More than a dozen candidates will vie for six seats — four held by adults, two by teens — on the McLean Community Center’s governing board this spring.
The community center announced on Friday (March 22) that 10 adults and five teens have qualified to run in this year’s board election, which has one more open seat than usual with current board member Ari Ghasemian resigning at the end of March.
Ghasemian’s empty seat will be filled by the fourth-highest adult vote-getter, who will serve the remaining year in his term. The other adult seats are for three-year terms, while the two youth seats — one representing the McLean High School area and the other representing Langley High School — have one-year terms.
Two existing board members — Lisa Mariam and Matt Colsia — are seeking to retain their seats, but they will need to fend off eight newcomers: Tarek Atia, Jonathan “Slade” Broom, Mike Drabyk, Doug Jeffery, Ronald Keesing, Michael Monroe, Peter Pin and Peggy Richardson.
There are three candidates for the Langley seat — Anastasiia Dudnik-Dubiniak, Sonya Thott and Luke Understein — and two for the McLean High School seat — Aanya Jain and Aaron Stark.
Open to residents of MCC’s tax district, absentee voting will begin this Wednesday (March 27) and continue until 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13. Ballots can be requested in person at MCC (1234 Ingleside Avenue), online, by phone at 703-744-9348 or by email at elections@mcleancenter.org.
The election will conclude with a day of in-person voting during McLean Day, which will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road).
MCC’s 11-person volunteer governing board guides policy and oversees the organization’s budget and strategic planning.
Provided by MCC in a press release, statements from each of the candidates can be found below. The statements will be available on the community center’s website once absentee voting begins. Read More
The deadline has arrived for candidates seeking a spot on the McLean Community Center’s governing board.
Nominating petitions must be filed by 5 p.m. today (Monday), according to MCC, which made the forms available at its main facility at 1234 Ingleside Avenue. Candidates need signatures from 10 residents of the McLean tax district (Dranesville Small District 1A) to be eligible for the ballot.
This year, four adult seats will be up for grabs — one more than in a typical year after board member Ari Ghasemian announced earlier this year that he will resign, effective March 31.
According to minutes of the board’s Jan. 24 meeting, Ghasemian said he needs to step down because “he is very busy this year.”
“We are grateful for his service over the past two years as well as his work on the [elections and nominating committee],” the minutes said.
Ghasemian joined the governing board in 2022 as one of three winners in that year’s unusually heated election, along with Kristina Groennings, currently the board’s vice chair, and secretary Anna Bartosiewicz. One candidate who fell short in 2022, Katherine Gorka, ultimately got elected to the board last year.
Ghasemian’s vacant seat will be filled by the adult candidate who gets the fourth highest votes. That person will serve for the remaining one year of his term, according to MCC.
The three top vote-getters will be elected for the board’s standard three-year terms.
There are also two youth positions available: one for a teen aged 15 to 17 in who lives in the McLean High School boundary area and one for a teen who lives in the Langley High School boundary area.
Featuring 11 volunteering members, MCC’s governing board provides oversight of the community center’s policies, budget and strategic planning efforts. It typically meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
Absentee voting for the upcoming election will take place in person at the community center or by mail from Wednesday, March 27 to Monday, May 13, at 5 p.m. The actual election is scheduled for McLean Day on Friday, May 17 at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road).
Perhaps Nikki Haley’s rally in Idylwood last week made a difference after all.
In yesterday’s Republican presidential primary, the former South Carolina governor won more support from Fairfax County voters than frontrunner Donald Trump, though she trailed the one-time president by a sizable margin in Virginia overall.
According to preliminary results from the Fairfax County Office of Elections, Haley received 48,007 votes (57%) compared to Trump’s 33,752 votes (40%). The four other candidates on the Republican ballot combined for 2,038 votes, though none of them were seeking the nomination anymore.
Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy left the race before early voting started in January, while Texas pastor Ryan Binkley suspended his campaign in February. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who dropped out and endorsed Trump on Jan. 21, led the also-rans with 923 votes, including 771 that were cast yesterday (Tuesday).
In total, 83,797 ballots were cast in Fairfax County’s Republican primary — a roughly 10.6% turnout. The vast majority of votes (72,238) came in the day of the primary, though mail ballots will be counted until noon on Friday (March 8) as long as they were postmarked on or before election day.
