You’re Invited!
On Saturday, June 14th, the Democratic Party of Virginia will hold its Statewide Convention. This event happens once every four years - and over 2,000 attendees are expected.
Every major Democratic Official in Virginia will be there - Governor Tim Kaine, Former Governor Mark Warner, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congressman Jim Moran, and Congressman Rick Boucher. Every Democratic Member of the General Assembly will also be in attendance - as well as candidates for Statewide Office in 2009 - including State Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Brian Moran. It will be quite an event!
DLOV will host one of the only Receptions at the Convention with numerous Elected Officials, Candidates - AND YOU!
Please join us from 3 pm to 4:30 pm (or immediately after the end of the convention). We will be right next to the Main Convention Hall in Room 106 of the Convention Center - two doors away from the main entrance to the Main Hall. Beverages and food will be served.
If you would like to volunteer for the event - please call Andy Rivera at (202) 213-9760.
DATE: June 14, 2008
TIME: 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Hampton Convention Center Room 106
Let’s honor our elected officials and convention delegates!
For More Information call Andrew Rivera at (202) 213-9760.
June 12th, 2008
Please visit our photo gallery by clicking on the Photos link on the main navigation page!
November 16th, 2007
Si se Puede!! You did it!!!
As a result of months of hard work, dedication, fundraisers, GOTV, volunteering, door knocking, letter writing, and contributions (financial and otherwise), the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) played an important role in the historic election on Tuesday, November 6 th where the Democrats took back control of the Senate and made significant gains in the House of Delegates.
DLOV endorsed nine (9) candidates for election this cycle. As a result of our contributions and volunteer/organizing efforts, six (6) of our candidates won election – including three (3) challengers in critically important races.
DLOV’s endorsement of candidates Chap Peterson and George Barker were an important part of their respective victories – and the party’s successful effort to take back the Senate. Also, our endorsement of Margi Vanderhye for the House of Delegates helped her win and cut the Republican margin in the House.
Also, our historic champions and endorsed candidates Adam Ebbin, Member of the House of Delegates; Vivian Watts, Member of the House of Delegates; and, Walter Tejada, Member of the Arlington County Board each won re-election this cycle with DLOV’s help.
While Marty Martinez and Carlos Del Toro – first time Democratic Latino Candidates for the House of Delegates – both put up strong fights and ran exceptional campaigns they both came up short. However, with their extraordinary records of public service we hope that they will remain involved and run again for public office in Virginia. Similarly, while Chris Brown, who ran against one of our biggest foes Delegate Jeff Frederick, was not successful we look forward to his remaining involved and advocating for issues of importance to the Latino community.
I am especially gratified by the results of our efforts. For instance, in a Washington Post article entitled “Losses Put GOP In Tough Situation: Illegal Immigration Efforts in Doubt” by Anita Kumar (Friday, November 9, 2007; B01) began like this:
House Republican leaders, who made immigration a centerpiece of the fall campaign, said Thursday that efforts in the Virginia General Assembly to crack down on illegal immigrants probably are doomed because of losses their party suffered in the election this week.
“It’s dead on arrival,” said Del. David B. Albo, (R-Fairfax), who chairs the Virginia Crime Commission, which is considering immigration proposals. “It’s very disappointing.”
This is what we fought so hard to achieve!!!! By taking the Senate back – the Republicans know that their anti-immigrant bills have NO CHANCE of becoming law over the next two years. Every member of DLOV should be proud of their efforts to achieve this victory!!!!
For the first time this year DLOV developed and executed a Candidate questionnaire and endorsement process. After an involved discussion of the questionnaire responses, statements by the candidates on issues of concern to the community, and their actions in elected office/the community, the Board agreed upon endorsing two State Senate candidates, two current Members of the Virginia House of Delegates up for re-election, four new House of Delegate candidates and one candidate for a local County Board.
