I want to officially extend my sincerest congratulations to Patrick Hope for his well earned victory yesterday. I pledge to do my part to ensure his victory in November and for his success in Richmond as our Delegate. I also extend my congratulations to my fellow competitors Adam Parkhomenko, Alan Howze and Miles Grant for their tremendous work in presenting their case to the voters.

I want to give each and every one of my supporters my sincerest thanks for your help to my campaign. We presented our case to the voters on the issues that were important to us. We did it in a very organized and in a very dignified manner. I want to acknowledge the support we received from the four elected officials who endorsed my campaign, as well as Karen Darner, and for the tremendous work that they did. Thanks Walter, Chris, Libby, and Emma. I continue to get very positive comments about Chris Zimmerman’s outstanding letter on my behalf.

A special thanks to my campaign manager Chris Jones, who stepped up to bring structure and cohesiveness to our campaign. Words cannot express the tremendous work that he undertook. We also had some outstanding support from Thomas Mills, of Thomas Mills Communications, with crafting our message in our mailings in a very concise and effective presentation. A special note of thanks to Joel Yudken for serving as our campaign treasurer and who submitted our financial reports in order and on a timely basis, as well as for hosting our campaign meetings at his home.

Sincerely,
Andres

I believe one candidate, Andres Tobar, stands out from the field. I say this not because of the historic nature of his candidacy, but because I believe he is the best prepared for the job, and most likely to be effective in representing Arlington in Richmond. The reasons may be summarized in three parts: His work experience; his life experience; and the personal qualities that define his character.

Over many years as a professional and as a volunteer Andres has, quietly and humbly, amassed a most remarkable résumé. The breadth and extent of his experience goes far beyond that of any other candidate. Andres has worked on policy at every level – local, state, federal – and in many different capacities – as a legislative aide, as an administrator in the federal government, as the manager of a non-profit, and as an advocate and community organizer.

His varied work experiences include doing legislative research for a Congressman on the U.S. Bilingual Education Act; overseeing programs at the U.S. Department of Education that helped low income kids to finish high school and go to college; and serving as Executive Director of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center. He’s run an association of publishers, been a member of the Board of Arlington Housing Corporation, built coalitions to lobby for progressive legislation in Richmond. And that’s just a sampling.

But, what sets Andres Tobar apart is not just work experience, but life experience.

Andres doesn’t simply have compassion; he can identify with people who are struggling with adversity because he knows what it means. Born to a family of migrant farmworkers, Andres and his family picked cotton. He didn’t hear English until he went to school, didn’t see a doctor until he was nine. His parents could not read or write, but Andres worked his way through college and then earned a graduate degree. And, ever since, he’s been working to give other people opportunities.

These kind of experiences are decidedly relevant factors in choosing who should write the laws that govern us all. What one brings to elective office has a lot to do with what one does in it.

This isn’t just about symbols – it’s not simply that Andres would be the first Latino elected to the Virginia General Assembly, though the significance of that fact should not be discounted. In a state in which the legacy of discrimination and the fight for civil rights are fundamental to both our history and continuing political reality, there is incalculable value in electing someone for whom these things are not abstractions, but personal experiences. As a boy Andres had to walk by restaurants and movie theaters displaying signs that said “No Mexicans” – and knew that they were meant to exclude him. That kind of perspective is an asset in a lawmaker for which there is no substitute.

With these professional and life experiences, Andres Tobar would enter the General Assembly with a certain stature not attainable for the typical freshman legislator. But what will make him effective, from the very first day, are the extraordinary personal qualities familiar to all who have had the chance to work with him. Andres combines resolute, passionate advocacy with an uncommon ability to reach across divides, to bring people together who are otherwise at odds. His ability to disarm folks, his humility, his “gentlemanliness,” will make him a natural in a body in which effectiveness depends so heavily on successfully building interpersonal relationships.

In selecting the newest member of Arlington’s legislative delegation voters in the 47th have an opportunity not just to make a statement, but to choose a representative of exceptional character, whose humble nature belies extraordinary accomplishments in a lifetime devoted to helping others get the chance for a better life: Andres Tobar.

– Christopher Zimmerman
Member, Arlington County Board

Thomas Owen Murphy, President of AFGE 14th District Council One, wrote in his endorsement letter that “[b]ased upon your background as a former Federal employee at the U.S. Department of Education, where you were represented by and a member of AFGE Local 2607, and your record in advocating for the community, it is Council 1’s pleasure to endorse your candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 47th District. Council 1 believes that your history of support for working families and the issues that matter most to them make you the best choice in the June 9th Democratic Primary Election.”

“Council 1 will urge AFGE members to support your campaign and ask that all of our members living within the 47th District vote for you on June 9th. We believe that solidarity with our sisters and brothers requires more than just talk, and we encourage the active participation of our members to support your election. We wish you much success in the future,” Murphy concluded.

