Vol. 35, No. 6 www.arlingtondemocrats.org June 2010 Don’t be in Dem vote unanimous against a fog about the FOG! change of government ballot (Form Of Government) Arlington Democrats voted unanimously, 74- gram on the proposal to hold a referendum on chang- 0, at the last ACDC meeting to oppose a proposed ing from Arlington’s current system, under which a See Pages 6-8 for all change in Arlington’s form of government. county manager runs the government with legisla- you ever wanted to This issue of The Voice contains articles and tive power in the County Board, to a system under know and didn’t boxes describing the proposal and pointing out which the County Board would hold executive as dare ask about FOG. sources of more information so you can learn more well as legislative power and actually run the county about the topic. (See Pages 6-8.) departments on a day-to-day basis. The May ACDC meeting was devoted to a pro- The change has been proposed by the Arling- ton Firefighters Union and endorsed by the Arling- ton County Republican Committee and the local Green Party. The change is opposed by a newly formed Coalition for Arlington Good Government, of which ACDC is now a member. A petition is being circulated to put the issue Photo courtesy Jerry Long to a referendum on the November ballot. The peti- tion must collect 14,350 signatures (10 percent of Arlington’s registered voters) by July 15. The vote by ACDC urged residents to oppose passage of the proposed referendum. ACDC invited Mike Staples of the Arlington Firefighters Union to speak at the May meeting on behalf of the change and Ron Carlee, who was Arlington’s county manager until last year, to speak in opposition. Staples agreed to speak but later said he could not appear and sent no other speaker. Carlee spoke and answered questions. The core of his argument was that Arlington’s county UNANIMOUS — The red cards rise as Arlington Democrats voted on government is not broken and doesn’t need fixing, while the proposed change would more likely cause whether to urge a referendum on a change in the form of county government. problems that do not currently exist. Moran to keynote, Webb attend J-J Senator Jim Webb and Congressman Jim Moran will be the This year’s theme is “The Road Ahead,” chosen by dinner co- featured guests at the annual Arlington Jefferson-Jackson Dinner June chairs Virginia Robinson and Aileen Whitfill. 11th. As in the past several years, the event will be held at the Westin Both will attend the special VIP reception preceding the main Arlington Gateway Hotel, 801 N. Glebe Road. The main entrance is event and Webb will speak there. Moran will keynote the dinner. on Vermont Avenue, one short block east of Glebe. Valet parking is Moran heads the Arlington Democratic ticket in November, which available and a public garage is at the other end of Vermont Avenue will also include County Board Member Chris Zimmerman, who is near Fairfax Drive. The Ballston Metro station is nearby. seeking re-election, and School Board Chair Sally Baird, ACDC’s The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. endorsed candidate. Ticket prices remain the same as last year—no inflation! General The J-J is ACDC’s biggest fundraiser of the year as well as the Admission for $125; VIP (which includes the special reception with party’s biggest social event of the calendar. Those who have worked Senator Webb) is $250; Roosevelt Society members get in for $115; so hard to keep Arlington Democratic during the past year will be Arlington Young Democrats for $100. (If you join The Roosevelt honored, highlighted by the Mary Marshall Award. continued on page ten ACDC Voice, June 2010, Page 2 Report from Chairman Mike Lieberman The solution to the credibility gap “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. there is a sweeping feeling in this country that why these votes were the right thing to do, An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.” we should remove those in power and start hosting more town hall meetings than any Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg (1942) over fresh. But I think there is another, sim- other congressman in the country. pler explanation lost in this media-driven nar- As a result, an amazing thing has hap- We must all be reminded from time to rative – that is, the public wants to elect people pened: people have turned out in waves to time that there are few lessons in life that can- who stand up for what they believe in, and support him – many of whom have never sup- not be learned from Dr. Seuss. Nowhere is are willing to tell people why. ported a Democrat before – because he says that mantra more true than in politics. This year in Virginia, we are very fortu- what he believes, and stands by it. This month, we witnessed what many nate to have some Democrats who appear to As we move into a tough election sea- viewed as a seismic shift in politics. We saw already have learned the lessons of Dr. Seuss. son, Democrats everywhere should take this five-term Senator Arlen Specter washed out Most notably, in the 5th District, we are fortu- experience to heart. The change the public is of office in a Pennsylvania Democratic pri- nate to have Congressman Tom Perriello run- clamoring for is first and foremost a change mary, just months after he switched from the ning for re-election. Though Congressman in attitude. They are looking for candidates Republican Party. We saw two-term incum- Perriello won in 2008 with the smallest mar- who will say what they believe, and will stand bent Senator Blanche Lincoln, a conservative gin of victory in any congressional district in by those beliefs as they ask for support at the Democrat known for her unpredictable vot- the country, he has not shied away from tough ballot box. ing pattern, forced into a runoff in the Arkan- votes. Voters are not looking necessarily for sas Democratic primary. And we saw Rand He voted for health care reform, legisla- someone they agree with all the time, but they Paul, a Tea Party Republican, upset his estab- tion to address global warming, and the are looking for someone whose votes they can lishment-backed opponent in the Kentucky President’s economic stimulus bill not be- understand and respect. Seventy years ago, Republican Senate primary because the es- cause they were popular, but rather because Dr. Seuss reminded us to say what we mean tablishment candidate sounded too calculated. they were the right thing to do for his con- and mean what we say. To be successful at The media has spun these results as a stituents. And he has since spent every wak- the polls, this is a mantra to which we Demo- condemnation of incumbency, claiming that ing minute going around his district to explain crats must always be faithful – 100 percent. Precinct Ops Jerry Botland Computer Consulting is filling up Under Chairman Kip Malinosky, Pre- Troubleshoot and resolve computer and cinct Operations now has placed at least one computer related problems. captain in every precinct for the first time in Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. memory. Transfer old files, address book and emails There are currently 51 precincts in Ar- lington County. Under ACDC rules, most are from an old computer to a new one. allotted two captains while the 14 largest may Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] have three captains. Every precinct now has at least one cap- tain, a rare accomplishment, to say the least. With the rapid turnover in Arlington residents, recruiting precinct captains is virtually a full- time occupation—and Malinosky has been devoting considerable effort to recruitment. Published monthly by the Of the 116 slots, Kip has currently filled Arlington County Democratic Committee 101 or 87 percent. While that doesn’t break 2009 North 14th Street, Suite #612, Arlington, VA 22201 the record of 91 percent, it means that Pre- Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 cinct Operations is clearly in high gear. http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org Kip is now looking for one captain to Chair: Mike Lieberman —(703) 408-3940 (h), [email protected] fill out each of the following 15 precincts: Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] Ashton Heights, Lyon Park, Park Lane, Deputy Editor: Vacant Rosslyn, Abingdon, Arlington Forest, Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC Fillmore, Dominion Hills, Oakridge, Madi- unless expressly approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution son, Nottingham, Arlington View, Virginia Copyright ©2010, ACDC, All Rights Reserved Square, Woodbury and Monroe. ACDC Voice, June 2010, Page 3 Next Monthly Meeting Dems probe All Dems Invited junction of Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 7:00 p.m. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd faith, politics Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street The Arlington Young Democrats have sponsored what they hope will become an annual event bringing together Americans of This month, get the inside skinny on what’s going to all faiths to discuss the junction between faith happen this November from Larry Roberts, former and politics. ACDC chair, who is now chief of staff to Tim Kaine, the The Arlington Democrats’ Faith Caucus chairman of the Democratic National Committee.