The Virginia 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee recognized this year’s winners of various accolades at an April 16 brunch reception.
“They are clearly dedicated individuals who support community service, the labor movement and Democratic values,” said committee chairman Robert Haley.
This year’s winners were:
• John N. Sturdivant Award: Robert Young, president of the Fairfax Firefighters Association. Young is a lieutenant in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, has served for nearly 20 years and is a member of the agency’s Hazardous Materials Response Team. After high school, Young served in the U.S. Army infantry during the first Gulf War. He also was selected to be a member of the elite U.S. Army Old Guard.
The committee gives the award annually to a member of the labor community for his or her commitment to Democratic ideals and values. It is named after John Sturdivant, who was the first African-American elected president of the American Federation of Government Employees.
• Gartlan South Award: State Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw. Saslaw is the longest-serving member of the state Senate and represents the 35th District, which includes the City of Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria. He will not seek re-election in November.
• Gartlan North Award: Leslie Houston, president of the Fairfax Education Association. A special-education teacher and youth mentor for at-risk teens, she is a passionate advocate for students and educators, committee members said.
Houston was one of 207 Fairfax County Public Schools employees to earn an FCPS Individual Excellence Award and in 2021, was a member of the Student Leadership Academy team that was nominated for the Team Excellence Award in Support of Student Achievement.
• Silverthorne Award: Judy Fisher. A lifelong Democrat who moved to Northern Virginia in 1968 after graduating from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with a degree in mathematics, Fisher had a 28-year career teaching secondary-school math in Fairfax County. Fisher is a member of the Fairfax City Democratic Committee and Fairfax City Citizens for Smarter Growth. Since the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, she has advocated for gun-safety legislation.
“I want to congratulate Bobby, Sen. Saslaw, Leslie and Judy for their immeasurable contributions for Fairfax County,” said U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-11th). “Their advocacy, dedication and commitment to our community has been unparalleled for decades.”
Young Democrats Set Leadership for 2023: The Fairfax Young Democrats organization has its new leadership team in place for 2023.
Camila Alonzo Mez and Rachel Reibach will serve as co-presidents, with Saddam Salim as vice president, Denver Supinger as treasurer, Izzy Oldfield as secretary and Ethan Gardner as political director.
