Race for County's Top Spot Heats Up
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Page 19 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper May 16, 2019 Race for County’s Top Spot Heats Up the private sector, able to under- ‘Vote like your life stand the needs of that sphere and how to bring a partnership of gov- depends on it.’ ernment, nonprofits and business to the table to create solutions to By Andrea Worker the region’s challenges, Plerhoples The Gazette leaning on her legal background, and Chapman as a real estate de- n a rare shake-up of the veloper. county’s Board of Supervi- While the tone of the debate re- sors, at least five of the 10 mained civil and the format did I Gazette Worker/The by Andrea Photo seats – four magisterial dis- not allow for rebuttal comments, trict representatives and the chair- both Chapman and Plerhoples man – will change hands as cur- made it clear that they see the rent Chair Sharon Bulova retires present leadership by the Fairfax at the end of this term, and Su- County Board of Supervisors as pervisors Cathy Hudgins (Hunter “followers, not leaders,” in Mill), John Cook (Braddock), and Plerhoples words, and having Linda Smyth (Providence) have all failed on too many of the issues declined to seek re-election. Vot- and taken too long to address oth- ers will choose likely successors on ers like affordable housing, ac- Primary Election Day, Tuesday, cording to Chapman. June 11. Adding one person and $5 mil- Lee District Supervisor Jeff lion to the county’s FY2020 Bud- McKay, who has served on the get isn’t really tackling the prob- board since 2007, will vacate his The Democratic candidates for the chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, lem of a lack of affordable hous- seat to seek the chairmanship. heading for the June 11 Primary election, debate at a live, televised event, hosted by ing in Chapman’s opinion. Both Supervisor Penny Gross (D- the Fairfax Healthy Communities Coalition. Moderator Pastor Sarah Scherschligt is “We need speed and agility … Mason) and Supervisor Pat Herrity flanked by candidates Tim Chapman and Alicia Plerhoples on the left, and Jeff McKay, the board has been more focused (R-Springfield) face challengers in Lee District Supervisor, and Ryan McElveen, At-Large member of the FC Public Schools on large developments” rather the fall. Incumbent Supervisors Board on the right. than on the affordable develop- Kathy Smith (D-Sully), John Foust ments needed by working families, (D-Dranesville), and Daniel Storck participated in a televised debate terms, citing them as one key fac- key driver of the county’s economy county personnel and other vul- (D-Mt. Vernon) are running unop- at the studios of the Fairfax County tor separating him from his oppo- and an attraction for current resi- nerable citizens. Chapman says it’s posed. Public Access Television station, nents. dents and those considering relo- an issue that should have been Democratic candidates will be hosted by Fairfax Healthy Commu- “This is not the time to take the cation of residence and/or busi- addressed “more boldly years on the Primary ballot for other nities Coalition and moderated by chance on people who don’t have nesses — and on the fact that he ago.” seats on the Board of Supervisors Pastor Sarah Scherschligt of Peace the experience to run, to govern,” is “the only one running who has Like Chapman, Plerhoples re- — and there are a lot of them. Five Lutheran Church. Scherschligt is said McKay, insisting that those represented the entire county,” counts that “housing instability” for the Providence District, five for also a board member of the non- relationships and his working elected to the School Board at was something she, too, experi- Hunter Mill, four in Lee and two profit Faith Alliance for Climate knowledge of the complexities of Large. He also touted his interna- enced growing up, and she agrees in Braddock. Solutions. Her Faith Alliance col- running a diverse county of more tional ties through his “day job” that more needs to be done and Incumbent Commonwealth’s leagues Scott Peterson and Meg than a million residents are vital with the Brookings Institute and with immediacy. “This is an issue Attorney Ray Murrogh faces a Mall were in attendance at the live to our continued growth and suc- other avenues, as ways in which that has reached crisis level.” Democratic challenger in the pri- event to act as timekeepers for the cess. he can expand the solutions pool On the subject of transportation mary, Steve Descano. debaters. In addition to representing the and bring additional energy to the in the area, all agreed that more Jeff McKay is currently a Board The candidates were each given Lee District on the board, McKay county’s affairs. needs to be done. McKay has been Member, representing the con- a few minutes for opening and also chairs the Budget and Legis- McElveen numerated climate involved in all of the county’s ef- stituents of the Lee District. Even closing