Arlington, VA - June 27, 2007 – Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Walter Tejada was recently honored by three local organizations for his work in the Arlington community and the region.

In late May, the Ethiopian Community Development Council, an Arlington-based organization that serves African immigrants throughout the nation, honored Walter with one of the Council’s Distinguished Service Awards for his contributions to the well-being of immigrants in the United States.

Dr. Tsehaye Teferra, President of ECDC, presented the award at the Council’s 24th anniversary celebration, “in recognition of [Tejada’s] leadership role in enhancing the diversity of Arlington County’s community voice; for his contributions in empowering community stakeholders to address vital social, economic, and cultural issues; and for demonstrating through his personal and professional life the contributions immigrants make to the nation.”

On Thursday, June 14, 2007, Tejada also received the annual Greater Washington Ibero American Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award for his “unwavering support of the Latino Business and Entrepreneurial Community in our region.” The award was presented at their 31st Annual Gala at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.

Just two days later, the United Consuls of Latin America, an organization of eleven consuls, recognized Tejada as a “Special Friend of the Community for his tireless labor, devotion and unconditional support of the People of the Metropolitan Area.”

“I’m humbled and grateful for the recognition of these organizations, all of whom are dedicated to supporting the cultural diversity of our community,” said Tejada. “I’ve said it many times before: Arlington’s greatest strength is the diversity of its people. I remain focused on increasing opportunities for everyone in Arlington to have a voice and contribute to our community.”

Tejada is seeking re-election to the Arlington County Board, and is a Democratic nominee for the post. His record of accomplishment on issues, including promoting cultural diversity, is available at www.waltertejada.net.

###

In conjunction with his current role on the County Board, Walter Tejada serves on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the Virginia Municipal League, and Smithsonian National Museum of American History Latino Advisory Council. He represents Arlington County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) committees on Human Services and Public Safety Policy, and is a committee member of the National Association of Counties.

In 2006, Tejada was appointed by Governor Timothy Kaine to the Cabinet-level Governor’s Urban Policy Task Force, to review economic, social, and fiscal conditions in Virginia’s urban areas. He is also the founding chairman of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO).

Walter lives in the Dominion Hills neighborhood with his wife, Robin Liten-Tejada, an ESOL/HILT educator with Arlington Public Schools and a former Teacher of the Year.

http://www.examiner.com/printa-836041~Other_counties_won’t_follow_PWC_on_immigration.html?cid=tool-print-top

Other counties won’t follow PWC on immigration
Kathleen Miller, The Examiner
2007-07-19 10:52:00.0

WASHINGTON -
Officials around the Washington area say they will not follow Prince William’s and Loudoun’s efforts to discourage illegal immigrants from residing within their borders, despite anti-illegal immigrant groups’ concerns that the neighboring counties will become magnets for undocumented workers.

Supporters Help Community Spokes Pedal Back to Life Bike Program Gets New Chance, Name

By Tara Bahrampour
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 23, 2007; VA03

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR200708...

Late last year, when Community Spokes, an Arlington program that helped teenagers learn to fix bicycles, was shuttered, many of its fans feared it would never return. The county's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources said it didn't have enough participants to justify the cost of maintaining the program.

But a group of supporters banded together to find funding to reopen the program, and it is back up and running under a new name, Phoenix Bikes.

"There were so many people who saw the value in the bike shop and didn't want to see it go away," said Roberta Jeanquart, one of many adults who lobbied to reopen it and the mother of a student who was involved in the program.

With outreach in local middle schools, including lunchroom tire-changing competitions led by veterans of the program, enrollment has risen to about 25 students, she said, mostly boys in middle school or early high school.

As part of the program, which started in 2002, donated bikes, some in bad shape, others whose tires just need air, are turned over to students. They refurbish the bikes to give to community programs or sell at low prices to the public. Participants come after school and learn from a full-time director and a part-time bike mechanic. The students also fix bikes belonging to the public for a small fee. After working a prescribed number of hours, participants earn a bike of their own.

With its reopening, the program has expanded beyond bike maintenance, Jeanquart said. "Now it's not just fixing, but also how do you run a bike shop . . . the marketing, the bookkeeping."

The program costs about $100,000 per year to run. With enough seed money from Arlington County to operate for about seven months, the program reopened in March in the same cement-block shed in Barcroft Park that it had used before. The arrangement is temporary, and supporters must find a new location soon, as well as more funding to continue after October. Eventually, Jeanquart said, the goal is to establish a nonprofit bike shop.

