Vince DeMiero: educator, leader, and soon to be legislator

Posted on Jul 9, 2010 in Life | 6 comments

Vince DeMiero is known to many, many people in the south Snohomish county area from his work teaching, coaching, inspiring… and most recently, campaigning. Vince is running for Washington State Representative (democrat, position 1) in the first legislative district. And those of us who know him know he’ll be an amazing force in Olympia.

For that reason, I’m posting here a little something I wrote about my former high school teacher and newspaper adviser—and current friend and colleague. It will be read this evening at a fundraiser in Mountlake Terrace called “First District’s Got Talent,” which, sadly, I cannot attend. I hope it inspires you to at least vote for Vince in the August primary and perhaps even get you to support his campaign with a donation or some volunteer work.

It was 1992. George Bush—the elder—had just thrown up on the Japanese Prime Minister. Another momentous event took place at MTHS, when Vince DeMiero asked me, an introverted freshman, to join the school newspaper The Hawkeye. And though that request didn’t cause quite the international frenzy that George’s upchuck did, it sure changed my life. I joined the newspaper staff where I learned to write and edit, developed life-long friendships, and figured out those new-fangled computer thingies. Vince illustrated to me everyday what it was to have a teacher be not only an educator, but an adviser, a friend, and an equal participant in learning. He wanted us to call him “Vince,” for goodness sake! (“‘Mr. DeMiero’” is my dad’s name,” Vince would joke.) As a young teenager, this sort of camaraderie was not only unusual, it was unusually inspiring! I never worked harder to do well than the things I did on the Hawkeye and for Vince’s classes because he made me want to do well; both to impress him and to better myself. That’s the kind of teacher—and leader—Vince DeMiero is. And believe me when I say it wasn’t just me. Every student of Vince’s in this room can vouch for that truth.

The constituents of the first legislative district should be grateful and excited (okay, how about totally pumped up?!) that Vince wants to bring his leadership and passion for education to Olympia on their behalf. The folks in this room are here because one way or another, we know him and know he’s the best choice for the position. It’s everyone else—those who haven’t had the opportunity to work with him, learn from him, be coached by him, or know his wonderful family—who need to be informed so they can cast the vote in August’s primary. So lets all do our part to get that word out and repay some of the love and life-changing interactions we’ve all had with Vince. Besides, he promises not to throw up on any of us: that’s more than some U.S. presidents can offer!”

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