News

Former Washington Post journalist running unopposed to lead Alexandria Democrats

By James Cullum
Jon DeNunzio is running unopposed for chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee (courtesy of Jon DeNunzio)

Change is coming to the Alexandria Democratic Committee.

Jon DeNunzio, a former editor at The Washington Post and owner of a digital marketing firm,  is running unopposed for ADC chair. Over the past nine years, he has held a number of ADC leadership positions, including corralling door-knockers for the Democrats to Go initiative, as well as coordinating volunteers and precinct operations in the West End.

DeNunzio is slated to succeed Sandy Marks as ADC chair in the organization’s election on Jan. 5, when members will also vote to fill slots in the organization’s executive committee.

DeNunzio lives in the West End with his wife and two daughters. He was a high school sports editor with The Washington Post from 2000 to 2007, before working as the publication’s innovations editor from 2009 to 2010 and editor of interactivity and community until 2012.

He left journalism that year before founding his marketing firm, Squarely Digital, in 2013. During the 2016 election, he canvassed for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“There’s a direct line between what I do and what the ADC has done over the past few years,” DeNunzio said. “We’re in a great place right now. Sandy’s leadership and all the volunteers who’ve worked with us have really expanded what the ADC does and what it is.”

DeNunzio said he wants to keep the organization on track.

“Politics has changed a lot in the last two, four, six years, and we want to make sure that we’re still doing the things that are most effective to communicate our message and win votes,” he said. “We want people to feel like, if they come to the ADC to get involved, we are going to give them smart answers. If they’re interested in this policy, this issue, this candidate, here’s the smartest way to support them. That’s really one of my big goals.”

The ADC will vote on the following leadership positions on Jan. 5 at the King Street campus of Alexandria City High School:

  • Chair — Jon DeNunzio
  • Vice Chair for Finance and Administration — Eva Hartman
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, East (School District A) — Blake Ballard
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, Central (School District B) — The team of Erin Lee and Laura Plaia
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, West (School District C) — The team of Natalie Rogers and Dustin Narcisse
  • Secretary — Nigel Mease
  • Treasurer — Chalin Smith
  • Vice Chair for Communications — Joelle Jordan
  • Vice Chair for Data + Membership —  Jacki Garry
  • Vice Chair for Resolutions — Boyd Walker or John Connor
  • Leadership Circle Chair — The team of David Lord and Greg Parks
  • Vice Chair for Community Outreach — Eileen Cassidy Rivera
  • Vice Chair for Volunteer Coordination — Kara Pitek or David Paladin-Fernandez
  • Vice Chair for Democrats to Go — Steve Verdier
  • Vice Chair for Dining for Delegates — Sharon Widmayer

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.