Arlington County Board member J. Walter Tejada (D) said that after he heard the program was in peril, he worked with county staff to find funding. He said he is committed to helping it survive.

The program works especially well in Arlington, Tejada said, because so many residents ride bikes. "This is too good to have it die," he said. "We're going to keep it going."

The program's director, Colin Dixon, is an avid cyclist who rides 25 miles a day between the District and Arlington. Lee Johnson, a professional mechanic, gives the students special instruction in more technical skills.

Jeanquart's son, Tommy Palmer, 16, has become one of the program's senior members.

"There's a few new guys here, and I'm just helping them out," Palmer said, adding that he would like to become a certified bike mechanic. "I want to apply to work at a bike shop."

Julio Rodriguez, 14, started working at the shop after he visited with his brother, who was buying a bike. Now, in addition to learning repair skills, he's honing his biking talents.

"I'm learning tricks for the BMX," he said. "I learned a 'J Bunny Hop' -- like on the edge of a sidewalk, you jump up, and like you do a 'J' in the air."

Jeanquart said the program's new name, Phoenix, signifies a new beginning. "We're rising up from what was Community Spokes and bringing it back to life."

Democrats Get Ready for Campaign . . . With Chili
by SCOTT McCAFFREY, Staff Writer
(Created: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 10:49 AM EDT)
From the Arlington Sun Gazette

The Arlington County Democratic Committee's Joint Campaign got a jump on campaign season with its annual chili cook-off, held Labor Day at Lyon Village Community Center.

Teams representing Democratic candidates on the ballot were vying for bragging rights for best chili.

The annual event, which also included music and other food, was a precursor to the Arlington County Civic Federation's annual candidate forum, traditionally held the day after Labor Day. Democratic candidates and those from other parties willl take part in the forum.

Click this link to see a picture of Walter and Team Tejada at the chili cookoff:
http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2007/09/04/arlington/news/nws420.prt

Arlington Condemns Region's Immigrant Crackdown

By Kirstin Downey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007; B04

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR200709...

The Arlington County Board yesterday strongly rebuked elected officials elsewhere in Northern Virginia who are clamping down on illegal immigrants, saying such efforts are "politically inspired," "irresponsible" and "punitive."

The five board members, all Democrats, unanimously backed a resolution calling on elected officials elsewhere to "promote the integration of immigrants" instead of enacting rules they said would be divisive.

They said the county will continue to prosecute illegal immigrants who commit crimes and report them to federal officials, but in a way that treats "all of its residents . . . with human dignity and respect."

The Arlington officials said the county will take no actions that might discourage immigrants from reporting crimes to the police, such as requiring officers to check the immigration status of every person with whom they come into contact. They also said the county will not cut public health services for immigrants, which officials said could cause disease to spread. They said they will not restrict education programs because children of illegal immigrants are likely to remain in the United States and it therefore makes better sense to help them be able to earn a good living.

"We will not engage in divisive tactics," said the board's vice chairman, J. Walter Tejada, a naturalized citizen who was born in El Salvador. "I was never more proud to be an Arlingtonian than I am today."

The regionwide debate over illegal immigration came to Arlington early this month. At a Saturday board meeting, local Republican officials posed pointed questions to the board about the extent of crime being committed by illegal immigrants and whether officials were requiring the police to report such crime to federal immigration officials. They also questioned whether it is appropriate for Arlington's day-laborer center to serve workers who are in the country illegally.

Board members responded by saying that the county's crime rate has reached a record low even as the community has become more diverse.

In some areas, politicians have been swept to victory by attacking their opponents as lenient toward illegal immigrants in giving them health services, education or employment assistance. In Herndon, for example, supporters of a day-laborer center were defeated last year, and the center was shut down last week.

In Prince William County, a proposed police policy would require officers to check the immigration status of anyone arrested for traffic violations, shoplifting or other misdemeanors. Manassas Park recently canceled a Latino festival that had cost $30,000, some of which had come from city money.

After many years in which relaxed immigration policies were favored by Republicans and Democrats, taking a stand in favor of immigrants now requires some political courage. Tejada is facing reelection, and Paul Ferguson, the board's chairman, is hoping to be elected clerk of the court. Both have challengers in the Nov. 6 election.

Arlington officials criticized the federal government yesterday for what they called its failure to enact fair immigration laws and enforce them appropriately, saying government incompetence on that front has thrown the issue into the laps of local governments.

The federal government "has been incredibly inefficient in border security," said board member Jay Fisette (D), and the result is that "many ills in the community" are being blamed on immigrants.

