You never know what you’re going to learn walking down Seventh Avenue. Turns out Barack Obama’s National Political Director is a Park Sloper. His name is Patrick Gaspard and he’s a PS 321 and MS 51 dad and a familiar face on Seventh Avenue.

I kind of knew that but I keep forgetting to write about it.

The person who tipped me off explained that the political director is the one who’s working on the ground to get the vote out all over the country. It’s an important role and a busy one.

Needless to say, Gaspard probably hasn’t spent a whole lot of time on Seventh Avenue lately. Some friends saw him on TV on stage with Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Here’s an excerpt from an article about Gaspard online.

When Patrick Gaspard was asked two years ago about his accomplishments, this is what he had to say:
What is the most important thing you have accomplished so far?
“Raising two children of color in America.” Two years from now, what do
you want to have done? “That’s the easiest question I’ve ever been asked – I want to begin to
repair the imbalance in the Supreme Court by electing a Democratic
President.”

I found this bio online at the 1199SEIU website.

Patrick Gaspard, 1199SEIU’s
Executive Vice President for politics and legislation  has been named
national political director of Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential
campaign.

The political director spearheads relationships with other elected officials, labor unions and outside political groups.

Gaspard
has led the Union’s legislative efforts in Albany, Annapolis, Boston
and Washington, DC for the past year. Since February, when the 1199SEIU
Executive Council joined with the rest of SEIU across the country to
endorse Sen. Obama, Patrick has coordinated the volunteer efforts that
sent hundreds of Union members to Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Indiana and other primary election states.

“This
election offers a clear choice between John McCain’s agenda for
continuing the failed policies of George W. Bush, and Barack Obama’s
vision for change,” Gaspard said. “I am proud to be a part of this
campaign, and I look forward to working to bring people together across
the country to elect Barack Obama.”

He is taking a
partial leave of absence from the 1199SEIU to take up his new position.
After the November election, Patrick will return to help the Union
mobilize all across the country to support the Obama administration’s
push for healthcare for all, and for the Employee.