About

DNC Member

I am proud to represent Virginia as one of our four elected members of the Democratic National Commitee, with a four year term that began at the end of 2008′s inspirational National Convention. 

This site will feature my regular reports from the Democratic National Committee, occasional news and comment regarding Virignia politics, and useful links and references.  And Beagles.  Opinions set forth are strictly my own and do not represent the views of Virginia’s other DNC members or the Democratic Party of Virgnia.

DNC Campaign Statement, 2008

I believe that we are the party of opportunity, inclusion, and hope.

I am a Democrat because I believe that we are the party of opportunity, inclusion, and hope. Over the past 23 years, I have worked to elect Democrats and to strengthen our party, including by working to make our processes clear, open, and fair. I have served, always as a volunteer, with the Young Democrats, on local Democratic committees, and the Virginia Democratic Party’s State Central Committee. I am currently in my second term as Vice Chair for Rules of the State Party.

I intend to work for clear, fair, and open party processes.

I would like to take what I have learned about party organization and success at the local and state levels and use my experience to contribute to the national party by serving as one of Virginia’s members of the Democratic National Committee. Specifically, I intend to work for clear, fair, and open party processes; continue DNC support for state party building efforts; assist the Democratic Party’s outreach efforts; help elect Barack Obama and other Democrats; and keep Virginia Democrats informed about national party activities.

… elect Barack Obama, Mark Warner and other Virginia Democrats.

This is a particularly exciting year to be a Democrat – our Presidential candidates have brought hundreds of thousands of new voters into the political process, energized young (and not so young) volunteers, and helped convince many that politics is indeed a good thing. We need to continue this year with that spirit of enthusiasm and register new voters, build party organizations, and elect Barack Obama, Mark Warner and other Virginia Democrats.

bio   |   qualifications   |   resume

Bio

I was born in 1960 in Hong Kong (then a British Crown Colony) where my father, who worked in Defense Intelligence was stationed. He had met my mother in London in the 1950s, when he worked in the American embassy, and she, an Italian citizen, worked at the Italian embassy. I still have a number of relatives in Italy. After living in Greece and Japan, we moved to Arlington in 1966. I attended 12 years of Arlington County public schools (Ashlawn, Kenmore, Hoffman-Boston and Washington-Lee). Among other activities, I was founder of my high school ecology club and president of its astronomy club. I recall voting for Hubert Humphrey in my 4th grade mock election, and arguing strongly for George McGovern in 1972, but my first Democratic campaign activity was handing out literature on election day for successful Congressional candidate Joe Fisher at my junior high school polling place.

I then attended the University of Virginia, double majoring in Government and Religion. My major advisor, Dr. Larry Sabato, still believes that “politics is a good thing.” My biggest regret is being first on the waiting list, but not actually getting, a Lawn room. I joined the UVa Young Democrats during class registration and formed friendships which I still have. I held an office with the Young Democrats continuously from 1978 to 1988, including president of the UVa YDs, Chair of the Virginia College Dems, and President of the VYDs. We won the mock election for Mondale in 1984 and followed up with a mock election victory for Robb (for Governor) in 1985. After graduating in 1982, I moved up the road to the North Grounds and attended UVa law school, where, among other activities, I served as Honor Committee counsel in a 1985 case which, unjustifiably, became rather notorious. During the summers I worked in Richmond as a Governor’s Fellow with the Robb administration and as an intern with Attorney General Baliles.

Upon graduation from Law School in 1985, I moved back to Arlington, and got re-involved with the local Democratic Committee. I was elected to the Democratic Party of Virginia State Central Committee in 1993 and as Vice Chair for Rules in 2001. I worked as a volunteer (always) to help elect Democratic candidates. I also focused on rules and procedures, and also served as legal counsel for the 8th District Committee.

In 1985, I joined the litigation firm of  Hollingsworth LLP in Washington DC, where I am a partner. We specialize in defending and trying complex toxics, products liability, and environmental defense cases.

I live in Arlington, with my wife, Denise Vogt, who has her own landscape design company, and our beagle Baci (means kisses in Italian). My favorite non-work, non-political activity is to read about, and travel to, different places. My primary interest is probably European history, but trips to places like the Great Wall and the Serengeti were unforgettable.

