairman of the Michigan Republican ducing voting hours and raising the identifi- of the 16 electoral votes. Party, told the Detroit Free Press. The state cation requirement. Now it’s got a new tool As a result of the outcry against that, the gets mostly ignored in presidential elections up its sleeve. sponsor has proposed a new bill, which was because Republicans haven’t won there since The latest gimmick is designed prima- heard before a committee in November. This 1988, he said. But that’s not true. Michigan rily for those states that produce a Demo- bill would give the presidential candidate win- has been rated a battleground state in many cratic majority in presidential elections but ning the popular vote statewide nine electoral recent presidential elections and was gener- are now controlled by GOP-majority legis- votes (half plus one) and then an additional ally considered a battleground in 2012 until latures and a GOP governor. In some of those electoral vote for each 1.5 percentage points late in the campaign. states, the GOP is moving to change the way above 50 percent of the popular vote. What- Only two states currently divide up their Electoral College votes are awarded, from a ever was left over would go to the number electoral votes. Since 1972 Maine, which has “winner-take-all” system to one that splits two candidate. Only the two top candidates four electoral votes, and since 1996 Nebraska, the votes based on the proportion of the could get any electoral votes, so a major third which has five, have split their electoral votes popular vote. party candidate—which happens about once by congressional district with the two other Proposals to change the Electoral College a generation in the US—would be shut out. electoral votes going to the statewide winner. system have been raised in at least four states— Under that system, in 2012 Obama Only once—in 2008 in Nebraska—has either Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, all of would have received 11 electoral votes to five state’s electoral tally actually been split. which have voted Democratic in the last six for Romney rather than all 16. Another 11 states, with 165 electoral presidential elections, and Ohio, which has These proposals are “a blatant power votes, have backed what’s called the National gone Democratic in four of the last six. grab by national Republicans to rig the game Popular Vote compact, which would preserve There was also discussion of such legis- for the presidency,” said Scott Foval, regional the Electoral College system, but assure the lation in Virginia last year, before the GOP political coordinator for People for the Ameri- presidency is won by the candidate who re- lost the governor’s mansion. Virginia has can Way. ceives the most votes nationwide on Election voted Democratic in the last two presidential Republican National Committee (RNC) Day. elections, but before then you had to go back Chairman Reince Priebus told the Milwaukee The compact would take effect only to 1964 to find a Democratic presidential Journal Sentinel in January 2013 that legis- when enacted in identical form by states nominee winning. In the last four years, all lation to split Electoral College votes is possessing a majority of the membership of six Virginia statewide elections—president, “something that a lot of states that have been the Electoral College (that is, 270 of 538 two Senate races, governor, lieutenant gover- consistently blue, that are fully controlled red, electoral votes). Under the compact, all the nor and attorney general—have gone Demo- ought to be looking at.” members of the Electoral College from all cratic. The GOP controls the majority in the The change would benefit Republicans, states belonging to the compact would be State Senate, House of Delegates and congres- but there are reasons other than partisan ones from the same political party as the winner sional delegation, all of which are subject to of the nationwide popular vote. Because the gerrymandering. compact guarantees a majority of the Elec- In the Electoral College, each state has toral College to the popular vote winner, the as many votes as it has seats in Congress— compact has the additional effect of elimi- one for each congressional district and two nating the possibility that a presidential for its senators. This formula was designed election might be thrown into the U.S. to boost the influence of the least populous House of Representatives (with each state states. Delaware, which gets just one con- casting one vote). gressman, has three electoral votes. Many people conclude that the Michi- Bills to divvy up the Electoral College gan-Pennsylvania GOP idea is based more on vote are now before the legislatures in Penn- dreams than rational analysis, since there sylvania and Michigan. aren’t that many states where the GOP con- In both those states, the bills first intro- trols state government but the states normally duced would have divvied up the electoral vote Dem for president. vote by congressional district, giving each But Anuzis says he’s checked and found district’s electoral vote to the presidential can- there are no states with legislatures controlled didate who won there and the state’s remain- by Democrats that tend to vote Republican in ing two electoral votes to whomever won presidential elections—so the proposal being statewide. But that was too obvious a power propounded might only have a marginal im- grab. The GOP legislatures in those states pact, but that marginal tilt would all be to the have so gerrymandered the districts that this GOP. plan would have reversed the outcome of the Foval of the People for the American 2012 presidential race in those states. For ex- REINCE PRIEBUS Way calls the Republican effort “a direct af- ample, in Michigan, Obama won 54 percent . . . encourages shenanigans front to democracy.” ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 7 Streetcar derails CB campaign In Arlington Democrats’ solitary defeat this There was a much larger turnout. In fact, the fall, Alan Howze was unable to win back for the fall turnout was almost triple that for the special elec- party the County Board seat John Vihstadt had tion. won in the April special election. April turnout 22,223 Special elections, with low voter turnout, are Nov turnout 62,751 always the bane of Arlington Democrats. It had But the result in percentage terms was almost been hoped that with a larger fall turnout the re- the same, with Vihstadt dropping only 1.25 percent- sults would be reversed. But that did not hap- age points from April to November. ALAN pen. continued on next page HOWZE

