Zimmerman Refuses Green Challenge to Call on ACDC to Return Developer Money

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
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