politics | FFXnow

Judge disqualifies Franconia District school board candidate over ballot paperwork

Published October 26, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated October 30, 2023 at 11:09AM

Franconia District school board candidate Marcia St. John-Cunning (courtesy Marcia4Schools)

(Updated at 11:10 a.m. on 10/30/2023) The Democratic-endorsed candidate for the Fairfax County School Board’s Franconia District seat has been disqualified due to an error on her petition to get on the ballot.

The Fairfax County Office of Elections has posted a notice on its website informing voters that Marcia St. John-Cunning was disqualified yesterday (Wednesday) by a Fairfax County Circuit Court order. A judge ruled that her petition was invalid because of an error in her address on its front page.

Countywide

Local Republican candidates for General Assembly pitch changes to I-66 tolling

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 25, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated October 26, 2023 at 9:31AM

Republican General Assembly candidates, led by Senate District 37 contender Ken Reid, propose changes to Virginia's I-66 and I-495 tolling policies (via Ken Reid/YouTube)

(Updated at 9:30 p.m. on 10/26/2023) Several Republicans campaigning to represent parts of Fairfax County in the General Assembly have vowed to change up Virginia’s interstate tolling system if they’re elected on Nov. 7.

With the McLean Metro station in Tysons as a backdrop, the candidates unveiled a “Tolling Equity and Relief Plan” last Friday (Oct. 20) that they argued would reduce congestion and lower the cost of using the Express Lanes on I-66 and the Capital Beltway (I-495).

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More FCPS students expected to walk out in support of Palestinians

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 25, 2023 at 9:30AM

Justice High School students walked out on Monday in support of Palestinians (courtesy Justice High School Muslim Student Association)

Students at schools across Fairfax County have or are planning to walk out this week in a show of solidarity with Palestinians suffering in the latest war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip.

Dubbed a “Humanitarian Walkout Week,” the demonstrations began last Friday (Oct. 20) at Annandale High School and continued on Monday (Oct. 23) at Justice High School in Lake Barcroft. Organizers at Oakton High School reported that at least 200 students participated in their walkout yesterday (Tuesday).

News

2023 elections bring new scrutiny of Virginia’s ‘sore loser’ rule

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published October 2, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated October 3, 2023 at 12:23PM

Election Day at Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia’s so-called “sore loser” law is supposed to ensure that when a candidate is defeated in a Republican or Democratic primary, they can’t drop their party affiliation and appear on the general election ballot next to the person who beat them.

As the state’s closely watched election season, which will determine control of all 140 seats in the General Assembly, ramps up, both the letter and spirit of that law are being tested. A handful of unsuccessful primary candidates have tried to keep their campaigns alive after defeat while attacking their own parties for allegedly corrupting the process.

Countywide

FCPS pledges to protect gender-expansive students by not adopting Virginia’s ‘model policies’

By Vivian Hoang

Published August 16, 2023 at 11:45AM

Students hold trans rights and LGBTQ Pride flag signs at a rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County Public Schools has officially announced that it will not implement the Virginia Department of Education’s recently finalized model policies regarding transgender and nonbinary students.

Yesterday (Tuesday), FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid released a statement confirming that FCPS won’t adopt the new guidelines after a “detailed legal review” found that its current policies are “consistent” with state and federal law.

Countywide

Fairfax County Democrats oust two established senators, as incumbents prevail in local races

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 21, 2023 at 2:15PM

Stella Pekarsky and Saddam Azlan Salim defeated established senators George Barker and Chap Petersen in the 2023 Democratic primary (courtesy Stella Pekarsky for Senate, Salim for Senate)

Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation will look drastically different next year after a pivotal Democratic primary yesterday (Tuesday) that also bolstered incumbents in most county-level races.

In two upsets, Sully District school board representative Stella Pekarsky eked out a win over veteran state Sen. George Barker for the 36th District nomination, while Fairfax Young Democrats vice president Saddam Azlan Salim ousted Sen. Chap Petersen in the 37th District.

News

Actor and activist Jane Fonda weighs in on Mason District supervisor race

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 26, 2023 at 11:45AM

Actor and activist Jane Fonda has endorsed a candidate for Mason District supervisor (courtesy Jane Fonda Climate PAC)

One candidate in the crowded primary contest for Mason District supervisor has snagged the support of one of Hollywood’s most high-profile and persistent activists.

Actor Jane Fonda, who’s known as much for her environmental and anti-Vietnam War protests as her work in classic movies like “Klute” and “9 to 5,” has endorsed Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez through her climate-focused political action committee.

News

Del. Kaye Kory won’t seek reelection, joining exodus of longtime Fairfax County state legislators

By Matt Blitz

Published April 3, 2023 at 2:15PM

Del. Kaye Kory has announced that she won't seek reelection after representing the Annandale area for six terms (photo by Amanda Maglione)

Del. Kaye Kory, who represents Annandale and Lake Barcroft, will not run for reelection this year.

The six-term lawmaker in the Virginia House of Delegates made the announcement on social media this morning (Monday). She said it was a “difficult decision” and that her husband’s health challenges played a major role in deciding not to run again.

News

Conservative activist joins race to represent Providence District on school board

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 20, 2023 at 10:30AM

Conservative Jeff Hoffmann is campaigning to represent Providence District on the Fairfax County School Board (courtesy Jeff Hoffmann for School Board)

The battle over transgender student rights has taken center stage in the race for the Fairfax County School Board’s Providence District seat.

Consultant and Vienna resident Jeff Hoffmann officially launched a campaign on Tuesday (Jan. 17) to challenge incumbent Karl Frisch, who announced last week that he’ll seek a second term in office this November.

News

Democrat Holly Seibold wins special election for 35th District delegate

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2023 at 11:00AM

Democrat Holly Seibold won a special election on Jan. 10 for Virginia's 35th House District seat (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Holly Seibold is headed to Richmond.

The nonprofit founder and Democratic nominee won a special election yesterday to represent Virginia’s 35th House District, which encompasses Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, Fair Oaks and part of Tysons.