By Marcus R. Motta: Last Tuesday evening, June 23, the Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously in a virtual meeting to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, ending a long campaign to remove the Confederate general’s name from a public school. The vote followed a lengthy, and often emotional, virtual public hearing the day before,…
By Susan Laume: Buoyed by camaraderie and recent election results, the mood was decidedly upbeat as the Springfield and Hunter Mill District Democratic Committees celebrated a great year this weekend. The Springfield Volunteer Celebration was held Friday night at Clifton Town Hall to thank campaign and poll workers. It drew several Springfield area elected officials who thanked volunteers for their…
As the largest minority in Fairfax County, Asian-Americans are a major focus of outreach activity for the local Democratic Party, which faces a critical election on Nov. 5 to determine the control of the state assembly. Today Republicans hold one-vote majorities in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and the Democrats are mounting a major effort here in northern…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
“One Community. One World.” This vision was more than just a slogan at the annual Centreville Immigration Forum dinner on April 13, showcasing the talent and cultural diversity of our region. A Parade of Flags ceremony representing some of the many nationalities resident in northern Virginia opened the evening, complemented by a demonstration of indigenous weaving and embroidery. The 9th…
By Karen Keys-Gamarra: It’s that time again in Fairfax County when every local elected official will be on the ballot. This ballot that covers elections from supervisors to the Soil and Water Conservation District board is expansive and contains more parties than a chess board has pieces, but each office is essential to the process of democracy. I’m Karen Keys-Gamarra,…
By Karen Keys-Gamarra The author is an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board and is running for re-election in November. Actions speak louder than words. That’s true in Fairfax County, where we boast diversity that is reflected in our schools, businesses and communities. This county has the 10th largest public school system in the nation and its students experience…
By Brad Swanson: Fairfax Democrats looked inward on Wednesday night – and were not too happy with what they saw. About 60 members of the Fairfax Democratic Committee (FCDC) attended a Racial Equity Workshop and most gave their party low grades on a self-evaluation for racism. Nevertheless, the Dems ended the evening on an upbeat assessment, recognizing that the first…
By Karen Keys-Gamarra: No parent should ever have to fear that sending a child to school is risking immigration enforcement. In fact, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency better known as ICE, has no place in Fairfax County public schools. This view is reflected in the revised agreement between the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Fairfax County…
Editor’s Note: Another in our periodic surveys of local grassroots organizations, compiled by Holly Hazard. This time: Herndon-Reston Indivisible. Herndon-Reston Indivisible’s mission is to fuel a progressive network to resist the Trump agenda while electing Democrats who support our values of transparency, inclusion, tolerance & fairness. HRI is led by a steering committee: Heidi Zollo, Carrie Bruns, Anne Alston, and Joanne…