In each case these candidates support issues of importance to our community, including expanding opportunities for small business, endorsing Federal comprehensive immigration reform that addresses earned access to regularization of status, improving educational opportunities, making health care more affordable, and protecting the civil rights of all the residents of Virginia.
These candidates also understand the importance of Early Childhood Education legislation and the DREAM Act in Congress (or other in-state tuition measures) which will give young people who consider the United States their home, who have worked hard in school, who have stayed out of trouble, and who are actively pursuing official status, the chance to go to college and pursue their dreams.
These candidates proved that they are outstanding Democrats and friends of the Latino Community in Virginia. They understand the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all Americans. Moreover, they believe in the fundamental importance of fairness – in all things – for all people – for all communities.
DLOV strongly supported each of the listed candidates and our membership worked hard on their behalf.
As we move into 2008, DLOV is committed to electing more Democrats in the Virginia Congressional Delegation and a new Democratic President. Along those lines, we will be raising funds to pay for two (2) to four (4) bilingual outreach coordinators to work with the 2008 Democratic Coordinated Campaign in the 20 highest Latino population districts in Virginia. These outreach coordinators will work to register and increase the turnout of Latino voters next year. DLOV will also continue its efforts to get Latinos involved in the Democratic Party of Virginia and endorse/elect strong candidates who care about issues of importance to our community. DLOV will also continue to provide policy expertise and guidance to the Party, elected officials, and the community.
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS to everyone for an outstanding TEAM EFFORT!!
Alfonso Lopez
State President
Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia
P.S. Let’s continue targeting individuals to get involved in their local Democratic Committees and to run for their respective Congressional District Committees in the coming months!
November 13th, 2007
We are all happy about the important gains we as a party made on Tuesday. Gaining control of the State Senate was very important, and the new seats in the House of Delegates will be helpful to gain control in 2009.
We all did as much as we could at different levels and with different campaigns, and we should be proud of our part in the victory. I am sure the candidates noticed the presence of members of DLOV helping in their campaigns.
We regret that Carlos and Marty did not win this time, but they made a significant contribution to open the door for others to follow. We need to remember that there are battles worth fighting even if you may not win. That was the case in these races. Carlos in particular run a great campaign that impressed everyone. I am sure that Carlos is well positioned should he decide to run again, maybe in a different race. After the initial perception that the Democratic party leadership had not supported the Latino candidates, I thanked Brian Moran on Tuesday for the appearances he and other members of the party made with Carlos and Marty, particularly in the final months. I saw Brian at an event for Marty in a rural part of Leesburg, five miles from the nearest paved road in the middle of nowhere, with only about 20 other guests attending. That showed support.
Even though the issue of immigration did not carry the day for Republicans, in the short term it may have helped them save some seats, particularly in Prince William county. I am sure the Republicans will continue using immigration as a key election issue because it is one of the few things they have to try to distract the attention from the fact that Republicans have not provided good government at all. Even Republican candidate Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, who tried to run as a moderate and at first had not jumped in the anti-immigrant bandwagon, resorted to that tactic as a sign of desperation in the final weeks of the campaign. So the issue will keep coming back and with more force, and we need to be better prepared to support candidates that can carry a stronger message on the next election. And we need to capitalize on the long-term consequences that the anti-immigrant demagoguery could have against the Republican party and in favor of the Democratic Party. It is a shame that many immigrants do not realize that the anti-immigrant bills and rhetoric are coming from the Republican party, and this is something we should do more about.
I know we as DLOV members care about many other issues in addition to immigration. Even on immigration I am sure we do not necessarily all agree on what the best solution is. But we as a group are better prepared to assist the Democratic party in developing good policy on the immigration issue.
We need to also talk about other issues we care about, so that the rest of the electorate does not think that Latinos only care about immigration. Like the rest of Virginians, we care about good government that can help us secure a better future for our children.
