Andres Tobar supporters filled the Barcroft Community House on Friday, March 27 for a reception featuring food, discussion and a mariachi band.

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.