Qualifications 

• Campaign volunteer for Democratic candidates in Virginia, 1974-present
  Obama campaign, 2008
• Virginia Young Democrats, 1978-1996
  Chair, Virginia College Democrats, 1981-1982 VYD National Committeeman, 1985-1987
  President, Virginia Young Democrats, 1987-1988
• Local Democratic Committees, 1979-1986, 1990-present
  Arlington, current
  Charlottesville, Albemarle, former
• Democratic National Commitee, Member 2008-present
• Virginia Democratic State Central Committee, 1993-present
  Vice Chair for Rules, 2001-2009
  Chair, SCC Resolutions Committee, 2001-2009
  SCC Member 1993-present
  8th CD legal counsel, 1993-2001
• Virginia Democratic Convention delegate or alternate, 1980-2008
  Chair, Temporary and Permanent Rules Committee 2004
  Chair, Temporary Rules Committee, 2008
• Democratic National Convention
  Americans for Democratic Action intern, 1980
  Clinton campaign volunteer, 1992
  Member, Rules Committee, 2004
• DNC Member, 2008

Background

• 12 years of Arlington County public schools (1966-1978)
• University of Virginia, BA with distinction (1982), JD (1985)
• Attorney with Hollingsworth LLC, Washington DC (1985-present)

RESUME

Education

• J.D., University of Virginia, 1985
  Honor Counsel; Moot Court; University Proxy Advisory Committee; Student Council
• B.A., with Distinction, University of Virginia, 1982
  Omicron Delta Kappa; Intermediate Honors; Student Counsel Legislative Committee
• Arlington County public primary and secondary schools, 1966-1978
  Founder, Washington-Lee High School Ecology Club, 1977

Legal Experience

• Admitted to Bar, Virginia, 1985; District of Columbia, 1986
• Partner, Hollingsworth LLC, 1992-present; Associate, 1985-92
  Specializing in federal and state civil and administrative litigation and counseling,
  primarily in the areas of environmental law, toxic torts and products liability defense.
• Intern, Office of the Virginia Attorney General, 1984
  Human & Natural Resources Division

Appointments

• Arlington County Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee, 1993-95
• Northern Virginia-Potomac River Basin Committee, 1986-90; Vice Chair, 1989-90
• Governor’s Fellows Program, 1983, Secretary of Public Safety

Democratic Party Experience

• Volunteer, federal, state and local Democratic campaigns, 1974-present
• Democratic Party of Virginia, Vice Chair for Rules (2ndVice Chair), 2001-2009
  Chair, State Resolutions Committee, 2001-2009
  Member, Steering Committee and State Central Committee, 2001-present
• Member, Eighth District Democratic Committee and Central Committee, 1993-2001 
• Member, Democratic National Convention Rules Committee, 2004
• Legal Counsel, Eighth District Democratic Committee, 1993-2001
  Member, Virginia Association of Democratic Campaign Counsel, 1994-present
  Steering Committee, Northern Virginia Lawyers for Wilder, 1989
• Arlington County Democratic Committee, 1985-86, 1990-present
  Past member, Charlottesville, Albemarle Democratic Committees, 1979-85
• Virginia Young Democrats, President, 1987-88; National Committeeman, 1985-87; Chairman, College Democrats, 1981-1982; Coordinator, VYD State Convention, 1981; President, U.Va. Chapter, 1980-81; Member, 1978-96
• Delegate or Alternate, State and District Democratic Conventions, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2008
  • Member, State Temporary Credentials Committee, 1988
  • Member, State Temporary & Permanent Rules Committee, 1996
  • Chair, Eighth District Rules Committee, 1996, 2000, 2008
  • Convener, Eighth District Rules Committee, 1997
  • Chair, State Convention Temporary and Permanent Rules Committees, 2004
• Clinton for President, 1992, Arlington Visibility Coordinator, National Convention Volunteer
• Obama for America, 2008, volunteer
• Member, Roosevelt Society (Arlington); Kennedy-King Dinner Committee (8th CD), 1993-1996
  1997 Virginia Inaugural Gala Finance Committee
• Intern, Americans for Democratic Action, 1980, National Convention Volunteer
• Volunteer, Presidential Transition Office, 1976, 1992
• Election Observer, Czechoslovakia, International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth, 1993