Trump’s election made politics essential for this middle-schooler

By Billy Bates: The author is a rising senior at Fairfax High School and president of the school’s Young Democrats chapter  The year was 2016. I had just woken up and was preparing to leave for school when my mom told me that Donald Trump had won the election. A lump started forming in my throat. How had this happened?…

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Fairfax County Democrats seek unity in aftermath of primary

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…

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Keys-Gamarra, Omeish and Heizer top Fairfax Dems school board endorsement vote

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…

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Meet the at-large school board candidates

In their own words, at-large candidates for Fairfax County School Board say what motivates them to seek a seat on the board, why they are qualified, and their plans to lift up all students. 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…

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School board endorsement vote leads to soul-searching at FCDC

By Brad Swanson: School board members have great power in Fairfax County, the 10th largest school district in the country, with a budget of almost $3 billion. And candidates – who are technically non-partisan — avidly seek the endorsement of the Democratic Party to gain advantage in this increasingly blue region. But who decides which candidates will get the Democratic…

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School Board at-large candidates sound off on issues

By Karen Kirk: School safety, diversity and challenges facing Fairfax County Schools were the top issues at a forum Saturday featuring at-large candidates for the Fairfax County School Board. The forum was held at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church and early voting followed. Here are the four candidates’ views: Safety in schools in an era of mass shootings:…

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Beto barnstorms Virginia, including stops in Fairfax County

Beto O’Rourke barnstormed through northern Virginia yesterday in a minivan, making several stops to address enthusiastic crowds. Our correspondent caught up with him in the backyard of Fairfax County School Board Member Tammy Kaufax (Lee District), where he presented his presidential vision to about 100 supporters. O’Rourke, a former congressperson from El Paso, Tx., highlighted inequities to minorities under the…

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Fairfax County Democratic candidates reach out to Muslim Community

Muslims are believed to be under-represented among Fairfax County voters, but outreach efforts by Democratic Party candidates for local office aim to change that equation. The latest such effort took place Saturday, Feb. 16, at Dar al Hijrah Mosque in Mason District, where three school board candidates met with Muslim community members to describe the workings of the  Fairfax County…

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