As of this morning, Trump has drawn 63.3% of the vote in Virginia’s Republican primary, getting 33 delegates as part of a Super Tuesday haul that puts him close to the 1,215 delegates needed to secure the GOP nomination. With 34.6% of the Virginia vote, Haley gained six delegates, but after trailing in all of yesterday’s primaries except for Vermont, she announced today (Wednesday) that she will end her campaign.
Biden prevails in Democratic primary
Over in the Democratic primary, President Joe Biden garnered nearly 89% of votes in Virginia, including 51,612 (86.6%) of the 59,812 votes cast in Fairfax County, according to unofficial results.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee said it was “thrilled with last night’s outcomes” in both the Democratic and Republican contests.
“With President Biden’s sweep in Virginia we are committed to keep the commonwealth blue as we head into the November election,” the FCDC said. “We are further heartened by the significant loss of Former President Trump in Fairfax County as it underscores local rejection of the divisive politics employed by his and Glenn Youngkin’s party.”
Though no serious primary challengers to the sitting president emerged, Marianne Williamson received 5,989 votes in Fairfax County, and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips got 2,211 votes.
It’s unclear why voters cast ballots for those candidates, but in some states, activists have urged Democrats to withhold their vote from Biden to protest his handling of Israel’s war on Gaza. A Listen to Virginia Coalition, a spin-off of the original “Listen to Michigan” campaign, asked voters to cast ballots for Williamson instead, since Virginia doesn’t have an “uncommitted” or write-in option.
Biden has been allocated 1,497 delegates so far and needs 1,967 to officially win the Democratic nomination, which will be determined at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 19-22. The Republican National Convention is scheduled for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Fairfax County saw a total turnout of 18.15% for yesterday’s primaries, a decline from the 34.2% of voters who participated in the last Democratic presidential primary in March 2020. The most recent Republican presidential primary was in March 2016 and had a 20.8% turnout.
With Virginia’s presidential primary elections just around the corner, one candidate is hoping to whip up some support in Fairfax County before polls open next Tuesday (March 5).
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley will hold a rally at The Westin Tysons Corner (7801 Leesburg Pike) in Idylwood at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday). It will be her second event in the state today after she visited Richmond at 12:30 p.m.
Haley is the only candidate left challenging former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, though the ballot features several also-rans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy who dropped out after qualifying.
Despite getting embroiled in multiple court battles, including an election interference trial where he’s claiming immunity from prosecution, Trump has emerged as a clear frontrunner in the GOP race, winning every state that has voted so far. Haley has managed to get 20 delegates to her opponent’s 110, according to NBC News.
The Democratic Party will also hold a primary on Tuesday. President Joe Biden is the presumed nominee, but Dean Benson Phillips, a Congressional representative for Minnesota, and Marianne Williamson, who recently unsuspended her campaign, will also appear on the ballot.
Early voting is currently underway in Fairfax County. Fifteen in-person sites are open until 5 p.m. this Saturday (March 2), though the deadline for requesting a mail ballot has passed.
Image via Nikki Haley/YouTube
Another town council member has thrown his name in the mix in the race for Herndon mayor.
Councilmember Pradip Dhakal, who has served on the council for three consecutive terms, is running for the position. His colleague, Councilmember Keven LeBlanc, announced his intention to run earlier this week.
“Herndon deserves a leader who can collaborate with everyone, foster open discussions for new ideas, and introduce initiatives to propel our town forward,” Dhakal said. “I am committed to working tirelessly to make Herndon an even better place for all our residents.”
Dhakal says he has the “majority support from the current town council,” adding that he hopes to champion diversity if elected.
“It’s crucial for Herndon to have leadership that mirrors the diverse background and demography of our community, ensuring inclusivity and representation for all,” Dhakal said. “If elected, I will be the first-ever mayor of color from the town of Herndon and I believe that will be historic milestone for the town.”
His top priorities are increasing affordability and workforce housing, implementing traffic calming initaitives, and increasing overall safety and security in the town.
In his campaign announcement, LeBlanc included a statement of support from current mayor Sheila Olem, state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, Del. Irene Shin and former mayor Lisa Merkel. He said he would be the first person openly from the LGBTQ community to serve as Herndon’s mayor, if elected.
Herndon Town councilmember Keven LeBlanc announced his candidacy for town mayor yesterday (Tuesday).
