PLP 08 Profile: Helen O'Beirne

Political Leaders Profile Class of 2008

Name: Helen O'Beirne
Age: 27
Born: Born in Brunswick, GA, spent my first few years on St. Simon's Island, GA, but consider Richmond, VA my hometown, where I've been ever since.
Current Digs: Proud to live, work, and play in Downtown Richmond, VA!
Occupation: Policy Director, which is a mix of lobbying and grassroots organizing at a statewide fair housing nonprofit, Housing Opportunities Made Equal.
Favorite part about the job: The excitement of the General Assembly session is hard to beat, but getting paid to devote myself to the pursuit of social justice is certainly the most rewarding aspect.
Your first job ever? Chesapeake Bagel Bakery.  I can almost still smell the cream cheese under my fingernails. Shudder.
Favorite book? Recently, America: Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart.
Favorite movie? Alice in Wonderland. Classic tale of a young girl's adventures.
Comfort food? Peanut butter on anything, including straight out of the jar!
What's in your car CD player right now? DMB, Live from Radio City Music Hall.
Next journey? Greek islands in May! Let's hope I find my way back.
Favorite Virginia vacation spot? My girls and I do Virginia Beach every summer (Lunasea!), but I also have great friends in Lake Monticello that I visit frequently.
First political memory? Does getting elected Prom Queen count? No serioulsy, not until high school, when my government teacher finally brought American history to life for me.
Whom do you admire and why? Service workers who earn minimum wage but somehow manage to raise a family. I'm thinking specifically of the people who clean my office building. They're always so nice and upbeat, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to make ends meet and still remain positive about life.
Best advice you ever got? Rarely affirm, never refute, and always distinguish. Delegate Bill Janis shared that with me, and told me it has served him equally well in law school, court, and the General Assembly.
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be and why? I'm going to avoid the temptation of mentioning a pop celebrity, because I know dinner would be disappointing. Instead, I'll pick Governor Kaine, who I know is incapable of being dull, even for a split second! I'd ask him most about his decision-making process, which I know much be incredibly difficult for someone trying to balance faith, passion, and the reality of politics.
Describe a perfect day. This will reveal my laziness, but I'd have to say unwinding on the couch with my dog and a marathon of America's Next Top Model. Sheesh, I'm superficial!
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you? I'm incredibly insecure.
Ambition, political or otherwise? Saving the world from evildoers, especially those pesky predatory lenders! Overly ambitious? Ok, maybe just getting better consumer protections on the books in Virginia, even if it means doing so from the dias.