\ z• and Oakton ON M cLe an•:• v 1enna Fairfax Dems Clash With Supervisors News, Page 6 Wellbeing Page 7 Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, v Opinion, Page 4 Leaders in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee stand behind FCDC Chair Bryan Democrats Decide Graham and call for the News, Page 3 County Board of Supervisors to terminate the police chief’s employment. Requested in home 6-3-21 home in Requested Vienna Teen Wins material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Postmaster: Attention ECR WSS ECR Grand Award at Customer Postal permit #322 permit Easton, MD Easton, ‘STEM Olympics’ PAID U.S. Postage U.S. News, Page 8 STD PRSRT Photo by Mercia Hobson /The Connection by Mercia Hobson Photo June 2-8, 2021 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com 2 v Vienna/Oakton / McLean Connection v June 2-8, 2021 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Voters to determine direction of Democrats Decide party in June 8 primary. By Michael Lee Pope The Connection question “inappropriate and disrespectful.” Meanwhile, Rasoul picked up new endorse- he June 8 primary will determine ments and gained a ton of free publicity. But the direction of the Democrat- he wasn’t the only candidate to seize on a ic Party in Virginia at a critical moment from the WJLA debate. When the Ttime, when the commonwealth is candidates were asked if critical race theo- emerging from the pandemic and trying to ry should be taught in Virginia classrooms, recast itself as something other than a par- former Fairfax NAACP president Sean Perry- ty in opposition to former President Donald man seized the moment to explain that the Trump. Opposition to the former president law-school concept wasn’t being taught in helped Democrats claim the trifecta — all K-12 classrooms. three statewide offices, the House of Dele- “Critical race theory is not even being gates and the state Senate. Now they’ll be taught in our schools,” said Perryman. “It’s a facing a Republican ticket that has racial Republican dog whistle where anything they diversity, gender diversity and geographic disagree with is critical race theory.” diversity. “We have the momentum, energy, and ATTORNEY GENERAL Mark Herring is the grassroots organization to send good, solid only statewide incumbent seeking reelec- Republicans to Richmond,” said Rich Ander- tion. He’s being challenged by Del. Jay Jones son, chairman of the Republican Party of Vir- Photo by Michael Lee Pope/The Connection (D-89). Herring was the town attorney in ginia. “And we’re going to fight harder than Voters will be selecting Democratic nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and Lovettsville and served on the Loudoun ever to ensure we do just that.” attorney general in the June 8 primary. County Board of Supervisors before being Democrats head into Election Day like- elected to the state Senate in a 2006 special ly to nominate white males from Northern election after Attorney General Bob McDon- Virginia as governor and attorney general, On the Ballot nell appointed Sen. Bill Mims (R-33) chief while the election for GOVERNOR deputy attorney gen- lieutenant governor eral. remains wide open. Herring was elect- Voters could end up ed attorney general selecting a Democrat- in 2013, and he’s now ic ticket that is three seeking a third term in white males from office. During his time Northern Virginia. as attorney general, That’s one of the rea- he created a new Of- sons why Gov. Ralph fice of Civil Rights as Northam attempted well as a new convic- to tip the scales by tion integrity unit and endorsing Del. Hala Terry McAuliffe Jennifer McClellan Jennifer Carroll Foy Lee Carter Justin Fairfax a new worker protec- Ayala (D-51) for Lieu- tion unit while also re- tenant Governor, a Democrat from Prince LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR organizing the consumer protection section. William County who identifies as an Af- Hala Ayala More Election Coverage He opposed Virginia’s ban on gay marriage, http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/ ro-Latina-Lebanese-Irish woman. Campaign Sam Rasoul may/20/convention-done-primary-ahead/ fought against Trump’s Muslim ban, and finance records show she’s struggled to raise Andria McClellan http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/ overturend Republican gerrymandering in as much money as Del. Sam Rasoul (D-11) Sean Perryman apr/15/running-second-command/ the United States Supreme Court. or Del. Mark Levine (D-45). Mark Levine “I’ve transformed the job into a progressive “Establishment Democrats clearly think Xavier Warren stop,” said Del. Kathy Tran (D-42). “As a del- powerhouse,” said Herring. “I have proven that Hala Ayala is going to be the better can- egate, I’ve seen the difference between leg- that I can win even the biggest fights.” didate