PLP 08 Profile: Dominic Gabello

Name: Dominic Pius Gabello
Age: 28
Born: Binghamton/Vestal, NY
Current Digs: Arlington/Alexandria, VA
Occupation: Political Director, Virginians for Brian Moran
Favorite part about the job: Traveling across Virginia and meeting great people!
Your first job ever? Working as a Sales Associate at Bradlees from 1996 to 1998
Favorite book? The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
Favorite movie? Godfather
Comfort food? Joe's Pizza and Pasta Place in Arlington.
What's in your car CD player right now? Well I listen to Sirius and my iPod - so it could be anything
Next journey? I'll let you know next year
Favorite Virginia vacation spot? I love Sandbridge Beach - but I also love the Shenandoah Valley.
First political memory? Staying up all night in 1988 and being extremely disappointed that Michael Dukakis got his butt handed to him
Whom do you admire and why?  The Warners - Mark and John (even though they aren't related.)  While both come from separate political parties - they did what was right for Virginia and were both rewarded with success and very high approval ratings.  In 2004, John Warner said it best, "Politics be damned. Let's consider what's best for the men and women of this great state and their families and their children."  In addition, Mark Warner put his family before his ambitions when he decided not to run for President, even though that highly disappointed many, including me.
Best advice you ever got? It wasn't given directly to me (I just happened to be watching it on tv at the time) - but I think the best advice anyone can ever get is what Jimmy Valvano said, "Don't give up, don't ever give up."
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be and why?  George W. Bush - To ask why on so many questions.
Describe a perfect day.  Wake up and golf 36 holes.  Repeat next day.  And next day.  And next day.
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you?  As much as I complain about being in the car - I truly love to drive.  I put more than 50,000 miles on two cars over 4 years mostly traveling around Virginia but also going to see my family in NY and Ohio.
Ambition? I go back and forth between ever wanting to run for office - I do really like being behind the scenes and getting good Democrats elected to office.