Only a few people were in the audience to hear the board members' resolution, and most of them applauded.

Among the supporters was Enrique Escorza, the consul general of the Mexican Embassy, who was sitting near the front of the room.

"The signal we are receiving here is very important," Escorza said. "Listening to a very responsive county board like Arlington is very gratifying."

Tejada Surges in Campaign Contributions
by SCOTT McCAFFREY, Staff Writer
(Created: Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:04 AM EDT)

http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2007/09/20/arlington/news/nws400.prt

Democrat Walter Tejada led the five candidates for County Board in fund-raising during the most recent reporting period, taking in $16,755 and bringing his total contributions for the campaign to $27,005, according to paperwork filed with county election officials.

Tejada, who currently serves as the board's vice chairman, received donations from 108 sources during the financial reporting period, which covers July 1 to Aug. 31.

Candidates were required to file paperwork by with state and county election officials Sept. 17. All five County Board candidates made the deadline.

Tejada's Democratic ticket-mate, Mary Hynes, raised $2,321 from 36 contributors during the reporting period, bringing her total for the campaign to $29,566.

Republican Mike McMenamin, making his second bid for County Board in as many years, raised $8,987 from 76 contributors during the two-month period, bringing his total to $21,321. His ticket-mate, Joseph Warren, raised $500 from six contributors during the period, bringing his total to $1,325.

Green Party candidate Josh Ruebner's campaign reported raising $1,116 from 16 contributors during the period. Ruebner, who also ran for County Board last year, had reported no funds raised in previous reports this election cycle.

At the end of the reporting period, candidates reported the following funds on hand: Tejada, $19,136; Hynes, $9,998; McMenamin, $8,673; Warren, $1,295; and Ruebner, $1,032.

In another race that is drawing attention - for Clerk of the Circuit Court - Democrat Paul Ferguson reported that he had raised $10,158 during the reporting period, for a total of $15,514 raised to date. His Republican opponent, Mark Kelly, reported $4,059 in contributions for the period, $14,389 for the campaign.

At the end of the reporting period, the Ferguson campaign had $15,414 on hand, while the Kelly campaign had $7,771.

School Board candidate Abby Raphael, a Democrat who is unopposed, reported receipts of $3,104 in contributions from 39 sources during the reporting period. That brings her total for the campaign (which includes the contested Democratic endorsement process) to $34,443. She had $2,308 on hand at the end of the reporting period.

The financial reports include both cash contributions and in-kind donations. Under state law, there is no limit to campaign contributions for local candidates, but every contribution over $100 must be itemized.

The next filing deadline for candidates is slated for Oct. 15, representing receipts and expenses for the month of September.

Links to all the financial reporting documents can be found in the elections section of the county government's Web site at www.arlingtonva.us.

Putting Out The Welcome Mat
The County Board pushes back against criticism of its immigration policy.
By David Schultz
September 25, 2007

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/printarticle.asp?article=87672

The following are excerpts from the County Board’s Sept. 18 resolution supporting immigrants, signed by all five Board Members:

"Arlington has and will continue to comply with all federal and state laws related to immigration… Arlington aggressively prosecutes individuals who commit serious crimes, checks the immigration status of any such person and forwards this information to appropriate State and federal officials…

[T]he Arlington County Board calls on the Federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes strong border security… [and] calls upon federal and state officials to enact policies that promote the integration of immigrants into society in a way that provides procedures for employment and access to services for which they are available…"

In a bold statement, the Arlington County Board last week reaffirmed its immigration policies and answered its critics who accused the board of coddling illegal immigrants.

At its Sept. 18 meeting, the Board unanimously passed a resolution that clarified what it saw as the county’s role in the enforcement of immigration laws and decried those who are pressuring local governments to punish illegal immigrants.

"In order that there will be no confusion as to where the Board stands," said Board Chairman Paul Ferguson (D), "We are proposing this resolution."

The resolution states that Arlington County government is not responsible for enforcing immigration laws and that those who claim otherwise are using "irresponsible rhetoric" that "engenders an atmosphere of divisiveness and mistrust."

It also states that the county will continue to provide basic services, such as education and health care, to all Arlington residents regardless of their legal status in the country. Not doing so, the resolution states, "makes a community less safe."

The all-Democratic Board’s immigration resolution came in response to direct criticisms from Republicans in Arlington and elsewhere in Virginia. Much of the criticism centered on the idea that, because it doesn’t have tough laws against illegal immigrants, Arlington is a "sanctuary" for those who are in the country illegally.

