While the presidential primaries are now a done deal, races for Arlington Democratic nods are just getting started.
A full slate of candidates are vying for seats on the Arlington School Board and Arlington County Board. Five Democratic contenders are jockeying for the place of outgoing County Board Chair Libby Garvey and another four are gunning for two School Board seats.
The following County Board candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the June 18 Democratic primary.
Questions around housing — particularly Missing Middle and major development plans — are core to several of these campaigns. Other talking points include public safety and the environment.
Early voting for the primary begins May 3. Garvey, who will be retiring after 28 years as an elected official, has not yet announced an endorsement for her successor.
This year’s Democratic School Board candidates, meanwhile, are:
- Kathleen Clark
- Larry Fishtahler
- Chen Ling
- Zuraya Tapia-Hadley
Democratic endorsements do not dictate who will win in November, but in a locale as blue as Arlington, they are generally a strong predictor.
School Board contenders will not be included in the primary election because these races are officially nonpartisan in Virginia. Instead, Arlington Democrats will hold a caucus to endorse two candidates.
This year, as before, local Dems can cast their School Board votes online. Arlington County Democratic Committee Chair Steve Baker hopes that this, in addition to having three in-person voting opportunities, will bring more robust participation.
“We’re really excited to see what kind of possibilities that opens up for more voters,” he said.
Candidate forums are scheduled for the following times and locations.
- April 13 at 9:30 a.m. — School Board forum at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington (Arlington Democrats)
- April 16 at 7 p.m. — School Board forum at Arlington Mill Community Center (Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Democrats)
- May 8 at 7 p.m. — County Board forum at Founders Hall Auditorium (Committee of 100)
- May 14 at 7 p.m. — County Board forum at the Hazel Auditorium at VHC Health (Arlington County Civic Federation)
Baker noted that this is a preliminary list, and more forums may be in the works.
So far, no Republican candidates for County Board are listed on the Arlington Elections website. The primary filing deadline for candidates is April 4, according to the Virginia Dept. of Elections website.