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Andrew Luton (left) and James Martin are politically active UMW seniors. The 21-year-olds, Republican and Democrat respectively, have set aside their political differences and become friends and cordial roommates. |
At the Kenmore Avenue home of Andrew Luton and James Martin, everything's a bipartisan effort.
Paying the rent. Stocking the fridge. Cleaning the kitchen.
Luton and Martin, both 21-year-old seniors at the University of Mary Washington, share a lot of things in common, but political persuasion isn't one of them.
Luton, chairman of the UMW College Republicans, volunteers daily at phone banks for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell.
Martin, a longtime member of the Young Democrats, stumps for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds. For the last three years, the license plate on his Ford Escape has read "DEEDS09."
Each one will spend tomorrow supporting his candidate at polling stations throughout the Fredericksburg area before returning home to congratulate or comfort his roommate.
POLITICS UNITES
Ironically, the two became friendly in 2008, during one of the most politically polarizing years in recent history.
They'd been aware of each other for years. Luton first came across Martin's name during his freshman year while reading the editorial pages of The Bullet, UMW's student newspaper.
"I remember saying, 'Who is this idiot?'" recalled Luton, who disagreed with Martin's columns criticizing Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen and his re-election campaign.
They shared two classes together during their sophomore year--Great Lives and geography--but didn't interact much.
But during their junior year, the politically active students ran into each other on a regular basis. They decided that despite their political differences, they enjoyed each other's company. They've been room-mates since May.
"We have more in common just by being politically active as opposed to some who are apathetic and don't care," said Luton, a history major from Lexington.
"We don't have political discussions, but we talk about politics, the inside jokes of politics," added Martin, an Arlington native majoring in economics and political science. "I think Andrew and I respect the same people and joke about the same people."
Or as Luton put it: "We both accept that both of our parties have great people--and some not so great."
'AGREE TO DISAGREE'
Both men trace their political fascination back to the 2000 presidential election when they were still middle-school students.
Luton and his family, then living in California, were solidly in the George W. Bush camp. Meanwhile, Martin and his parents--not yet Democrats--campaigned for John McCain in the Republican primaries.
The roommates find it amusing that last year Luton was the one campaigning for McCain, while Martin--whose family once sported a 32-square-foot McCain sign on their Arlington roof--stumped for Barack Obama.
They've both experienced victories and defeats over the years. Martin endured Deeds' loss to McDonnell in the 2005 race for Virginia attorney general.
The following year it was Luton's turn to be disappointed when Democrat Jim Webb beat Republican incumbent George Allen in the U.S. Senate race.
They keep the political teasing to a minimum when one triumphs over the other. After all, they have to live together.
Still there's no denying it's a house divided. On their living room mantel, each proudly displays a political poster from the 1964 elections.
Luton's--on the right, of course--touts conservative presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, while Martin's urges voters to back "the entire Democratic ticket" of presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson, running mate Hubert Humphrey and New York's U.S. Senate candidate Robert Kennedy.
"We both know we're never going to change the other person's mind," Luton said. "We can agree to disagree."
FINDING COMMON GROUND
Friends of the two say their relationship works because they're both moderates--though Martin is known for being a bit of a Deeds "fanatic," said Jon Shields, chairman of the Young Democrats.
"I've talked with Andrew about us taking shifts if Deeds loses--watching James to make sure he's eating and taking care of himself," joked Shields.
They're both pretty tidy, which makes them ideal roommates, said mutual pal Sam Bradshaw, a member of the College Republicans. They're also fairly good-humored, she said.
Once, when Martin got locked out of the house, he had to come over to the Stafford Republican Headquarters office on U.S. 1 to retrieve a key from Luton, who was phone banking on behalf of McDonnell. Martin wouldn't cross the threshold, Bradshaw said, but instead waved to them from the parking lot.
"Funny things like that happen," she said, adding that politically active students at UMW--regardless of party affiliation--tend to gravitate toward each other.
"All of us are kind of decently good friends," Bradshaw said. "It's kind of a strange dynamic."
Over the last year or so, Martin and Luton have managed to find common ground.
Martin has convinced Luton to start recycling. And Luton has taught Martin how to recognize the make and model of weapons used in the old films they like to watch.
Both love the politically charged atmosphere that exists in Fredericksburg, half-way between the state and national capitals.
It's allowed each to pursue political internships--Luton in the D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District, and Martin in Deeds' state senate office in Richmond.
Both bought U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy's memoirs on the same afternoon, unbeknownst to each other. And both intend to run for office some day.
Whether they'd vote for each other remains to be seen. But each cautions against judging others based on their party affiliation.
You never know when that political rival could end up as your roommate.
"One problem we have today is people don't want to compromise and listen. Both sides do have valid points and ideas," said Luton. "Life's too short to hate someone over their political beliefs."
Edie Gross: 540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
