October 18 (Arlington, VA)—Josh Ruebner, Green Party candidate for Arlington County Board, challenged incumbent Chris Zimmerman (D) yesterday to call on the Arlington County Democratic Committee to return money that it has received from developers and real estate interests.
Ruebner issued the challenge at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights and North Rosslyn Civic Associations.
According to figures compiled from the Virginia State Board of Elections, the Arlington County Democratic Committee has received approximately $85,000 in campaign contributions in 2006, of which approximately $7,800 (9.2%) has come from developers or real estate interests (see table below for further details).
Ruebner stated: “I appreciate Mr. Zimmerman’s personal commitment not to accept campaign contributions from developers; however, the County Board is under the hegemony of the Democratic Party and the fact it takes money from developers creates a conflict of interests when it comes to issues such as affordable housing, over-development, and gentrification.”
Ruebner expressed his disappointment that “when presented with the opportunity to do so, Chris Zimmerman failed to take a principled stand and ask the Arlington County Democratic Committee to return this money. If we continue to elect Democrats to the County Board, then we should expect more of the same: policy decisions that benefit the interests of outside developers, not Arlington’s residents.”
The Green Party and its candidates refuse all corporate campaign contributions.
2006 Arlington County Democratic Committee Campaign Contributions from Developers and Real Estate Interests
Source: Virginia State Board of Elections
| Report Code | Contributor Name/Address | Business / Corporation Donor | Individual Donor | Date Received | Contribution this period | *Aggregate to date |
| JULP17_06 | Birenbaum Matthew – 3120 N 5th Street – Arlington – VA – 22201 | Abbey Road Property – Real Estate Developer – Bethesda Md. | 6/15/2006 | 400 | 400 |
| JULP17_06 | Dooley Mary P – 120 S Hudson Street – Arlington – VA – 22204 | MPD Mortgage Co – Mortgage Broker – Fairfax Va. | 6/6/2006 | 68 | 128 | |
| JULP17_06 | Dooley Mary P – 120 S Hudson Street – Arlington – VA – 22204 | MPD Mortgage Co – Mortgage Broker – Fairfax Va. | 6/20/2006 | 45 | 173 |
| JULP17_06 | Finlay Christopher C – 9447 Shouse Drive – Vienna – VA – 22182 | Mission Residential – Real Estate Broker – Vienna Va. | 6/8/2006 | 1000 | 1000 |
| JULP17_06 | International Council of Shopping Centers Inc. – 1221 Avenue of the Americas – New York – NY – 10020 | Trade Association – New York NY | 6/15/2006 | 1000 | 1000 |
| JULP17_06 | Ittelilag Nancy S – 1850 N Fort Myer Drive – Arlington – VA – 22209 | Turnberry Tower – Director of Sales – Arlington Va. | 6/13/2006 | 2000 | 2000 |
| JULP17_06 | Kohlhepp Daniel – 708 Highland Avenue – Du Bois – PA – 15801 | Crescent Resources – Real Estate – Charlotte NC | 6/8/2006 | 250 | 250 |
| JULP17_06 | Shooltz Thomas – 1232 Somerset Drive – McLean – VA – 22101 | TCS Realty Associates – Real Estate Investment – McLean Va. | 6/15/2006 | 250 | 250 |
| JULP17_06 | Silverwood Homes Inc. – 1925 Isaac Newton Square – Reston – VA – 20190 | Builder – Reston Va. | 6/15/2006 | 1000 | 1000 |
| JULP17_06 | Stuart H Miller Company – 11601 Nebel Street – Rockville – MD – 20852 | Real Estate – Rockville Va. | 6/6/2006 | 150 | 150 |
| JULP17_06 | Woodley Daniel R – 6122 Florence Lane – Alexandria – VA – 22310 | A.J. Dwoskin & Associates – Real Estate – Fairfax Va. | 6/13/2006 | 1600 | 1600 |