The resolution seeks to dispel this perception, saying that "Arlington has and will continue to comply with all federal and state laws related to immigration."

THE BOARD MEMBERS said they were pleased that, unlike other parts of Northern Virginia that have experienced rancorous debates in recent years, the illegal immigration issue in Arlington has been dealt with thus far in a level-headed manner.

"It does not behoove you to scapegoat because you don’t feel safe," Board Member Barbara Favola (D) said.

However, none of the members of the County Board were more proud of the resolution than Vice Chair Walter Tejada (D). Having been born in El Salvador, Tejada said that the immigration issue is personal for him.

"If we put out the unwelcome mat," he said, "We will trample the dreams of many who seek to contribute like so many before."

THE BOARD was able to come out with an immigration statement only seven weeks before the election because of the political unanimity they currently enjoy.

The county is dominated by the local Democratic Party and Board Members have been regularly reelected by large margins for much of the past decade. While Tejada and Ferguson are each currently engaged in contested campaigns, both are the front-runners in their respective races.

During this campaign, the local Republican Party has recently been levying sharp criticism against the Board for what it sees as a failure to act on this issue. Republican Party Chairman Rafael Bejar said that "It doesn’t really seem that Arlington County is interested in resolving the issue of illegal immigration. It’s more inclined to kind of manage it."

Bejar agreed with part of the Board’s resolution, saying that "There is a lot of irresponsible rhetoric in the immigration issue and I condemn that. America is no place for racism of any shape or form."

But he added that people on all sides of this issue were inappropriately injecting race into the discussion.

"There are some people who are… nativists who don’t want anyone who is not blue-eyed to be in this country and I disagree with that," Bejar said. "But there are some people who, when [you] raise the issue, [they] say that you’re racist. The race card is being played from both sides on this issue."

For All Of Arlington:
Walter Tejada wants to break out of the ethnic politician pigeonhole.
By David Schultz
October 9, 2007

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=88371&paper=60&c...

Walter Tejada is very proud to be a Latino.

But when he first ran for County Board in 2003, his campaign slogan was "For All Of Arlington," emphasizing that he would work not just for the county’s ethnic minorities but for everyone. He won that campaign and became the first Latino elected official from Arlington.

Now Tejada, who emigrated to this country from El Salvador, is running for reelection and he still has the same inclusive governing style.

"He sees the world as an Arlingtonian and [as] a Virginian," Alfonso Lopez, who was the finance director of Tejada’s first campaign, said.

Miles Grant, who worked with Tejada on establishing the County's Community Role Models program, said that being an immigrant himself has greatly informed Tejada's worldview.

"Walter is not so much concerned about the Latino population," he said, "his concern is that he's been a part of an immigrant population and he wants to make sure that nobody gets left out."

"[Being a Latino is] a part of him," Lopez said, "but not all of him. He cares about making government work for all of Arlington."

OF COURSE, Latino issues will always be near and dear to Tejada’s heart.

Before ever joining the local Democratic Party and getting involved in politics, Tejada was active in the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, a national organization that deals with the issues of the Latino community.

After moving to the country in the mid-1980s Tejada said he noticed that "People were just being taken advantage of. People were working two and three jobs and earning low wages and getting charged exorbitant fees."

A turning point for him came when, one evening after a long day at work, he went to Bluemont Park to play soccer, one of his favorite pastimes. After getting involved in a pick-up game, several park rangers came over and told the group of players and spectators, mostly all Latinos, that they didn’t have a permit and that they had to leave.

"I got a little upset about that," Tejada recalled. He immediately ran home and drafted a petition taking issue with the eviction from the park. After receiving almost 100 signatures, Tejada took the petition to a County Board meeting.

"I gave them my petition and said ‘We just wanted to play, we’re not causing any trouble," he recalled telling the Board members. After the meeting, former Board Member Jim Hunter (D) took a liking to Tejada and encouraged him to get more involved in local civic affairs.

While initially reluctant, Tejada was eventually appointed to the County’s Sports Commission and has been involved in the county government ever since.

SPORTS AND FITNESS are still a priority for Tejada and has worked this issue into his platform through the FitArlington program.

Spearheaded by Tejada and School Board Member Ed Fendley, FitArlington is a series of events that, according to Tejada, are designed to "promote a culture of fitness" in the county. This isn’t just a public health issue, Tejada said, it’s also an economic issue.

