Politics & Government

Democratic Activist Runs for Braddock District Supervisor

Marc Greidinger plans to work full time if elected as supervisor.

Marc Greidinger has been part of political issues from the nuclear freeze movement and the South African disinvestment movement of a few decades ago to his local participation as his neighborhood’s representative on the Braddock District Council and the President of the Friends of Lake Accotink Park. He’s even put on a donkey outfit before to help register young voters during the 2008 election. Now, he’s working to add another title to his political resume: Braddock District Supervisor.

“I have the opportunity to do something and give something back and make this area a better place so that if my kids decide to stay here I’ll have left them a legacy,” Greidinger said.

If he wins the seat, Greidinger plans to close his law practice and work as supervisor full-time.

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“I think [a $3.8 billion dollar budget] deserves full time and attention,” Greidinger said. “[Current Supervisor] John Cook is a full time lawyer, part-time supervisor. I’m going to be quite the opposite.”

Cook disagreed with Greidinger on this.

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"I'm running on my record, which I think is a record of accomplishment in the community," Cook said. "I go to community meetings all the time and I'm out there in the community solving problems."

Cook also pointed out that his legal expertise has come in handy recently as Chairman Sharon Bulova brought him into meetings on the Covanta incinerator issue because of his background.

"I don’t think it’s a minus that I have a law practice – I think it’s a benefit," Cook said.

Greidinger's election has revolved around talking to as many people in the Braddock District as he can.

“I knock on hundreds of doors every week,” Greidinger said. “…That’s what’s required in a local race like this in order to win."

He has also reached out with Facebook, where he now has over 300 friends and a fan site.

“[Social media] is a way of gathering people who you can’t necessarily get in a room together to talk about issues and to understand the kind of message that we want to bring forward,” Greidinger said. He has also used social media to reach out to younger voters, who he’s used to working with since his time as a canvasser for the Young Democrats of America in 2008.

Kenton Ngo, the outgoing co-president of the George Mason University College Democrats known for blogging on political issues since he was in middle school, is serving as Greidinger’s Webmaster.

“I've known Marc for many years since I went to school with his son Alex at Keene Mill,” Ngo said. “I have seen in him a tireless fighter for Fairfax. He's spent his life in the courts as a civil rights lawyer championing our health care and right to vote, and I know he'll take that fighting spirit to the Board of Supervisors.”

Greidinger makes no bones about the importance of this race to area Democrats.

“With John Cook in the supervisor’s seat, it’s kind of a red dagger into the heart of blue Fairfax,” Greidinger said. “He drives Republicans to the poll – people come and vote for him and also vote for other republicans… Making sure to turn this district blue is a fundamental priority for all democrats. That’s what I’m going to be working on real hard between now and November.”

Before then, however, he will face opponent Christopher Wade in the Democratic primary in August.

"[Wade] is a nice young man and a smart young man," Greidinger said. "He should be prepared for a vigorous race because I’m certainly going to deliver it to him."

In the meantime, he’s been building up his negotiating skills for his political career at home.

“Somehow in the same conversation that we were discussing my run for office, [my wife] got me to agree to the renovation of two bathrooms and the kitchen,” Greidinger said with a laugh. “All politics is local.”

 

Find out more about Marc Greidinger in the videos.


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