Arlington’s Democratic candidates for County Board are critical of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown but acknowledge limits to how local governments can take him on.
Both incumbent County Board Chair Takis Karantonis, who immigrated to the United States from Greece, and challenger James DeVita, an attorney whose practice includes immigration law, offered similar thoughts at a recent Arlington NAACP forum.
Karantonis argued that “we need to make sure all government services are available to everyone,” unless federal law prohibits this.
“We cannot be a sanctuary city,” he said at the Tuesday forum — which took place two days before the Department of Homeland Security included Arlington on a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” that it claims are “defying federal immigration law.”
DeVita said that addressing many immigration issues head-on may be beyond the capacity of a local government.
“The real problem with the Trump administration is, they don’t follow the law,” said the challenger.
He got no argument on that from Karantonis, who called the administration’s behavior “unjust, cruel and absolutely unacceptable.”
Earlier this month, the County Board amended county policy to prevent local police from voluntarily contacting federal immigration authorities. This won praise from advocacy groups that had spent years pressing for the change, and condemnation from some Republicans in Richmond.
At the NAACP forum, candidates also largely agreed on various other issues, including homelessness and broader social-safety-net concerns.
Discussing human services, DeVita said the county needs to make up for any federal dollars lost.
“The government has to take care of people if they can’t take care of themselves,” he said.
Arlington receives more than $40 million annually in federal funding for human-services programs, some of which is now at risk. County officials have pressed the local delegation to the General Assembly to find more funding to help cover expected gaps.
“We need the entire political class in Arlington to be in the forefront of the fight,” Karantonis said of advocacy efforts.
The winner of the Tuesday, June 17 primary moves on to the Nov. 4 general election. Two independents have already qualified to be on the ballot.
About 80 people logged on to view this week’s debate. Jeanmarie Pena, who heads the NAACP’s political-action committee, said knowing the views of the candidates was “really vital to our civic engagement.”
Unlike a spring candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation and one planned this week by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP gathering did not include those who have qualified for the general election.
Those candidates, along with the winner of the Democratic primary, will participate in a forum the civil-rights organization will hold in the fall.
Legislative candidates remain at odds on preservation and housing
The NAACP forum also involved a second round of argument over affordable housing and historic preservation for Del. Patrick Hope and a challenger.
Hope (D-1) and Arjoon Srikanth sparred over 2024 preservation legislation that Hope sponsored. It was the second time the two went at it on the issue, having tangled at a previous forum sponsored by Arlington Young Democrats.
Srikanth contends that Hope’s legislation has delayed the ability of Melwood and Wesley Housing to redevelop a parcel near Crystal City for affordable apartment units, until a study of the site’s historic provenance is complete.
Hope at the forum called that characterization “a false narrative,” blaming ARLnow coverage for propagating it and saying some on the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board misinterpreted his measure’s intent.
Srikanth said his concerns stemmed from reading the law itself, and if Hope had problems with anyone else’s views, to “take it up with them.”
Hopes reiterated that he expects Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) to respond soon to a request for an advisory opinion on the law.
After the Young Democrats’ debate, Hope did not respond to a media inquiry about what he had asked the attorney general to clarify. Srikanth said if the legislation required Miyares to explain its provisions, “that’s a failing of the bill.”
Left on the sidelines during that back-and-forth was the third candidate in the race, Sean Epstein.
Addressing housing issues in general, Epstein said he would like the state government to streamline the permitting process for new housing, and for Arlington officials to provide enough staff to support those who file development plans.
The 1st House District is the only one in Arlington with a legislative primary this spring. Dels. Adele McClure (D-2) and Alfonso Lopez (D-3) are not facing Democratic challenges, and state Senate seats are not on the ballot until 2027.
Republican and independent candidates have until June 17 to file for the Nov. 4 election.