If elected, LeBlanc says he would be the town’s first-ever mayor to openly be part of the LGBTQ community. No other candidates have officially announced their intentions to run.
Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem didn’t immediately return a request for comment on her future plans, but in his campaign announcement, LeBlanc included a joint statement apparently endorsing him by Olem, state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, Del. Irene Shin and former mayor Lisa Merkel.
“As fellow residents who are raising our families here, we care deeply about Herndon’s future,” the statement said. “Keven understands the need to nurture Herndon’s loyal community spirit while bringing fresh economic energy to our town. His integrity and inclusive vision make him ideally suited to lead Herndon into its next chapter.”
LeBlanc said his top priorities are balance and sustainable growth. Building the stock of affordable housing will also be a key part of his plan for the town.
“I am dedicated as Mayor to leading with empathy, while driving us forward,” he said. “My priority is pursuing balanced and sustainable growth that preserves what we cherish most about our hometown, while propelling Herndon into an inclusive and vibrant future.”
He says his background as an executive and engineer makes him well-suited for the position. His candidacy statement highlights his work negotiating tax decreases for residents, pushing for economic development and spearheading events like the Herndon WinterMarkt.
The town plans to issue a formal release of candidates in June, following filing deadlines.
Two of three races for Reston Association’s board of directors will be competitive in this year’s election, which takes place in March.
Four seats are open on the nine-member board.
Three candidates are running for two at-large directors seats that go for three years. Three people are also vying for one seat as apartment owners’ representative.
The race for South Lakes District representative — a three-year term — has one candidate: current board member Jennifer Jushchuk.
Voting will unfold from March 1 to April 1 and is open to all Reston Association members “in good standing,” who can cast online or mail-in ballots, RA said in its announcement of the candidates.
Here’s a breakdown of each race based on submitted statements from each candidate:
At-large candidate (three-year term)
Izzy Santa: A Reston resident since 2014, Santa works as a senior director of government affairs for a Fortune 500 company and has served as cluster homeowners’ association president. In the past, she advocated for pedestrian improvements near Sunrise Valley Elementary. She hopes to improve existing amenities managed by RA and prevent member assessment increases.
Jalal Mapar (incumbent): Mapar, who has lived in Reston for more than 30 years, is a senior executive. He hopes to implement a strategic plan for maintaining Reston’s infrastructure as development grows, improve service to membership and focus on fiscal responsibility.
Darin Skelly: Skelly, who moved to Reston in 2005 and is a vice president at a Fortune 500 company, wants to get Reston more of a voice in Fairfax County decisions, protect it from “crazed” growth and development, and make Reston the best community in the country.
South Lakes District (three-year term)
Jennifer Jushchuk (incumbent): A Restonian since 2014, Jushchuk is a trade association executive and mother. She also co-founded Save Our Sunrise, a South Lakes group that focuses on issues along Sunrise Valley Drive. She hopes to focus on fiscal responsibility, advocacy, resource management and improved communication.
Apartment Owners’ Candidate (two-year term)
Carolina Mejia: Mejia says her experience on nonprofit and corporate boards and as a RA volunteer would be assets to the board. She hope to boost community engagement, improve financial sustainability and maintain infrastructure.
Margaret Perry (incumbent): A resident of Reston for 13 years, Perry has served on the board twice. She describes herself as a strategic thinker and problem solver, and hopes to focus on working with senior management on a strategic plan for Reston.
Lynda McCann Ovington: A resident of the Reston Glades apartments since 2013, Ovington says her previous experience on other boards will help her serve RA’s board. She hopes to work closely the rental community and provide consistency with services.
Updated at 10:15 a.m. on 1/19/2024 — With the county government closed due to snow, the start of early voting has been delayed to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday), the Fairfax County Office of Elections announced.
Earlier: Early voting for the 2024 presidential primary election is set to begin tomorrow (Friday) Saturday (Jan. 20) in Fairfax County, with local party officials and campaign strategists projecting varied voter turnout.
While the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) anticipates a lower turnout among its members, at least one local Republican strategist expects a strong showing from Republican voters, particularly in support of former president and current GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump remains far and away the favorite candidate of Virginia Republicans, including Northern Virginia Republicans, as far as I can tell,” said Nathan Brinkman, founder of the political consulting firm Brinkman Media, whose prior clients include the Fairfax County Republican Committee, as well as other local candidates.
