By Brad Swanson: The recent Supreme Court decision allowing Virginia legislative elections to go ahead this year under a map drawn by a court-appointed expert doesn’t solve the problem of gerrymandering. Only a state Constitutional amendment taking district-drawing power away from a partisan legislature can do it. That is the view of OneVirginia2021, a non-partisan group dedicated to fair redistricting.…
Now that the Democratic primary is over, Fairfax County Democrats are seeking to unite the party behind winning candidates in the runup to the Nov. 5 general election. Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee was first off the mark, holding its Unity Event on June 12, a mere 24 hours after polls closed. Seven candidates for state and local office, including…
Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay won the Democratic Primary for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night, beating opponents at-large school board member Ryan McElveen, Georgetown Law professor Alicia Plerhoples and developer Tim Chapman. The race for Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fairfax County was won by challenger Steve Descano, who defeated incumbent Ray Morrogh, a Fairfax County prosecutor for more than…
By Alicia Plerhoples: Alicia Plerhoples is a candidate for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in the Democratic primary on June 11. Fairfax County is one of the best educated and wealthiest communities in the country. Fairfax voters are also increasingly progressive in outlook, with a desire to enable equity to provide opportunities for a better future for…
By Ray Morrogh: Ray Morrogh is Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County and candidate for re-election in the Democratic primary on June 11. In my 35 years of experience as a prosecutor, I have approached each case with the same guiding principle: to seek justice in every case. I’m proud that my record has led hundreds of defense attorneys to endorse…
The Democratic Primary will take place from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11. Participation is open to any registered voter and you don’t need to re- register or sign up with the Democratic Party in order to cast a ballot in the Primary. The voting process is the same as it is in the November General Election. Just head…
By Karen Kirk: It’s time to take the “Virginia miracle” into America’s mainstream and win back the Senate and the presidency, said U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro at the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s Jefferson Obama Annual Dinner Sunday night in McLean. DeLauro, D-Conn., said that she is optimistic about what is about to happen in America because “of the story that…
By Steve Descano: Candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney in the Democratic primary on June 11 Since the 1960s, Fairfax County’s criminal justice system has been led by the mistaken notion that “tough-on-crime” policies reduce criminal behavior and improve outcomes for our community. Instead, these policies harm our neighbors and perpetuate a cycle of decreased opportunity, increased poverty, and increased crime. The…
By Brad Swanson: Kofi Annan is puzzled. He’s the president of the Fairfax County NAACP, one of the largest and most active chapters in the Commonwealth, and winner of a prestigious prize as the best chapter in the country. Yet Gov. Ralph Northam’s office, much less the governor himself, won’t speak to him about how to deal with a racist…
By Brad Swanson: Democratic Party candidates for criminal prosecutor clashed in a debate Friday, May 24, as challenger Steve Descano painted a vision of “progressive justice” while incumbent Ray Morrogh, represented by a staff attorney, insisted on the importance of deciding each case on its individual merits. Morrogh, who was ill and sent Katherine Stott from his office as a…
By Brad Swanson: The four Democratic Party candidates for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair met on Friday, May 24, to debate the issues and found themselves largely agreeing on the need for affordable housing, universal pre-kindergarten, school trailer elimination, and mass transit expansion. The candidates differed less on the goals and more on who could accomplish them best. Jeff…
Karen Keys-Gamarra, Abrar Omeish and Rachna Sizemore Heizer were endorsed for the Fairfax County School Board by Fairfax County Democratic Committee on Tuesday night, May 21. The three candidates, in the order above, were the top vote-getters in a poll among FCDC members, easing out incumbent Ilryong Moon. A total of 1,337 members voted through early voting and at the…
Chris Koerner, Gerald Peters and Monica Billger were endorsed for Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District director by Fairfax County Democratic Committee on Tuesday night, May 21. The three candidates, in the order above, were the top vote-getters in a poll among FCDC members, easing out Richard Clayton. A total of 1,337 members voted through early voting and at…
Candidates for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District say what motivates them to seek a seat on the board and why they are qualified to serve as stewards of the environment. They made their comments at a recent forum. The FCDC Endorsement Vote is at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, May 21, at Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake…