From the Thursday, March 6, 2003 edition
Our Man in Arlington
By Richard Barton
One of the multitude of themes in the column is that elections never end in Arlington. We have at least one a year for some office or another, and we often have more. Next week, Arlington will select a new member of the County Board to fill the seat of Charles Monroe, whose untimely death in January shocked us all. There are two candidates on the ballot: Republican Mike Clancy, who has run for County Board twice before, and Democrat Walter Tejada, a newcomer to electoral politics.
It will come as no surprise to those who know me that my nod goes to Walter Tejada. Tejada may be new to the candidates’ ranks, but he is no newcomer to community and political involvement. In the county government arena, he has served on the County Board’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission, the Arlington Sports Commission, the Affordable Housing Task Force, and the Arlington Bicentennial Celebration Task Force. Until recently he was the Community Liaison staff member for Congressman Jim Moran.
In community affairs, Walter has been active in the local United Way, has served on the Arlington Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee, worked as an organizer for the highly successful Arlington Neighborhood Day Multi-Cultural Celebration, and was Hurricane relief co-leader for United Salvadorean Communities. For these and a host of other community efforts, Tejada was selected by the Arlington Jaycees as Outstanding Young Arlingtonian of the Year, and received the Spirit of Community Award from the Arlington Community Foundation.
Tejada’s commitment to education is underscored by the fact that his wife, Robin, was named the 2002 Arlington Teacher of the Year as wells as Virginia’s Region IV Teacher of the Year. Clearly, educational excellence is a Tejada family project. One aspect of Tejada’s community life is probably unique in Arlington politics. He is a member of D.C. Panache men’s soccer in the Northern Virginia Soccer League. He was named Most Valuable Player for the 2002 season. He looks the part. Fit and trim, he is in excellent shape to keep up in the fast track of Arlington County Board politics.
Walter has developed a broad platform supporting Smart Growth concepts, growing after-school and mentoring programs for Arlington children, promotion of neighborhood businesses; expanding Arlington’s supply of affordable housing, lowering property tax rates, enhancing Arlington’s open spaces, and expanding local transit opportunities. He is particularly supportive of Arlington’s efforts to revitalize the Columbia Pike corridor.
More important than any specific platform plank, however, is that Tejada helps widen the window to Arlington’s diverse and vital minority and ethnic communities. If elected, he will be the first Latino official in Arlington and one of the first in the state. His campaign slogan is "For All of Arlington or Para Todo Arlington". His candidacy is a good thing for us all.
Regardless of whether or not you agree with my choice, it is important that you vote next Tuesday, March 11. The County is counting on you.
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