November 11th, 2007
Chap Peterson, State Senate-Elect
George Barker, State Senate-Elect
November 11th, 2007
A Statement by the Board of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia in Support of the Organization’s 2007 Endorsed Candidates
The Board of Directors of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia announced its enthusiastic endorsement of nine (9) candidates for the 2007 election cycle. While there are many Virginia Elected officials and candidates who have strong records of support for issues of concern and importance to the Latino community, we have limited our list of endorsed candidates this year to the following individuals:
• Chap Peterson, State Senate Candidate
• George Barker, State Senate Candidate
• Marty Martinez, House of Delegates Candidate
• Carlos Del Toro, House of Delegates Candidate
• Adam Ebbin, Member of the House of Delegates
• Margi Vanderhye, House of Delegates Candidate
• Vivian Watts, Member of the House of Delegates
• Chris Brown, House of Delegates Candidate
• Walter Tejada, Member of the Arlington County Board
For the first time this year DLOV has developed and executed a Candidate questionnaire and endorsement process. After an involved discussion of the questionnaire responses, statements by the candidates on issues of concern to the community, and their actions in elected office/the community, the Board agreed upon endorsing two State Senate candidates, two current Members of the Virginia House of Delegates up for re-election, four new House of Delegate candidates and one candidate for a local County Board.
In each case these candidates support issues of importance to our community, including expanding opportunities for small business, endorsing Federal comprehensive immigration reform that addresses earned access to regularization of status, improving educational opportunities, making health care more affordable, and protecting the civil rights of all the residents of Virginia.
These candidates also understand the importance of Early Childhood Education legislation and the DREAM Act in Congress (or other in-state tuition measures) which will give young people who consider the United States their home, who have worked hard in school, who have stayed out of trouble, and who are actively pursuing official status, the chance to go to college and pursue their dreams.
These candidates are outstanding Democrats and friends of the Latino Community in Virginia. They understand the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all Americans. Moreover, they believe in the fundamental importance of fairness – in all things – for all people – for all communities.
DLOV strongly supports each of the listed candidates and our membership will work hard on their behalf.
November 11th, 2007
Buy your tickets online
You are cordially invited to an important campaign reception with
Governor Tim Kaine
and numerous Northern Virginia Democratic Elected Officials
On Behalf of
the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia’s (DLOV)
Fall Campaign Efforts
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
at the Home of Andrew and Eileen Rivera
205 Clifford Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia
For more information, please visit our Upcoming Events page.
September 29th, 2007
Grassroots Hispanic advocacy group denied a place at the table during superintendent search.
Article Written By Michael Lee Pope
September 26, 2007
Until a few hours before the School Board meeting last week, Eileen Cassidy Rivera intended to cast a vote for Hortensia Corcino to be a member of the newly created Superintendent Search Committee. Corcino is a parent of two public-school students and is a recent graduate of the Parent Leadership Training Institute — a recently formed organization to help parents learn advocacy skills. But Rivera was shocked to learn that Corcino’s name had been removed from the ballot after several School Board members decided to eliminate her from the process at the last minute.
“When I received our board packet last week and looked at the choices, I was delighted to see Ms. Corcino’s name,” Rivera said during the Sept. 20 School Board meeting. “But when I saw the list this evening, I did not see her name.”
Rivera explained that Corcino’s application identified her as representative from Tenants and Workers United — a prominent grassroots organization that frequently advocates for low-income Hispanics in Alexandria. Until hours before the School Board meeting, a line on the ballot titled “Hispanic Alliance/Bienvenidos” carried two names: Hortensia Corcino, representing Tenants and Workers, and former School Board member Henry Brooks, representing Bienvenidos. Board members would cast ballots, and one of the two names would emerge victorious.
But Corcino did not appear on the final version of the ballot, leaving Brooks as the only contender in a selection to represent the Hispanic community of Alexandria — a minority that represents 26 percent of public-school students in Alexandria. White students, by contrast, represent 24 percent of the student body. Rivera said that she disagreed with Corcino’s name being removed at the last minute on a technicality, and she wanted School Board members to reconsider their actions. As she began to make a motion to restore Corcino’s name to the ballot, Chairwoman Eberwein put a sudden halt to Rivera’s plan.
