By Susan Pederson: Many members of our community have gotten behind a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution they believe will take redistricting out of the hands of legislators and give it to an Independent Redistricting Commission. But, will it? Unfortunately, as with most things, the devil is in the details, and there are devils lurking in the details of…
By Susan Laume: In October 2019, when The Blue View covered the visit to Springfield, Va. of then presidential candidate Kamala Harris, we could not have guessed we were meeting the vice-presidential candidate who will share the Democratic ticket with Joe Biden this November. Harris told the crowd that day, “Nothing we’ve done as a nation we’ve achieved without a…
By Bob Leggett: Dr. Bandy X. Lee – a noted Yale professor and psychiatrist — presented a sobering and alarming assessment of the current president’s mental health and his fitness to hold office in a virtual discussion with Fairfax County Democrats on July 8. She warned that his conduct is almost certain to get more egregious and dangerous during the…
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?…
It’s time for Democratic voters in Fairfax County to decide who will carry the party’s standard at the polls in November for US representative in the 11th Congressional district. To help voters decide, The Blue View asked both candidates – incumbent Gerry Connolly and challenger Zainab Mohsini – to answer the same four questions on critical topics facing our nation…
By Karen Kirk: “I believe we’re on a trajectory for a big win in November because Trump has shown himself to be an incompetent fool and a narcissistic figure,” U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said Wednesday during an online Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee meeting. Connolly said we will have a chance to rebuild America in a more progressive way…
By Susan Laume: Va. Lt Gov. Justin Fairfax was on hand to address protesters at the Beyond the Wall March for Justice in the Gum Springs community in Mount Vernon on June 9. The United Methodist Church event was planned in coordination with civic leaders and drew approximately 500 citizens to the peaceful demonstration. Fairfax told the racially diverse crowd…
By Marcus R. Motta: Do you think Donald Trump needs to see a psychiatrist? Do you still need more motivation to get involved to get Trump out of office in November? If your answer is yes to either question you need to read the “Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President” By Bandy…
By Steve Verdier: As I first-time phone banker, I am finding much the same satisfaction as canvassing – and often with a higher response rate, as so many voters are at home these days. I used to say about canvassing, “There’s a new friend behind every door.” Phone banking is similar, but without the chance of rain or overly excited…
By state Sen. Chap Petersen: I want to thank Jay Swanson for writing about the issue of local elections during this time of COVID-19 and for the courtesy of a “heads-up” so that I could draft a response. (The Blue View, April 24: “Chap Petersen was wrong — we shouldn’t hold elections in a pandemic”) I learned two weeks ago…
By Alan Lindsay: As we get closer to the May 19th Town of Vienna election, I’ve noticed a sharp uptick in mentions of candidates’ party affiliation in online discussions. Although these are nonpartisan elections, we know the value of knowing someone’s preferred party. We vote for candidates based on a lot of factors. And in the event that we don’t…
By Jay Swanson: I like Sen. Chap Petersen (D- 34) a lot. One of the first votes I ever cast when I turned 18 was for him. But he made the wrong decision when he sided with the Republicans to not move Virginia’s May 5th municipal elections to November. The move had been suggested by our Democratic governor—and medical doctor—Ralph…
Ed. Note: We asked the seven candidates running for three council member positions in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the mayoral candidates. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19, as Gov.…
Ed. Note: We asked the three candidates running for mayor in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the candidates running for town council member positions. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19,…