PARTY BOSSES — Six years of Arlington YD presidents got together at the November meeting that saw the election of a new slate of officers. Here they are, from left: Max Burns (2014), Gordon Simonette (2010), Jamie Lockhart (2011), Lauren Hall (2012 & 2013) and Matthew Brown (2015) AYDs pick their 2015 leadership The Arlington Young Democrats elected can buy tickets at https://secure.actblue.com/ making plans for next year, but there is work their new executive board in November. Here contribute/page/aydholiday2014. The Holi- to be done before the end of 2014. On De- are the new officers for 2015: day Party is a great chance to celebrate the cember 9, there will be a Young Professionals Matthew Brown - President progress we’ve made in 2014 and lay the Ugly Sweater Fundraiser for Kathleen Praveen Meyyan - Vice President groundwork for the year to come. Murphy, sponsored by the Arlington Young Michelle Woods - Secretary “As we head into 2015, we are focused Democrats and organized by a Women to Alex Williams - Treasurer on building the organization we need to elect Women fundraiser. Maggie Davis - Outreach Director more Democrats and empower the voices of Murphy is the Democratic nominee to fill Dakotah Smith - Democratic Party Rep. young professionals in Arlington,” said Mat- the vacancy in the House of Delegates dis- Jack Bardo - Political Director thew Brown, AYD President. “This year, we trict just to the north of Arlington that opened Max Burns - Past President will continue to grow our membership as we up when Barbara Comstock won the seat in The new board will be inaugurated De- embrace our role as a backbone organization Congress now held by Frank Wolf. AYD looks cember 5 at the annual AYD Holiday Party. for civic engagement in this community.” forward to supporting Murphy and getting out Members of ACDC are welcome to attend and Members of the new board are already the vote for her special election January 6. ACDC Voice, December 2014, Page 8 County Board kills streetcar after election After eight years, the Arlington County Member Mary Hynes had changed their po- Board has killed the planned streetcar project sition despite believing that the streetcar re- along Columbia Pike, saying the elections mains a good idea. showed public lack of support for the plan. “We believe that a streetcar system County Board Chair Jay Fisette issued would provide the economic stimulation and a statement explaining why he and Board place-making that would keep Arlington com- Howze loses to streetcar continued from previous page Of the county’s 51 precincts, Howze won 12 in April and 15 in November. Some- petitive for decades to come. It would help Apr Nov what oddly, he won only seven precincts both fill the vacant offices in Crystal City and in- Howze 41 44 times. In another nine precincts, he lost in crease tax revenues — not only paying for Vihstadt 57 56 April but won in November, while there were itself, but for additional schools and services Others 2 0 five precincts he won in April but lost in that our community needs.” Howze went door-to-door visiting more November. But, Fisette said, “We cannot ignore the than 10,000 of the county residences and made In only a few of those precincts was it a political realities. On November 4, impressive presentations at numerous com- case of a shift of a handful of votes. The av- Arlingtonians went to the polls. They rejected munity events. But Vihstadt pounded home erage shift was 5.5 percentage points. But the candidate who supported the streetcar and the Columbia Pike streetcar issue. And the the most dramatic change was in Crystal Plaza voted — convincingly — for the candidate precinct results showed how that issue—with precinct in Crystal City, where Howze went who made opposition to the streetcar a cen- strong support in South Arlington but strong from 37.5 percent in April to 53.4 percent in terpiece of his campaign. This was a power- opposition in North Arlington carried the day. November, a jump of 15.9 percentage points. ful message to this Board.” Combining the two elections, Howze That astounding shift is clearly explained, He continued: won every one of the 10 precincts touching however, by the fact that hardly anyone in that “In Arlington, we have something called on Columbia Pike in either April or Novem- precinct (except Republicans) bothered to the Arlington Way. It means that this com- ber, underscoring the support for the street- vote in the special election. The turnout was munity makes the big decisions together, car there. But of the other 41 precincts, 96 in April but 725 in November, a 7-1/2 fold through a long process of consensus build- Howze won only 10. increase. ing. It may seem mysterious to those outside Further underscoring the streetcar as a It was such a surge from the special elec- our community, but the Arlington Way is the South Arlington issue, Howze won two-thirds tion to the fall election that Dems hoped would glue that holds us together. It is a civic pro- (14 of 21) of the precincts south of Route 50, carry