Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-29
S. in Arlington
Form Group 10
Oppose AIM
Will Nominate
Candidates for
County Bourd Posts
BY WILLIAM ]. ELVIN

Formation of a new political
group to compete with Arlington
Independent Movement in nomi-
mating candidates for the county
board was announced today.
The announcement apparently
signals at least a temporary end
to party contests for the county
board. It also marks the end Of
Town Meeting. the Non-partisan
nominating convention.
The new organization. known
as Arlingtonians for Better
County, includes IS Republicans,
IS Democrats, IS Non-partisans
and 10 members who are UNI
affiliated. The party members
joined the new group as individ-
uals, not as representatives OF
their parties.
Co-chairmen Of ABC are Ed
mund D. Campbell, the Demo-
cratic nominee for Congress in
1852; Kirkley S. Coulter, former
chairman of the Arlington Re-
publican Executive Committee,
and Edward B. Hincks, a lead
ing Non-partisan.
Mrs. Stone in Group
The ABC Planning Committee
includes a member of the Viz
ginia House of Delegates, Mrs.
Kathryn Stone. Democrat; Leo
Urbanske, jr.. chairman of the
Democratic Executive Commit
tee; Mrs. Robert w. Cox. Nom
partisan candidate for the board
in 1852; Brian Bell, Democratic
candidate for the board last
year: Ivan Booker, Non-partisan
candidate last year, and Mrs.
Robert l.. Groom. wife of q
former Republican county chair
man.
Birth of ABC stemmed from
the success of Arlington indie
pendent Movement. known as
AIM, in electing board candi-
dates. Last fall. Mrs. Leone
Buchholz. AIM, was reelected,
her opposition being divided
mostly between the Democratic
and Non-partisan candidates.
ABC. like AIM. will play down
party affiliations and will, try to
make a broad appeal to a wide
range of voters. AIM terms it.
self the conservative group in
the county.
The new group announced 1t
is arranging an open convention
to be held late in May to name
candidates. Neither the persons
attending the convention nor
its sponsors will be required to
pledge support for the nominees
when they run for the county
board.
Other Members
Other members of the ABC
Planning Committee include:
Alan Dean, Non-partisan, for
mer board member; Mrs. Maude
Dove, secretary of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee;
Dean Harold Fox of George
Washington University; Lau-
renee Knappen, Civic Fedora
ton leader: Ernest Lyons. vice
chairman of the Democratic
Executive Committee.
Also, Howard Cannon, Nom
partisan leader; Dr.. John New
dorp, Democrat. PTA leader;
John Palmer, president of the
Arlington Education Association.
the teachers organization; Rob-
ert C. Rollings. Republican COM
mitteeman: Mrs. Ruby Simpson.
Non-partisan, former board
clerk.
Two board seats will be open
this fall. Robert A. Peck, Re-
publican, has said he does not
intend to run for reelection.
Last fall he supported Mrs. Buch-
holz in the board race. The term
of Alvin F. Kimel also expires
this year. He was elected on an
AIM slate but has announced he
will be a candidate for delegate
in the July IL Democratic pri-
mary.
The announcement by the
ABC co-chairman said. "ABC
was created by common agree
ment of SIS well-knoWn Arling-
ton residents to answer the cry
ing need for better government
at the county board level.
In creating ABC. the whole pur-
pose is to provide a proper OPP
portunity for potential candi-
dates and interested voters by
holding the open convention"