Full Biography

Walter was elected to the Arlington County Board on March 11, 2003, in a Special Election, making him the first Latino ever elected in Arlington County. Re-elected in November, 2007, he served as Chairman of the Board in 2008 and Vice-Chairman in 2007.

While on the County Board, Walter has focused on involving diverse stakeholders in Arlington’s civic dialogue while creating a strong community.  He has worked to address perennial issues such as affordable housing, community and economic development, education and employment, fiscal accountability, and parks and recreation.

A number of accomplishments reflect Walter’s commitment to improving life for all Arlingtonians. For example, Walter spearheaded the creation of the nationally recognized Community Volunteer Network, formerly known as the Community Role Models, promoting civic engagement and leadership development among young adults through educational and service opportunities.

Walter Tells His Story

His award-winning Non-Profit Initiative provides assistance to a wide range of nonprofit organizations helping the neediest in our county.  Walter created FitArlington to promote a culture of fitness and healthy living for all members of our community, and his quarterly Latino Roundtable, unique in the region, provides a civic engagement forum for our newest residents.

Long before he joined the County Board, Walter was making a difference as an active community leader.  He spearheaded the creation of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center, which helps provide opportunities for workers.  At the county level, Walter served on a number of citizen advisory groups, including the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission, the Affordable Housing Task Force, the Sports Commission, the Neighborhood Day Organizing Committee and the Bicentennial Celebration Task Force.

At the state level, Walter was the founding chairman of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO), the founding president of both the American Salvadoran Association of Virginia and the Latino Democrats of Virginia, and was Virginia State Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Council of La Raza.  

Walter has received many awards and recognitions over the years.  The Arlington Community  Foundation honored him with the  “Spirit of Community Award”, and the Arlington Jaycees named Walter “Outstanding Young Arlingtonian of the Year”.  In 2003 he was honored by the Youth Project with the “Community Leader Award”, and by DC United with their “Community Hero Award.”  In 2007, the Ethiopian Community Development Council honored Walter with their “Distinguished Service Award” for outstanding leadership and community service.  Walter received the annual Greater Washington Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award for his unwavering support of the Latino Business and Entrepreneurial Community in our region.  Also in 2007 Walter received the prestigious Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award from the Center for Non-Profit Advancement for creating the Non-Profit Assistance Initiative in Arlington.  In 2008, after being nominated by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Walter received the “Ohtli Award”, given by the Mexican government to distinguished Latinos for their support of the Mexican community living in the U.S.

Born in El Salvador, Walter moved to the United States at the age of 13. He studied Government and Communications at George Mason University and has worked as an investigator, a business consultant and as a Congressional Aide.  He has lived in the Dominion Hills neighborhood of Arlington since 1992 with his wife Robin, an Arlington Public Schools educator and past recipient of the prestigious Teacher of the Year Award both for Arlington County and Northern Virginia.