The Arlington County Republican Committee has endorsed independent School Board candidate James “Vell” Rives IV.
Rives is facing incumbent Democrat Bethany Zecher Sutton in the Nov. 3 election. This is the second time Rives will carry the GOP endorsement after he secured it in 2025, as well.
Unusual for the Republican Committee, whose meetings are typically open to the public, the Sept. 28 meeting where the endorsement was discussed was closed to non-members, including the press.
Arlington GOP chair Matthew Hurtt told ARLnow that access was restricted to discuss financial matters. He provided the following rationale for the decision to endorse Rives:
“Arlington parents deserve representation on the School Board who will ask thoughtful questions and advocate for them and their children. Vell brings the necessary experience to improve educational outcomes for Arlington’s children. We are proud to throw our support behind his campaign.”
Rives has competed in each of the last four School Board races. He previously had been endorsed by the Forward Party, which is also endorsing his 2026 bid, and the Arlington Green Party.
“I welcome support from everyone who wants to put Arlington students, teachers and families first,” Rives said in a statement.
Zecher Sutton defeated Rives four years ago when both were making their first bid for office, winning 68.2% of the vote to 29.9% for Rives.
The two squared off in early September in a forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation.
State law makes school board races technically nonpartisan in nature, but political parties can and often do endorse candidates.
The last winning Arlington candidate not endorsed by the Arlington County Democratic Committee was David Foster, a Republican-leaning independent who won twin victories in 1999 and 2003.
County Republicans did not field candidates for the County Board race or special election for treasurer on the Nov. 3 ballot.
In other local political news:
NAACP to honor state lawmaker with highest accolade: A dominant General Assembly figure will be presented with the highest honor bestowed by the Arlington NAACP.
Sen. L. Louise Lucas will receive the 2026 Charles P. Monroe Civil Rights Award at the NAACP’s 79th annual Freedom Fund Banquet, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at Mason Square, George Mason University’s Arlington campus.
Lucas is president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate and chairs the Committee on Finance and Appropriations. She represents the 18th Senate District, covering most of the city of Portsmouth and parts of the city of Chesapeake.
The annual award is named in honor of the late County Board member Charles Monroe (1956-2003).
Also to be honored at the event:
- We of Action Arlington and its founder, Micaela Pond, will receive the Esther Georgia Irving Cooper Civil Rights Activist of the Year Award
- Mummi Ibrahim, Arlington’s independent policing auditor, will receive the Henry L. Holmes Meritorious Service Award
- OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church will receive the Willard Woodson “Woody” Brittain, Jr., Community Appreciation Award
The recipient of the organization’s 2026 President’s Award will be announced later.
The Freedom Fund banquet is the Arlington NAACP’s largest fundraiser of the year.
“We need everyone to make an intentional effort to be part of it,” the organization’s president, Rev. DeLishia Davis, said at the NAACP’s monthly meeting on Sept. 28.
“We want to see everyone there,” added Karen Nightengale, a former NAACP president who serves as cochair of the organizing committee.
County Board sets date to meet with legislators: County Board members will hold their annual meeting with members of the Arlington legislative delegation on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the county-government headquarters.
The public can attend but does not participate. The meeting will also be livestreamed and archived.
The 2027 General Assembly session convenes Jan. 13 for what is expected to be a 45-day session. Arlington’s delegation consists of Sens. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) and Barbara Favola (D-40) and Dels. Patrick Hope (D-1), Adele McClure (D-2) and Alfonso Lopez (D-3).
