Wade Randlett may have left the Technology Network to co-found RedGorilla.com, but his commitment to political advocacy seems stronger than ever. As the Democrat political director of Silicon Valley's premiere industry group the Technology Network, Randlett dedicated three years of his career to bringing together elected officials and industry executives so that they "got the point and got the message." That message was that execs had better spend more "face time" with Democrats President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, SD, Rep. Calvin Dooley, CA, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr. "We went through '96 with zero relationships with important elected officials and executives to a point now where it is awfully good," Randlett said. "We had the president out here last Friday; it was a living room conversation. One of the ideas that came up was universal access to the Web, so that by the end of next year no one can ever say that the Web is great, but I can't have it." Soon after meeting with Clinton he noticed the president raising issues they discussed at their informal meeting at his formal events. "This is the kind of dynamism that didn't exist in '96," Randlett explained. Now in 1999, Randlett sees things in a different light. "I believe that for 2000, 2001, 2002, the right model for political organizations around tech issues will be substantially more virtual," he said. "It will require more Web organizing, require a network capable to spread out." Working with John Witchel and his former boss Reed Hastings to create "a truly robust Web organization around one or two Web issues and get it ready for the next phase of political activism." In addition to developing this new generation of political activism, Randlett has co-founded RedGorilla.com along with Witchel, the CEO of the company, and Ariel Kleckner, the president of the company. The company is an application service provider, which aims to enable consumers to use their cell phones, palm pilots, and other small electronic devices for tasks ordinarily accomplished on their desktops.

     President Bill Clinton showed off some of his techno knowledge and talked about eBay, the e-rate and closing the digital divide at a dinner last Wednesday night hosted by the New Democrat Network, the political arm of the New Democrats, a moderate faction of congressional Democrats who have embraced information technology policy and other business issues. The San Jose online auction company, eBay, which he had visited on a trip to the state the prior week, had helped thousands of welfare recipients get off the government program, by enabling them to sell products online. He also said government should not rest until the poor and minorities have equal access to the Internet and that is why the e-rate, a fund that helps connect schools and libraries to the Internet, has been an important program.

     Gilmore hopes that people will celebrate his birthday in high style. Two months after his 50th birthday, Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, R, has started to celebrate by looking to raise $1 million dollars for the general assembly races in November. Gilmore is holding five birthday fundraisers and a bushel of people are showing their support. He started out in Arlington, VA, on Oct. 5. The next day, Texas First Lady Laura Bush attended one of the fundraisers in Roanoke and also accompanied Gilmore to an elementary school. Two days later, former President George Bush went to a fundraiser held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. And on Tuesday, Republican presidential frontrunner and Texas Gov. George W. Bush is scheduled to attend a lunch at the Norfolk Marriott and a dinner at a private home.

     Donald Prosnitz has been tapped to take over the newly created position of chief science adviser at the Justice Department. But it is a title he is quite familiar with, as he serves as chief scientist at the Nonproliferation, Arms Control and International Security Directorate and is a physicist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Prosnitz will be dividing his time in thirds at least for the next two years, since he will be on a two-year detail to the DOJ.

     Lori Mirek appears to have joined Marc Andreessen and Barry Ariko in the ranks of former America Online full-time employees. The online service provider has confirmed that she left this summer. Mirek briefly served as vice president and general manager of Netscape Business Solutions for AOL, but left to pursue other opportunities shortly after the division began to undergo a reorganization.

     They came out in droves to see who garnered the claim to fame as one of the 40 rising stars of the business world. If the long line on the sidewalk leading to the entrance of Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle wasn't enough of a clue that the action was taking place inside, then the nearly 300 people mingling inside the establishment was a pretty good indicator. The event was hosted by Washington Business Forward, which did a cover story on 40 of the region's stellar business people in its October issue. The high-tech industry was well represented at the function designed to provide an opportunity for industry movers and shakers to meet-and-greet. And among those making the list of those soon-to-be millionaires (if they aren't already) were Donn Davis, COO of AOL Interactive Properties Group, Susan Defife, founder and CEO of WomenCONNECT.com, Warren Martin, managing partner at the Metro Washington Global Tech Group and Jonathan Shames of Ernst & Young. "It's a great time to be a part of this industry," said Paresh Shah, chief executive officer of StarStock.com. "It is so young, and it's really starting to happen here (Washington, DC)." But the event represented more than just a good time, it gave more seasoned business veterans a chance to meet and in some cases potentially invest in some of the entrepreneurs' ventures. "I like these kinds of kinds of events because they enable me to meet the younger crowd. I get the chance to meet with the most promising in the business and decide if I want to funnel any money into them," said Charles Owens of AbleMedia, a VC firm in New York.

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