No Rubber Chicken at Arlington J-J

Sunday, July 1, 2007

(Arlington County Democratic Committee)

“They said there was no way this year’s JJ Dinner could top last year’s,” proclaimed ACDC Chair Peter Rousselot. “But it DID”

It did, indeed! ACDC’s largest fund-raising event of the year, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, once again sold out and the money raised exceeded expectations. Not to mention that it was a grand event that all agreed was a jolly good time. The evening’s theme, “Blueprint for Victory,” foretold the optimism expressed by the speakers in their remarks.

Featured speaker Rep. Jim Moran (Sen. Jim Webb was also scheduled to speak but was unable to attend because the Senate was still debating the immigration bill) and keynoter Gov. Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, galvanized the crowd.

Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple and Del. Brian Moran made a plea on behalf of the 21/51 campaign to retake the Virginia General Assembly in 2007. Sen. Whipple used the opportunity to put in a plug for funding from the DNC by unabashedly calling Gov. Dean’s attention to the effort. She also urged those present to volunteer on behalf of Northern Virginia candidates who have a real chance of taking several vacant seats. “I know that Arlingtonians don’t like to go out to Fairfax,” she said. “Steel yourself. You can do it!”

Gov. Dean, who began his political career as a county chair, acknowledged the importance of local committees declaring, “Grass roots politics is how you win elections.” With his 50-state strategy, the national party is “reaching out to everybody,” said Dean.
Particularly heartening were his expectations in Virginia. “Virginia is definitely in play in 2008,” he said. “And the stage [will be] set [in 2009] for three Democratic governors in a row—something unprecedented in modern history."

Dean called President Bush “the worst President in American history” and said “we were hired to end the Iraq war and bring back honesty to Washington. If we don’t do those things, the American people will take note.”

ACDC’s annual award presentations comprised the second half of the program, including the Mary Marshall Award that went to retiring Clerk of the Circuit Court Dave Bell. Bell’s 26 years of work on behalf of Arlington Democrats were cited, though he modestly protested, “Every person receiving an award after [this one] is more deserving than I am.” He noted that, while he may be retiring, “I will be an Arlington Democrat for the rest of my life.”

JJ Dinner Committee co-chairs Eric Sildon and Kate Mesches welcomed the crowd at the beginning of the event, noting that they were turning over the responsibility next year to Gabe Snow and Bree Raum, deputy co-chairs this year. Other committee members included Melissa Bondi, Charley Conrad, Jen Howard, Marc Kelly, Kip Malinosky, Dan Steen, Barbara van Voorst and Amanda Wolfe.