statements, which lative Committees and has held change initiatives he has spear- forts to improve roadways, expand with his years of immediate expe- bookended 50 minutes of ques- leadership roles with a number of headed at school facilities from safe biking lanes, and support rience with the workings of Fairfax tions posed by Scherschligt on top- the region’s committees and task installation of solar panels, to Metro rail and bus transit and de- County government, McKay is be- ics ranging from their proposed forces on transportation, revital- championing school gardens and velopment around transit hubs to ing given a run for his money by actions to reduce greenhouse ization and health planning, salad and other healthy items on give more people the ability to Ryan McElveen, the At-Large gases in the county, to how to ad- among others. McKay admits the school lunch menus. “live, work, and play” without a Member of the Fairfax County dress the affordable housing short- county has problems – “Big ones Plerhoples and Chapman both School Board since 2012, Reston- age, and from how to ensure that we need to solve quickly and emphasized resumes as players in See Candidates, Page 10 based businessman Tim Chapman, implementation of the county’s for our future” – but he remains and Georgetown law professor One Fairfax equity directive to so- proud of Fairfax County and the and founder of a public interest lutions for multi-modal transpor- accomplishments that its resi- 5/17/19 law center, Alicia Plerhoples. tation improvements in the region. dents, businesses, nonprofits and home in Requested material. The debates, forums and meet- Throughout the event, McKay, a government have created. He cites Time-sensitive and-greets featuring the four are life-long resident of the county, the many areas in which the area Postmaster: coming fast as the Primary date emphasized not only his experi- sets the example for the state and Attention Permit #482 Permit approaches. ence, but the relationships that he the country. VA Alexandria, PAID has built locally, regionally and in McElveen emphasized his back- Postage U.S. ON MONDAY, MAY 13, they Richmond and beyond during his ground on the School Board — a STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 16-22, 2019 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 16-22, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Meet Candidates for County Board Chairman Four to contend in June 11 Democratic Primary to seek to replace retiring Sharon Bulova. By Andrea Worker as the county’s top elected official. With ❖ Ryan McElveen, at-large member, the Mount Vernon Gazette, sent out identi- The Gazette multiple candidates, election rules call for Fairfax County Public Schools board since cal questionnaires to all four, asking each a Primary Election to decide a winner who 2012. to provide voters with some basic informa- s chair of the Fairfax County will go on to the Nov. 5 ballot, when all of ❖ Tim Chapman, Reston-based real es- tion about themselves, and then to explain Board of Supervisors Sharon the Board member seats will be up for grabs. tate developer and businessmen why they are running, what they see as the Bulova prepares to retire at the Vying for the position are: ❖ Alicia Plerhoples, tenured law profes- top issues facing the county, and in what A ❖ end of the year, four Democrats Current Lee District Supervisor Jeff C. sor at Georgetown Law. key ways they differ from their opponents. have come forward, looking to fill her spot McKay, who has served on the board since 2007. Connection Newspapers, which includes Here are their responses: Jeffrey C. McKay Ryan McElveen Alicia Plerhoples Tim Chapman Age: 43 Age: 33 Age: Age: Education: James Education: Columbia Education: Harvard Education: Emerson Madison University University, Master of In- College (B.A.); Yale Law High School (1996), Sorensen Insti- ternational Affairs in School (J.D.); Princeton Family: Wife, tute for Political Leader- Human Rights (2011); University, Woodrow Julianna, 5 children ship (1998) Univ. of Virginia, B.A. Wilson School (M.P.A) Native of: Maryland Family: Wife, Crystal, Anthropology and East Family: Daughters Moved to Your Dis- children Leann and Asian Studies (2008); Native of: trict: 2005 Aidan, retired racing George C. Marshall greyhound Pascal. High School (2004) Moved to Your Dis- Prior and current pro- Native of: Fairfax County Family: Wife Xuan, daughter Sierra trict: fessional, political and civic experiences, Moved to Your District: Lifelong Lee Dis- Native of: Raised in the Vienna-Tysons Prior and current professional, political community involvement, etc.: trict resident area and civic experiences, community involve- ❖ Real Estate developer Prior and current professional, political Moved to Your District: Lifelong resident ment, etc.: ❖ Appointee to Virginia Housing Devel- and civic experiences, community involve- of Fairfax County ❖ Tenured law professor, Georgetown opment Authority (VHDA) by Gov.