Sign Up for 21/51!

Sunday, July 1, 2007

(Arlington County Democratic Committee)

Report from the Chairman

Peter Rousselot

21/51 is a slogan that will become familiar to all of us this year, with its message of reaching Democratic majorities in our Virginia Legislature in Richmond: 21 seats in the State Senate, and 51 in the House of Delegates.

With redistricting slated for 2011 -- after the 2010 census -- the party in power has considerable influence in redrawing the boundaries of Virginia’s 11 Congressional Districts. We want Democrats to be in power, at least in the State Senate, to ensure that these districts are drawn with an eye to fairness and a voice for all their voting residents. Currently, only 3 of our 11 Congressional Districts are represented by Democrats. Republican-controlled redistricting back in 2001 has taken its toll, and this needs to change.

To this end, the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC) has established the “21/51 Coordinating Group” to help bring volunteer energy and hours to critical political races -- especially several in Northern Virginia -- that we aim to win to turn Virginia blue and take back our Legislature. Three very good State Senate prospects (out of just four needed to reach 21) are districts mostly or all in Fairfax County. These are all districts that voted for Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. Jim Webb. There’s no reason for them to continue to be represented by the incumbent Republicans. The same goes for several House of Delegates districts just a few minutes’ drive from Arlington. Since House of Delegates seats are two-year terms, we have two election cycles (2007 and 2009) to change 11 seats over to the Democrats’ hands.

Forming a coalition with the neighboring Alexandria Democratic Committee and the Falls Church Democratic Committee, the 21/51 Group plans to disseminate information on why political volunteering is so important in 2007, where volunteer help is needed, and which key events will be “spotlighted” to increase numbers of volunteers and really make a difference.

The ACDC 21/51 committee is composed of: Chris King (chair), Mary Detweiler (deputy chair), Del. Bob Brink, Del. Adam Ebbin, Charley Conrad, Kip Malinosky, and Antonia Scatton, all working closely with Karla Hagan (Joint Campaign), Maureen Markham (Precinct Ops chair), Dave Leichtman (technology), and others.

The URL for the 21/51 Group is at http://www.2151virginia.org/ . Volunteer sign-up can be done via email or phone: Mary Detweiler (c) 703-400-1025;
mary.detweiler@verizon.net. Sign up and you choose how and where you’d like to help. Also, check out the newly-launched “Community News” online newsletter for updates on 21/51 activities.

In 2005 and 2006, Northern Virginia clearly made the difference in winning statewide races. Our 21/51 effort in 2007 calls on us Arlington volunteers to step forward again and make a difference by supporting Democratic challengers for Senate and House of Delegates in every way we can: financial support, feet on the ground (lit drops, canvassing), and phone banking. What do we all get for this: A Virginia that moves forward on transportation, education, the environment, civil rights, and general common sense!

PETER ROUSSELOT