“Ms. Rivera, I have to interrupt you,” Eberwein interjected. “I had really hoped that we wouldn’t have to embarrass anyone who was not appointed.”
Read the remainder of the article at the Connection Newspapers site …
September 29th, 2007
Courtesy The Capitol Standard, Washington, DC.
Almost all of the Democratic Party presidential candidates participated in last night’s Spanish-language debate hosted by the Univisión television network at the University of Miami. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) was the only one who did not attend.
The format, which required the candidates to speak in English with the network providing a simultaneous translation, caused New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who is fluent in Spanish, to criticize the network as promoting English-only.
“I’m disappointed today that 43 million Latinos in this country — for them not to hear one of their own speak Spanish, is unfortunate,” Richardson said. “In other words, Univisión is promoting English-only in this debate.”
Richardson then began speaking in Spanish but was cut off by the hosts. Univisión said it make the English requirement because most of the candidates, including frontrunners Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Il.) do not speak Spanish.
Read more articles in our News section.
September 13th, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security is expected shortly to implement new rules to notify employers when a worker’s Social Security number is “flagged” by the Social Security Administration as possibly erroneous or false.
The rule would require that employers fire those workers who cannot be verified within a 60-day period as working legally with a valid Social Security number. Employers who fail to comply face files totally $10,000 per illegal worker.
The Social Security Administration has sent “no match” letters to workers and their employers in the past, but that information had not been previously shared with other agencies due to privacy concerns, and employers and workers had not previously faced fines or other federal retribution.
The new rules also grant immunity from prosecution those employers who comply with the new rule if employees working illegally are caught in a work site raid or during an investigation of the business.
August 8th, 2007
The three Latino U.S. Senators voted along party lines in the 68-31 approval of legislation to add three million low-income children to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Both Democratic Senators Robert Menéndez of New Jersey and Ken Salazar of Colorado voted with the majority, while Florida Republican Mel Martínez voted against the measure.
Martínez and his fellow Republicans — as well as the White House — have said the program increase is too costly. The White House threatens to veto the measure, but the Democratic majority has ostensibly garnered enough votes to override a veto.
The Senate vote took place shortly after the House passed a similar measure, and both versions will be reconciled once Congress returns from its summer recess next month.
“Republicans are going to face a choice with children’s health: Are they going to turn their backs on three and a half million children in this country that don’t have health care?” said Sen. Chuck Schumer D-N.Y.), chair of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.
The SCHIP program expires at the end of September. It is is designed to provide health coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough for private insurance.
August 8th, 2007
Senators Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Mel Martínez (R-Fla.) have introduced the “Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007,” which would assist the residents of Puerto Rico in a decision-making process about its political relationship with the United States.
“The time has come for the United States Congress to offer Puerto Ricans an opportunity to decide their fate,” said Salazar. “Introduced in a bipartisan fashion, this bill will provide a means for the four million people of Puerto Rico to self-determine the ultimate status of their island.”
The bill would designate a deadline for a plebscite sanctioned by the U.S. Congress under which island residents would choose whether to continue its current status as a U.S. commonwealth, become a U.S. state, or become an independent nation.
“This seeks to move the process forward to find a resolution in determining the ultimate status of the island. It will rightly put the democratic process in the hands of the Puerto Rican people,” Martínez said. “For too long the question of status has gone unanswered, the Puerto Rican people deserve a solution.”
August 8th, 2007
GOP presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is proposing cutting federal funding to cities that serve as so-called “sanctuary cities” for undocumented immigrants.
“There are some cities in this country that have said, we’re calling ourselves a sanctuary city, we’re going to call ourselves a city where our city employees will not look into someone’s illegal status, will not notify the federal government that someone’s here illegally,” Romney said during a town hall meeting in Urbandale, Iowa.
“We send hundreds of millions of dollars to these cities, even billions of dollars, from the federal government,” the former Massachusetts governor said during a question-and-answer session at the Iowa Machine Shed restaurant. “We ought to stop doing that.”
