Ed. Note: Another in our series of personal statements of support from readers for Democratic presidential candidates By Susan Reidinger: Last March, I was tooling around Youtube when I somehow landed on a video of a guy on a CNN Town Hall. He referred to Mike Pence as the “(C)heerleader for the porn star presidency.” That was when my life…
Democratic volunteers signed up more than 30 Asian-Americans to receive Election Alerts at the recent India Republic Day celebration at McLean High School, attended by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) as guest of honor. Election Alerts are emails from Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) sent to subscribers near election dates with updated voting info — deadlines, how to register to vote…
By Brad Swanson: Sen. Elizabeth Warren pumped up a large crowd in the gymnasium of Wakefield High School in Arlington on Feb. 13 with an energetic delivery of her stump speech excoriating the role of big money in government and urging “hope over fear.” Warren claimed, “We have an America for rich people who don’t want to pay taxes… A…
Ed. Note: Another in our series of personal statements of support for Democratic presidential candidates. Incidentally, Sen. Warren will appear in Arlington on Thu., Feb. 13. Click here for event details By William Berkson: Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a Warren fan-boy—or, more accurately, a fan-oldster. I think she’s the best political leader of my lifetime, and that includes JFK.…
Editor’s Note: We welcome personal statements of support for Democratic presidential candidates. Here, a Joe Biden supporter make his case. By Marcus R. Motta: Nov 4, 2020, 6:00 A.M., I wake up groggy since I was up late the previous night watching the election returns, even though it was a week night. I stayed up later and later hoping to…
By Steve Aoki: The international reputation of the United States is at a post-World War II low, according to a former senior diplomat. But instead of passively complaining, Tom Countryman is doing something about it – working on voter registration drives to counteract Republican voter suppression efforts. Countryman, who held the top arms control and nonproliferation job at the State…
By Karen Kirk: Several hundred Democrats turned out for the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) Reorganization Meeting Tuesday night and chose new leaders, revised bylaws and approved a resolution not to support a “flawed” Virginia redistricting plan. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring kicked off the meeting at Madison High School in Vienna by thanking Fairfax County Democrats for all that…
By Brad Swanson: Virginia’s citizen boards will retain control over pollution emitters for at least another year as a bill to transfer this authority to a state agency has been downgraded to require passage by two consecutive annual legislatures. In the interim between the current session and the next, beginning in Jan. 2021, the bill would require the state Department…
By Bob Burnley: A current bill in the Virginia House would seriously weaken environmental protection by transferring power from citizen boards to a state agency. This is a terrible idea. I should know — I am a former director of that agency. When I served in 2002-2006 as director of the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), I willingly followed…
The 50+ Committee of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee spent a busy day in Richmond on Jan. 16 meeting with state lawmakers on issues that are key to seniors. Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-35), the Senate’s majority leader, recognized the group from the floor of the Senate, and numerous other legislators also made time for this important constituency. Issues discussed included…
By Marcus R. Motta: Am I sick of Republican gerrymandering? Yes, and I am proud that I helped Democrats win control of both houses of the Virginia legislature last November. I wish I could have done more, like a lot of other volunteers did, but to the point, I don’t want that work to be squandered. The problem is that…
As the Virginia state legislature opened for business this week, Northern Virginia legislators scored more than half the standing committee chair positions – as well as providing the Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House, and House Majority Leader. Senators and delegates from our region will hold 14 of the 25 committee chairs, covering topic such as agriculture, commerce, transportation,…
Gun rights advocates interrupted speakers frequently with boos, shouts and chants as the Fairfax County state legislative delegation held its traditional public forum on Jan. 4, four days in advance of the opening of the General Assembly this Wednesday. Gun supporters, many with orange “Guns Save Lives” stickers, were prominent in the audience at the Fairfax County Government Center auditorium…
By Susan Laume: The Fairfax County Government Center auditorium was packed, despite cold and rainy weather, as elected officials, including Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay, took their oaths of office on December 16. Several hundred friends, family and well-wishers braved the rain to congratulate 15 newly elected county officials — 10 supervisors, three Soil and Water Board directors, sheriff…