Springfield District Democratic Committee members Susan Laume and John Wittman were among members of the Laurel Hill Park Volunteer Team (PVT) commended by the Virginia House of Delegates through Joint Resolution 257, delivered by Delegate Kathy Tran (D-42nd) in a brief ceremony on December 12 in the Lorton park. The Resolution recognized the Laurel Hill PVT for its “mission to…
Historic Artifact Comes to NOVA Park By Susan Laume: Last month, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that a historic section of the White House iron fence will be loaned to NOVA Parks for placement in the Turning Point Suffragists Memorial, currently under construction at Occoquan Regional Park, in Lorton, Virginia. The artifact is a section of the fence in…
By Susan Laume: Va. Lt Gov. Justin Fairfax was on hand to address protesters at the Beyond the Wall March for Justice in the Gum Springs community in Mount Vernon on June 9. The United Methodist Church event was planned in coordination with civic leaders and drew approximately 500 citizens to the peaceful demonstration. Fairfax told the racially diverse crowd…
By Susan Laume: Fairfax County voters turned out in large numbers for Super Tuesday’s Democratic primary vote, and decisively supported Joe Biden. Biden won 49% of the almost 250,000 votes cast, followed by Bernie Sanders with 23%. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg trailed with 12% and 11% respectively. Countywide, 34% of registered voters cast ballots. Turnout far exceeded the 2016…
By Susan Laume: With Super Tuesday’s critical primary vote looming, Bernie Sanders drew an overflow audience in Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 29, as he called for a “political revolution” to create “a government of love and compassion, not greed and lies.” Standing in parallel lines, cheering volunteers waved Bernie signs as participants entered and gathered near the stage on the…
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: Linda Sperling conceded her race for Springfield District Supervisor Thursday, November 7, falling a few votes short of the 1% recount threshold. On election night, Sperling tallied 49.2% of the 40,512 total votes cast, narrowly behind long-term Republican incumbent Pat Herrity with 50.8%. Even after post-election canvassing moved approximately 200 votes into her camp, the total difference…
By Susan Laume: Since June, an informal grassroots group in Springfield has written 11,937 postcards – beating their goal of 10,000 — to help re-elect Kathy Tran (D-42) as Virginia state delegate and elect other Democrats to local and state office. “Team Tran,” as the group is called, recently wrapped up their work for the 2019 election, to be held…
By Susan Laume: Linda Sperling has a fresh vision for Springfield District. A Democrat, Sperling aims to replace a 12-year Republican incumbent on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who she believes has long stood in the way of progressive agendas. Sperling’s decision to run grew out of her conviction that, “Local government is so incredibly important to so many…
By Susan Laume: A normally quiet street in Springfield streamed with activity Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27, as presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D- Cal.) stopped by to support re-election canvassing for state Del. Kathy K.L.Tran (D – 42). Harris told the crowd of about 60 that, “Nothing we’ve done as a nation we’ve achieved without a fight. Social justice, civil…
By Susan Laume: Lucky Clifton residents on Monday, Sept. 16, got an opportunity to sample free ice cream and show their support for Virginian ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Clifton was just one stop in an ice cream truck tour of the Commonwealth by volunteers to remind voters that if Virginia ratifies the ERA it will become the 38th…
By Susan Laume: A day that began with hope quickly ended in anger and frustration as Republican state legislators in Richmond abruptly shut down a special session on gun violence less than 90 minutes after it began on Tuesday, July 9. Democratic legislators were shocked when Republicans used their small majorities in both the state House and Senate to adjourn…
By Susan Laume: On the eve of a special state legislative session on gun violence, a roundtable in Leesburg hosted by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D- 33) on July 7 revealed the deep divide among the public on this critical issue – and the high personal cost of unrestricted gun use. Boysko hosted the event at the Rust Library to…