August 8th, 2007
Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) introduces H.R. 3283 to amend Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act to require states to provide foster children with court-appointed special advocates who meet national standards.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) introduces H.R. 3310 to amend the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to ensure improved access to employment opportunities for low-income persons.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) introduces S. 1967 to provide for lowered administrative costs as an incentive for a greater number of people to increase their savings.
August 8th, 2007
U.S. Justice Department officials, including several top aides to Attorney General Alberto Gonzáles, did attend briefings related to a number of political issues, including a look at the then-upcoming 2006 congressional elections. This according to documents released late last Friday by the Justice Department.
Justice Department policy prohibits employees from engaging in partisan political activities on premises, but Gonzáles added that the meetings were held off premises. Gonzáles had told Congress that he didn’t think his aides had attended the briefings. The department’s independent Inspector General, which reports only to Congress, could investigate.
At the same time, Senate Judiciary Committee chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is considering asking the DOJ’s IG to investigate whether Gonzáles has engaged in any misconduct related to his alleged role in the controversial firing of several U.S. attorneys. Democrats accuse Gonzáles of lying about the issue.
“I am deeply concerned about the seriousness of his misleading testimony and the pattern that has developed with regards to the attorney general’s testimony over the years,” Leahy said during a recent congressional hearing.
“At the very least, I am considering sending his answers as they stand to the inspector general for review.”
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the committee’s ranking member, said he would support an IG report.
“I think we need to finish this (the committee’s) investigation and find a way to end the tenure of Attorney General Gonzáles,” he said.
August 8th, 2007
Attorney Luis Parada, our Northern Virginia co-chair, was recently featured on the Andres Tobar Show in our nation’s capital viewing area.
As a direct result, he has now been featured on the main page of the casablanca project, the foremost Democratic organization that has a goal of recruiting 25,000 Latino Democrats for the 2008 presidential primary cycle.
The show highlighted his work to preserve the ability of our Latino youth to get a solid education while growing up in the United States. Much of this work was done through the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF).
February 20th, 2007
If you live in the state of Virginia, share our progressive values, and are a Latino or friend of the Latino community, please pick up the phone and call (703) 879-8447 today.
For only $30 per year, you too can become an active member of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV).
February 20th, 2007
The Democratic Latinos of Virginia held a successful meeting in Northern Virginia, at the home of Northern Virginia co-chair Luis Parada.
Plans for the upcoming Jefferson Jackson event, membership and other topics were discussed at the meeting.
Minutes and other information from the meeting will be available shortly.
February 14th, 2007
Latino Democrats in Virginia congratulate the national Democratic family for decisive wins for control of the House of Representatives and the US Senate. These wins signal an important message from the American people to the Bush White House: “we need a change in priorities. We need a change in Iraq policy. We need real security.”
Latino Democrats in Virginia will continue working towards better education for our children, an energy policy that brings additional jobs to Virginia and the US, and a foreign policy that begins to restore our standing in the world.
November 8th, 2006
The mission of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) is to increase the number of active Hispanic members in the Democratic Party and to foster member participation at all levels of the Democratic Party. Our goals are to unify and empower Hispanic communities; ensure fair representation of the Hispanic interests; and educate and promote political participation.
Join our group as we approach the November elections and tackle next year’s challenges!
September 22nd, 2006
A warm evening was had by the several dozen invited guests, most of them prominent Latino leaders from across the state of Virginia. Governor Kaine greeted the guests, and made some remarks.
Kaine related that one of the reasons he gave part of his acceptance speech during the swearing in ceremony was because of the Hispanic history in the very area the ceremony was taking place. In fact, a Spanish colony that pre-dated Jamestown was located not very far from Williamsburg itself!
Latino leaders had an opportunity to personally communicate with the Governor, as well as make new connections and also speak with many of the members of the administration, such as the Secretary of State and Secretary of Education.
September 22nd, 2006
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