Arlington Democrats appear to have their nominee for the upcoming special election for treasurer, while Republicans are seeking to recruit a challenger.
Kim Rucker, who became treasurer upon incumbent Carla de la Pava’s retirement earlier this month, was the only candidate to file for the Democratic endorsement, Democratic officials told ARLnow.
Candidate filings were accepted by the party on July 24.
With only one candidate emerging, the Arlington County Democratic Committee has canceled its planned nominating caucus. Instead, there will be an up-or-down vote on Rucker’s candidacy at the party’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Rucker had served as chief deputy treasurer for most of de la Pava’s 12 years in office. As chief deputy, she automatically became treasurer upon de la Pava’s departure.
If Democrats were to turn down Rucker, she could still run as an independent.
The Arlington County Republican Committee also has until Aug. 14 to field a candidate.
At the July 27 Arlington County Republican Committee meeting, party chair Matthew Hurtt said the GOP would be open to prospective candidates.
If anyone shows an interest in running, “we’ll ask you some questions [and] start the ball rolling,” Hurtt said.
But at the meeting, the party chair said Republicans would not be fielding a candidate merely to have someone on the ballot. The nominee should have the relevant background and skills to serve in the position, he said.
“Any goober can get elected to County Board or School Board, as we have seen — but this [job] is heavy on technical process,” Hurtt said.
In a rarity given the current political climate, Hurtt also gave some praise to de la Pava and her predecessor Frank O’Leary, both Democrats.
“Past treasurers and the current treasurer have done fine jobs,” he said.
James Scarborough, a member of the Republican Committee, said efforts should be made to try and find a nominee.
“We have a lot of people who are smart enough to do it,” he said.
Independents also have until Aug. 14 to file for the post.
The special election is being held concurrently with the Nov. 3 general election, with the winner serving the final year of de la Pava’s term.
The last candidate to run for treasurer as a Republican nominee was Bennie Fletcher, Jr., who won three successive terms in 1971, 1975 and 1979.
In 1983, Republican-backed independent Dorothy Grotos lost narrowly to O’Leary, who went on to serve 30 years in office before retiring in 2014.
The last non-Democrat to seek the office in a general election was Richard Sincere, an independent with both Republican and libertarian leanings, in 1991. Since then, Democrats have run unopposed, including in the 2014 special election in which de la Pava was elected to succeed O’Leary.
