By Chap Petersen: One of the things I’ve learned from twenty plus years in elected office is that ordinary voters are smarter than politicians. This reality was never better illustrated than in the 2019 General Assembly session, when the Commonwealth and, more specifically, the Democratic Party, was rocked by a series of scandals which attached to our highest state office…
By Ilryong Moon: Fairfax County prides itself on its diversity. Our students come from all over the world and speak more than 200 languages. About a third of our county residents were born outside the U.S. In fact, Fairfax County Public Schools is a “minority majority” school district. Yet, our government leadership does not reflect the diversity of the county.…
By Alicia Plerhoples: I often tell my daughters that they are not growing up like I grew up. As a child, I experienced housing instability and food insecurity, just as many hardworking Fairfax County families do today. I was 9 when my father lost his job. Without his income, we were evicted from our home. I spent much of my…
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…
By Karl Frisch: My partner, Evan, and I have 150 kids in Fairfax County Public Schools–he’s a teacher. When you love a teacher, you share your life together with their students. The challenges they face are your challenges, too. I have spoken with parents about the overcrowded classrooms and trailers their kids sit in all day, and educators who left…
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,…
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) cancelled a campaign stop in Burke on Sunday in the face of protests organized by groups that normally have little in common — the Fairfax County NAACP and the Fairfax County Republican Committee. After the cancellation, Farfax NAACP President Kofi Annan commented on Facebook, “Virginians deserve a governor that does not have ties to the KKK.…
By Brad Swanson: A trio of rising Democratic stars in the state legislature fired up the audience at the Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee’s 44th annual lasagna dinner fundraiser Saturday night with a consistent message– it’s time to take back the majority in both the House and Senate. Hala Ayala (D- 51), Jennifer Foy (D-2) and Kathy Tran (D-42) each…
By George Hogan and David Allison: In a recent OxFam study, an analysis was completed to determine the best state in which to work. The report categorized 11 policy areas into three basic dimensions—wage policies, worker protection policies, and the right to organize—and ranked states accordingly. Not surprisingly, our Commonwealth of Virginia placed dead last. As representatives of two Northern…
Democrats got a premonition of winners and losers in upcoming northern Virginia elections at a straw poll on Mar. 31 with over 500 in attendance. Far from a scientific survey, the event, called “Pick Your Pony, ” was billed primarily as a fundraiser – at $30 per ticket—and an opportunity to sample craft beer at Mustang Sally Brewing Company in…
By Karen Kirk: U.S. Sen. Mark Warner came to the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s March meeting on Tuesday night to deliver a “report from the front.” “I’ve been spending huge amount of time looking into the attack on our democracy that took place by Russia,” he said. “I, like probably many of you, have been surprised to say the least…
By Mimi Dash: Experience matters. Look no further than across the Potomac River at the job House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doing to an inexperienced president and administration. But as our Democratic Party drifts further and further to the left, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: purity is becoming a hotter commodity. That, in a nutshell, is the decision many…
By Jung Byun: Growing up in an inner-city public school district sparked my passion and curiosity for education. I learned that not everyone is guaranteed access to a high-quality education. I was one of the few lucky students who tested out of a high school with a graduation rate of 50% into one with a graduation rate of 99%. This…
By Julie Galdo: Recently I had a visit from State Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-35) for the first time in 36 years living in Falls Church, and I was disappointed. Instead of sharing why he was running again, Sen. Saslaw spent our few minutes together telling me why his Democratic primary opponent, Yasmine Taeb, was not worthy of my vote. I…