Howze to victory. But the dominating cess that has helped Arlington make the dra- but only one-fifth (6 of 30) of the precincts issue of the Columbia Pike streetcar spiked matic transition from a car-oriented suburb north of Route 50. those hopes. with an aging commercial core to the vibrant and thriving community it is today. “I believe that debating the streetcar is- sue further – with continued discord and du- eling facts – will not serve our community and will distract us from addressing other pressing issues before us. “I have come to the conclusion that the only way to move forward together – to re- build the civility and consensus that have been the hallmarks of our civic life and commu- nity success for decades – is to discontinue the streetcar project. “After close consultation with Ms. Hynes and Mr. Tejada, with our partners in Fairfax and in Richmond, and with members of the community, Ms. Hynes and I have agreed that all spending on the streetcar must end.” Fisette then offered a motion to discon- tinue the streetcar project, which passed the Board on a 4-1 vote, with only Walter Tejada dissenting. ACDC Voice,December 2014, Page 9 Door to winning back State Senate opens A chance to take back the State Senate shore of the James River to the west, taking has opened up as Republican State Sen. John in part of suburban Chesterfield County and Watkins announced he plans to retire at the all of Powhatan County. end of this term. His district is the mirror image of the dis- Watkins’ Richmond area district has trict that was held until early this year by Demo- gone Democratic in the last three statewide crat Phil Puckett in the far southwestern coal elections, so his retirement after a third of a country. Puckett had continued to win the dis- century in the General Assembly opens up a trict while it shifted to the GOP in other state very good opportunity for Democrats to take and federal races. Before Puckett resigned, the back the State Senate. Senate was split 20-20 and controlled by The Senate is now GOP controlled 21- Northam’s tie-breaking vote. After Puckett left, 19. The shift of just one seat, bringing a 20- his seat was filled by a Republican and power 20 tie, would allow Democratic Lt. Gov. in the Senate changed hands. Ralph Northam to put Democrats back in con- In recent years, Watkins has despaired trol. that he is one of a vanishing breed—a moder- Watkins, 67, is a moderate Republican ate Republican in a party increasingly wed- who has often worked across party lines and ded to the extreme right. has often offended fellow Republicans. He “I was very disappointed that we was a key figure in the transportation legisla- couldn’t get people to turn away from the tion that passed last year and he supported politics and look at the policy,” he said. “And funding Medicare expansion. I think we got infected with the Washington But he voted to support GOP control of politicization of every subject.” the Senate and to oust Democrats from com- Democratic Sen. Donald McEachin of WATKINS mittee chairmanships. neighboring Henrico County, said, “He is the . . . retiring from Senate Watkins is the first senator to announce true epitome of a statesman and a Virginia his retirement at the end of 2015. More are gentlemen, always doing what he truly be- likely to join him. But few GOP senators lieves is right for the commonwealth. Al- likely, a Republican primary challenger next occupy seats that are ripe for a Democratic though we do not always agree, Senator summer. But Watkins said the main driver turnover. Watkins is always cordial, open to new ideas was the prospective tightening of the state Watkins district takes in the west side of and willing to work with anyone to benefit ethics code. The General Assembly remains Richmond and then curls up the southern Virginia.” a part time job and Watkins said he expects It is not certain why he chose to retire tighter rules and more scrutiny that would now. Some speculated he was worried about make it harder for him to operate as a small Get drafted at a Democratic challenger next fall or, more businessman. He owns a nursery in Powhatan. Sat Breakfast Larry Romo, the Obama appointee as One in eight vote no on non- director of the Selective Service System— governmentese for draft board—will be the guest at November’s Second Saturday Break- controversial amendment fast. Larry is an Arlington resident. The November 4 ballot contained one her principal place of residence and has not This month’s Second Saturday Breakfast proposed amendment to the Virginia Consti- remarried. comes on December 13. It will be held at tution that had bi-partisan support in the Gen- In 2010, Virginia voters approved a con- that familiar spot, Busboys and Poets in eral Assembly, but one in eight voters still stitutional amendment that exempted from Shirlington, opposed it. taxation the real property of any veteran with starting at 8:30 The amendment was about as non-con- a 100 percent service-connected, permanent a.m. You are troversial as it can get. But 12.7 percent of disability. But it did not cover the spouses of requested to voters still cast “no” ballots, suggesting a cer- those killed in action. bring cash to tain suspicion and contrariness. With the amendment now approved by pay for your The amendment would exempt from lo- voters, beginning with tax year 2015 the ex- meal. cal property taxes the home of any surviving emption will apply to a home with an assessed And don’t spouse of a member of the U.S. armed forces value that does not exceed the average as- forget to bring who was killed in action. sessed value for homes in the locality. The your draft card The exemption would apply if the sur- exemption would apply for the dwelling and with you. viving spouse occupies the property as his or the land it sits on, not exceeding one acre.