Starting this Friday, Jan. 19 next week, early voting will be available on weekdays at three key locations — the Fairfax, Mount Vernon, and North County government centers, according to the county’s election office.
Voters can cast their ballots at the Fairfax County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while the Mount Vernon and North County centers will welcome voters from 1-7 p.m. There is also a 24-hour ballot drop-off box available outside the Fairfax County Government Center.
An additional 13 early voting sites are set to open starting Saturday, Feb. 24, from 1-7 p.m. Early voting will be offered on two Saturdays, including Feb. 24 and March 2, at all sites.
- Burke Centre Library
- Centreville Regional Library
- Franconia Governmental Center
- Great Falls Library
- Herndon-Fortnightly Library
- Jim Scott Community Center
- Lorton Community Center
- Mason Governmental Center
- McLean Governmental Center
- Sully Governmental Center
- Thomas Jefferson Library
- Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library
- West Springfield Governmental Center
Who’s on the ballot
As of today (Jan. 18), Virginia has the following Republican and Democratic presidential candidates on the ballot:
- Chris Christie (R)
- Ryan Binkley (R)
- Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
- Donald J. Trump (R)
- Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)
- Nikki Haley (R)
- President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D)
- Marianne Williamson (D)
- U.S. Rep. Dean Benson Phillips (D)
(Note: Republicans Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy have suspended their respective campaigns, but neither candidate has officially withdrawn from the race in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.) Read More
Reston Association is seeking candidates for its 2024 Board of Directors’ election.
Four seats are open for the election, which will take place in March. Specifically, two at-large director seats are open, along with the South Lakes district director and the apartment owners’ representative.
Ed Abbott, chair of RA’s elections committee, said the positions offer residents a chance to contribute to the community’s legacy.
“The Board has played a crucial role in shaping our community. Its members have been stewards of Reston’s values, advocating for green initiatives, recreation, and preserving our neighborhoods,” Abbott wrote in a statement.
Candidate forms are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 26 via email or in person at RA’s headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). An election information session is set for Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. All homeowners and tenants in good standing are eligible to apply for positions on the nine-member board.
Voting for the month-long election kicks off on March 1.
And then there were five.
Del. Dan Helmer of Fairfax County announced Wednesday morning that he is joining the race for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District next year.
Helmer, a U.S. Army veteran who was first elected in 2019, led the House Democratic Caucus’ campaign effort this fall, which resulted in Democrats picking up three seats and regaining control of the chamber.
The 10th District is currently represented by Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat, but Wexton announced earlier this year she will not seek reelection for health reasons.
Other Democrats who have announced campaigns for the seat are:
- Current state Sen. Jennifer Boysko of Fairfax County
- Former Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn
- Former Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni
- Current Del. David Reid of Loudoun County
Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall had been mentioned as a candidate, but she ruled out a run Tuesday, saying she wanted to focus on her third term as board chair.
The 10th District includes all of Loudoun County — making up more than half its voters — along with all of Fauquier and Rappahannock counties and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. It also includes the western half of Prince William County and about 15,000 voters in the Clifton and Union Mill areas of southern Fairfax County.
After knocking off Republican Barbara Comstock in 2018, Wexton won reelection to the newly drawn 10th District last year with about 53% of the vote, defeating Republican Hung Cao.
Helmer was reelected Tuesday to House District 10, defeating Republican Jim Thomas with over 58% of the vote. His district covers southwestern Fairfax, including the town of Clifton and the Centreville area. Before redistricting after the 2020 Census, he also represented a small portion of Prince William.
Helmer is the son of an immigrant and the grandson of refugees and Holocaust survivors, according to a news release from his campaign. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea. He currently owns a small business and continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“My grandparents came to America to escape the Nazis,” Helmer said. “It’s why I volunteered to serve our country and protect the democracy that took us in. While I was proud to serve, I lost friends in Iraq and Afghanistan because politicians lacked the courage to stand up to President Bush’s misguided wars. Our democracy failed us.”
He said democracy faces greater threats today: “MAGA extremists are seeking to undermine free and fair elections and strip away the right to an abortion, all while coddling a gun lobby that floods our streets with weapons of war.”
According to the release, in the General Assembly, Helmer supported gun safety bills, the repeal of Virginia’s “Right to Work” laws and women’s healthcare.
He lives in Fairfax with his wife, Karen, a public school educator, and their two sons.
Photo via Dan Helmer/Facebook. This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.