in the general election,” said Quentin ATTORNEY GENERAL islators who lead when the going gets tough Jones was first elected in 2017, part of Kidd, a political science professor at Christo- Jay Jones and those who don’t. Jenn McClellan is a the first Democratic wave that began the pher Newport University. “But that doesn’t Mark Herring leader who lifts up all Virginians.” transformation of the House of Delegates. mean that she would be, and that doesn’t Since that time, he’s been seen as a rising mean that she’ll win the Democratic prima- the state and lead us down the path of ruin, THE RACE FOR lieutenant governor is the star in the party. Jones says it’s time to hand ry.” and I don’t think you do either.” race that will determine the missing third the office to the next generation, and as an Now, almost half a century later, the Vir- of the statewide Democratic ticket. Sam Ra- African-American man he says he would be AT THE TOP of the ticket is the race for gov- ginia Democrats are facing a different kind soul has raised and spent more money than able to bring his lived experience into con- ernor. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe has an of identity crisis. Do they want to return any other candidate, a notable achievement versations about criminal justice reform and outsized lead in the polls and the fundrais- McAuliffe to power at a time when Demo- considering he refuses to take money from equity. During a televised debate, he avoid- ing, although it’s extremely rare for a former crats control the General Assembly, or give special interest PACs or lobbyists. During ed answering questions about a bill he in- governor to decide to seek a non-consecutive the nomination to a new generation? Sup- a televised debate on WJLA last week, an- troduced that would have allowed predatory term. It hasn’t been done since 1973, when porters of Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-9) chor Dave Lucas asked if Rasoul believed lenders to charge 350 percent interest — a former Gov. Mills Godwin was elected to a point to her long record of service in the he could represent Virginians of all faiths. point of distinction that provides contrast second non-consecutive term after a four- House and Senate, noting that she’s been in The televised question caused a firestorm with Herring, who worked with lawmakers year absence from the Executive Mansion. In Virginia politics much longer than any oth- because Rasoul is Muslim, and the question to pass the Fairness in Lending Act. Jones his first term, Godwin was a Democrat. But er candidate including McAuliffe. Her cam- employed anti-Muslim tropes. never withdrew his bill which died in com- eight years later, he switched parties and be- paign issued a fact-check after Del. Jennifer “Sadly, this isn’t what Virginians are want- mittee, although he ended up voting for the came a Republican during a time when both Carroll Foy (D-2), who served one full term ing to hear about,” said Rasoul. “They’re bill that Herring supported. parties were experiencing an identity crisis. in the House before resigning to run for gov- wanting to hear about how we’re going to “The attorney general knows that he and I “I was moved to run [again] because I ernor, repeatedly called herself “one of the improve access to their health care, about supported the exact same bill,” said Jones. “I love this state,” Godwin said in 1973 during most effective legislators in Virginia history.” broadband issues, how we are going to safe- was happy to work with Delegate Bagby, the a campaign speech in Southwest Virginia. “Jenn McClellan is the most experienced ly get kids back in school.” chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, who “And I don’t want the liberal left to take over and effective candidate for governor. Full WJLA eventually apologized, calling the has endorsed my campaign.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton / McLean Connection v June 2-8, 2021 v 3 Opinion www.ConnectionNewspapers.com An independent, locally owned weekly newspaper delivered Principle Above Partisanship to homes and businesses. Published by By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum Commentary the Virginia House of Delegates for two terms Local Media Connection LLC State Delegate (D-36) retiring in 1979. He was in his second and final 1606 King Street in the state. Some attribute his first term when I first came to the House of Dele- Alexandria, Virginia 22314 irginia lost two of its finest election to his second wife, Elizabeth gates in 1978. I felt a particular kinship to him citizens last week: former Taylor, but he continued to be elect- because both of us coming from Northern Vir- Free digital edition delivered to United States Senator John ed after their divorce based on his ginia as progressive Democrats felt ourselves your email box.