"Big businesses and big tenants are looking at the obesity rates in areas where they might relocate," Tejada said. "When people see a high obesity rate they see a high cost of health care. This is really a big deal for companies."

Tejada said he would also like the County Board to make a "major investment" in Arlington’s roads, pipes and other basic pieces of infrastructure.

It is clear that, if reelected, Tejada’s focus in his upcoming term would be on countywide issues that affect the long-term future of Arlington. But no matter what happens in the next four years, Tejada said that his only expectation is that the county has a "healthy discussion" of the issues it faces.

"I’ll always be an activist," he said. "I enjoy working with people and getting things done."

Walter Tejada
Party: Democrat
Age: 40
Birthplace: San Salvador, El Salvador
Family: Wife (Robin Liten-Tejada)
Occupation: None
Phone Contact: 703-241-1772
Email: campaign@waltertejada.net

Arlington Connection: How did you first get involved in politics?

Walter Tejada: I have kind of a different track, I guess. It was an accumulation of a lot of activism. When I came to the D.C. area in 1987, this area had a lot of Latino population. I started to notice that a lot of people were being taken advantage of mainly because they didn’t speak the language and they didn’t know what their rights were. I became involved in 1992 when we moved to Arlington… Through those efforts we got to know people and got connected with their resources. It was not just Latino but also other folks who are sympathetic to other issues.

AC: What is the number one issue facing Arlington right now?

WT: There are several number ones…Affordable housing will certainly be a major challenge for years to come. When I came to the Board four years ago, there were still people who wouldn’t acknowledge that there is a major crisis. But I called it a catastrophe… We [also] have [the Base Realignment and Closure Commission or BRAC]. That’s a major challenge for us because… we are the jurisdiction in the entire U.S. that has been hit the hardest because of BRAC… We’re looking at several thousand jobs that we are losing.

AC: If reelected, what would be your first priority in your upcoming term on the Board?

WT: Infrastructure would be the first priority. It goes together with affordable housing… We need to be good stewards of our infrastructure. We need to invest. We need to continue to do even more and I am determined to do that.

AC: What is one area in which you wish the County Board had done something differently?

WT: I am looking to keep people informed about what’s going on. One of the things we’ve found… was that a lot of people did not know that which already exists that the county has done. There are things that I think we need as a government that we need to do to include people and to let them know.

For Change in Arlington:
The County Board election
Saturday, October 27, 2007; Page A14

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/26/AR200710...

ARLINGTON COUNTY is the bluest of blue counties. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) won it with more than 67 percent of the vote in the 2004 presidential election. The five-member County Board has been a Democratic Party club since 1999. Arlington voters should shake things up by filling two board seats with Republican Michael T. McMenamin along with Democratic incumbent Vice Chairman J. Walter Tejada.

All five candidates are passionate boosters of the county who are anxious about development and its impact on transportation and the character of Arlington. Green Party candidate Joshua Ruebner, who ran last year, raises valid concerns about gentrification and the dwindling supply of affordable housing.

Joseph J. Warren (R), a member of the County Transit Advisory Committee, is almost exclusively concerned about transportation issues. Like Mr. Ruebner, he opposes the controversial Columbia Pike trolley project. Former School Board member Mary H. Hynes (D) supports the Columbia Pike plan but joins Mr. Ruebner and Mr. Warren in their concern about maintaining the socioeconomic diversity of the county.

Before Mr. Tejada was elected to the County Board in a special election in 2003, he was a community leader focused on immigrants and affordable housing. His accomplishments on the board are many. The resolution that the board unanimously passed last month in support of the county's immigrants is a positive contrast to the counterproductive actions other jurisdictions have taken. Because current board Chairman Paul Ferguson is running for clerk of the court, Mr. Tejada, if reelected, is poised to replace him.

Mr. Tejada has been running on a ticket with Ms. Hynes. But a better partner would be Mr. McMenamin. While we didn't endorse him last year in his race against then-Chairman Chris Zimmerman (D), we urged the board not to ignore the concerns Mr.

McMenamin raised about Arlington's finances. Those concerns remain. The Oct. 22 vote to raise taxes on businesses to pay for transportation improvements with little comment from the board illustrates perfectly why Mr. McMenamin is needed on the all-Democratic body. With his impressive knowledge of issues large and small, Mr. McMenamin would push the board to think through its decisions.

In a separate race for sheriff, voters should reelect Elizabeth F. "Beth" Arthur (D). Her experience and knowledge of the office after seven years in the post make her a clear choice over her opponent.