Fairfax County’s Braddock District will soon have a new representative on the Board of Supervisors.
After six weeks of early voting, residents will officially head to the polls tomorrow (Tuesday) to select the successor to James Walkinshaw, who vacated the seat after winning election to Congress in September.
Seeking to fill the remainder of his term are three candidates — one Democrat, one Republican and one independent. The winner is expected to be sworn in as soon as possible.
Where can I vote?
Braddock District voters can cast their ballots at their designated polling locations, which are determined based on the address where they are registered to vote.
There are 29 precincts in all. Voters can find their specific polling place online via the Virginia Department of Elections.
The polls will open at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Voters who are in line at 7 p.m. will still be allowed to cast a ballot. Same-day registration is available, allowing new voters to cast a provisional ballot.
Voters who received a ballot by mail can cast it via the drop boxes at each precinct. Any mailed ballots must be postmarked by tomorrow (Dec. 9) and received by the Fairfax County Office of Elections by noon on Friday (Dec. 12) to be counted.
Who is on the ballot?
Voters will choose between one of three candidates. Each appeared at candidate forums earlier this fall.
Ken Balbuena, a longtime community leader and civic association president, is running as the Republican nominee. He ran unopposed, and received the endorsement of the Fairfax GOP in October.
Closely aligned with John Cook, a Republican who preceded Walkinshaw as Braddock District supervisor, Balbuena’s “People before Politics” plan focuses on addressing commercial vacancy rates to “reduce the burden” on residential taxpayers and preserving Lake Accotink, according to his website.
Democratic nominee Rachna Sizemore Heizer currently represents Braddock District on the Fairfax County School Board. She emerged from a four-candidate primary field earlier this year, besting fellow school board member Ilryong Moon, Fairfax Young Democrats co-president Sabrina Mattin and local librarian April Pavis-Shroeder.
A Burke resident, her priorities include improving affordability and the quality of life for residents, plus preserving the environment, according to her campaign website.
Carey Chet Campbell, who is the only independent candidate in the race, is a 45-year federal service veteran with a background in accounting.
A North Springfield resident, he also serves as executive vice president of a local branch of the AFL-CIO.
Campbell has now sought the Braddock District seat five times, dating back to his first candidacy in 2007. He received just shy of 20% of the vote in a two-man race against Walkinshaw in 2023.
