Tom Smith named Chair of Ward 3 Democrats

Long time Spring Valley activist Tom Smith was elected Chair of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee. A 22 year veteran and volunteer for the Ward 3 Dems, Tom has a 7 point plan to carry forward an agenda to help further the mission of the organization:

· Organize issue forums as part of the regular meetings, so we can routinely discuss and debate issues that are important to the Committee’s delegates and to all Democrats in our ward;

· Develop and mount an aggressive voter registration drive designed to reverse the steady decline and increase Democratic voter registration in Ward Three;

· Appoint a special voter education committee to immediately identify innovative strategies for the Committee to arrest and turn-around the alarming drop in registered Democratic voter turnout in Ward Three for our local elections;

· Initiate, sponsor, and convene special interactive political programs and events that can energize and engage even more residents of our ward in the political process and the Committee;

· Continue to co-sponsor programs with Democratic Committees of other wards, so we have a better understanding of the issues that concern Democrats in other parts of the city and demonstrate our commitment to foster cooperation among Democrats city-wide;

· Mount an ongoing aggressive communications initiative to expand interest and participation in the Committee, educate the community and our elected leaders about the work of the Committee, and showcase the Committee as a model of organized Democratic politics in our city; and

· Rebuild the treasury.

Tom is an active member of the community serving as a Board member of DC Babe Ruth, a youth baseball organization, the Spring Valley-Wesley Heights Citizens Association and other community groups. He is a long-time active supporter and volunteer for Food and Friends. Tom is active in the Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) serving as a lay leader and teaching 6th Grade Judaic Studies. Previously, he had served as a Board member for Camp Shon T'ai, a clinical child care facility, and the Center for the Study of Social Welfare and Community Development. He is also am the only non-veteran ever appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Board for the Blinded Veterans Association, a congressionally chartered veterans group. He has also been active in the Washington Urban League; the Jewish Social Service Agency; and has worked as a volunteer on a range of causes, including Zero Population Growth, the American Foundation for Vision Awareness, and on homeless issues in Ward Three.

Professionally, he manages his own communications and marketing firm that specializes in national telecommunications policy issues and international health care.