“I am proud to receive the endorsement of AFGE District 14 Council 1. As a member of AFGE Local 2607 for 20 years during my career at the U.S. Dept. of Education and my ongoing work to support workers and their families since retiring from government, I would welcome the support of those members living in Arlington’s 47th District. We have a long way to go to ensure that workers in Virginia can vote for union representation, are paid a living wage and have health insurance benefits. I want to carry this fight to Richmond to ensure that working men and women are treated with fairness and respect,” Tobar stated.

The new endorsements join the previously announced endorsements by Arlington County Board Members Chris Zimmerman and Walter Tejada, School Board Members Libby Garvey and Emma Violand-Sanchez, as well as recently retired School Board Member Frank Wilson, and former Delegate Karen Darner.

“The candidates in this race have much to offer in terms of qualifications for the job. Some of them have established records of service to the community. No other candidate comes close to matching Andres Tobar’s long history of service to Arlington and the lifetime of expanding educational opportunities for young people, both as a professional and a volunteer advocate. Andres is also the only candidate who brings a culture and point of view valued in Arlington, but currently not present in the Virginia General Assembly. For us, it is an easy choice. Andres Tobar is our candidate.”

“As a life-long union supporter, I am proud to accept the endorsements of Laborer’s Local 11, as well as AFGE-HUD Local 476. We have a long way to go to ensure that workers in Virginia can vote for union representation, are paid a living wage and have health insurance benefits. But we must begin today to fight for these rights in the new legislative session,” Tobar said.

“Our support for Andres is based on his passionate commitment to all workers in Northern Virginia. He has earned our respect,” said Hugo Carballo, President, Laborers Local 11.

Eddie Eitches, president of AFGE – HUD Local 476, added that Tobar’s AFGE membership and qualifications make him the best candidate to represent the 47th district.

“We are excited to endorse Andres. His union background began in college with the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) and continued throughout his federal career. We believe he is the strongest candidate to send to the General Assembly,” Eitches said.

Libby Garvey stated, “I believe that Andres will advocate for our schools in Richmond. His experience in education from the federal to the local level will serve not only Arlington, but also the entire Commonwealth.” Ms. Garvey has served on the Arlington County School Board since 1995.

Frank Wilson, who retired last year from the School Board after nearly 25 years of service, said, “I’ve known Andres for many years, and I especially know his dedication to education and human rights,” Wilson said. “He will serve Arlington well in Richmond.”

Tobar, who is a retired federal employee with the U.S. Department of Education, has been an advocate in Richmond for higher education opportunities. He has also been endorsed by School Board member Emma Violand-Sanchez, as well as County Board Members Walter Tejada and Chris Zimmerman.

Andres Tobar and Adam Ebbin (D-49) join the picket line at the Sheraton Crystal City.

These layoffs came just weeks after a delegation of HEI employees, students and community supporters asked the management for a fair and democratic process for workers at the hotel to voice their preference for union representation.

Tobar commented, “I am proud to join Delegate Adam Ebbin on the picket line with the hotel workers in their quest for justice. In Arlington, we not only need a fair wage, we support a living wage.”

Andres Tobar and Adam Ebbin along with the protestors.

Andres Tobar was a twenty year active member of AFGE 2607 during his career in the U.S. Department of Education.

Note: Delegate Adam Ebbin is not endorsing any candidate in the 47th District race. Tobar and Ebbin share a mutual respect for each others commitment to fight for our community’s most vulnerable, as demonstrated by their show of support for the workers’ plight.

Two Arlington County Board Members, the honorable Chris Zimmerman and the honorable Walter Tejada and the honorable Emma Violand-Sanchez, Arlington County School Board Member, also attended the reception.

Andres Tobar with Arlington County Board Members Chris Zimmerman and Walter Tejada and Arlington County School Board Member Emma Violand Sanchez at the reception at Barcroft Community Center

Board member Chris Zimmerman praised Andres for ability to bring people together, noting that everyone in Arlington has come to respect Andres for his efforts over the years to help Arlington without expecting anything in return. School Board Member Emma Violand Sanchez noted that Andres is “truly authentic.”

Board member Walter Tejada said that it is key for the next member representing the 47th District to have a track record of working with both Democrats and Republicans in order to help the most vulnerable of the community and said that Andres has this ability to find common ground.

Andres told the crowd that he is running for three reasons – to improve the education system and provide encouragement to young people, to use the economic crises as an opportunity to build a green economy and to change the tone in Richmond, which currently picks on the most vulnerable population, such as the immigrant and gay communities.

The campaign would like to thank all of the supporters for attending the reception, including the representatives from the Local 11 Union, and El Rancho Migueleno restaurant on Columbia Pike for providing the food for the event.

Photo by Alvaro Ortiz, Washington Hispanic Newspaper.

Read more about the endorsements in the article “Tobar Picks Up Endorsements of 3 Elected Officials” from the Arlington Sun Gazette.