First Watch is bringing its avocado toast and million dollar bacon to more spots around Fairfax County.
The fast-casual cafe, which serves made-to-order food and drinks for breakfast, brunch and lunch, will open at least two more locations in the county next year — with a third potentially also in the works.
First, a Franconia restaurant is on track to open next spring in Festival at Manchester Lakes (7027B Manchester Blvd), according to First Watch public relations manager Hunter Carpenter. It will occupy 4,500 square feet in a currently vacant corner building that once hosted Lucky’s Sports Theatre & Grill, per a site plan from property manager Regency Centers.
Carpenter also confirmed that First Watch will open at 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive in fall 2024, replacing TGI Friday’s, as the Washington Business Journal reported this summer. The chain restaurant remains open for now, but its days are evidently numbered.
TGI Friday’s didn’t return a request for comment by press time.
“These restaurants will be our fourth and fifth locations in Fairfax County, respectively — and the newest additions to First Watch’s presence locally since its Bailey’s Crossroads opening in 2021,” Carpenter said.
With more than 500 restaurants nationwide, First Watch can also be found at Fair City Mall (9600 Main Street) in Fairfax and at Greenbriar Town Center (13027 Route 50) in Chantilly.
A permit currently under review by Fairfax County indicates that another cafe may be planned at Idylwood Plaza (7501 Leesburg Pike). The commercial alteration permit calls for a new storefront with interior and exterior wall demolition intended in part “to create a new covered patio area.”
Carpenter confirmed that First Watch has been “looking into new sites in the Falls Church area,” but no leases have been finalized yet. A public relations representative for Federal Realty, which manages Idylwood Plaza, said the company can’t provide any details until a lease is executed.
“[We] love the community and hope to grow there, but have not executed any recent leases yet and therefore have no new sites to announce at this time,” Carpenter told FFXnow. “We opened the doors to our first restaurant in Fairfax County nearly two decades ago, and we’re always looking for new ways to bring our take on breakfast, brunch and lunch to more of our neighbors.”
Started in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983, First Watch emphasizes its use of fresh ingredients and seasonal dishes that change five times a year based on “the position of the sun,” according to its website.
“This ever-evolving menu has included items like the Crab Avocado Toast, Barbacoa Quesadilla Benedict, Elote Mexican Street Corn Hash and Watermelon Wake-Up fresh juice, among many others,” Carpenter said.
The menu also includes classic breakfast foods like omelets, eggs benedict and pancakes, along with sandwiches, salads and quinoa bowls. Available drinks include a juice bar, iced coffee and cocktails for brunch.
According to Carpenter, some of the most popular menu items are avocado toast, lemon ricotta pancakes and the aforementioned Million Dollar Bacon, which is hardwood-smoked and baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a maple syrup drizzle.
Both Franconia and Fair Lakes restaurants “are still in the construction and design phases,” he said. The dining rooms will have an “urban farm” style that combines “the rustic feel of a farmhouse with the modern elements of an urban loft.”
FCPD Touts License Plate Reader Tech — “Fairfax County Police launched its license plate readers in November 2022 using technology from Flock Safety and Axon to help solve crimes and find missing persons. According to police department data, 335 cases have involved license plate reader technology in the first year of the program.” [Patch]
Urgent Care Center Coming to Penn Daw — “The South Alex mixed-use development in Penn Daw has landed its second retail tenant with the signing of a lease earlier this year between Combined Properties and Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care. The urgent care center will occupy a vacant space near the Aldi supermarket, which opened this past March.” [On the MoVe]
Proposals for New I-495 Toll Lanes Questioned — “The Virginia Dept. of Transportation is mulling expanding the Express Lanes system to a section of I-495 from Fairfax County across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and into Maryland. The city of Alexandria, however, is skeptical of the current plans, as many of the alternatives come down to adding traffic lanes.” [ALXnow]
McLean Police Shooting Crops Up in D.C. Police Chief Confirmation — The D.C. City Council was expected to give acting police chief Pamela Smith the Metropolitan Police Department’s top job yesterday (Tuesday), but the former U.S. Park Police head still faces some challenges. Among them is her “handling of the Bijan Ghaisar case, in which Park Police officers shot and killed an unarmed man on the George Washington Parkway in 2018.” [Washington City Paper]
Metro Watchdog Leader Resigns — “Metro’s inspector general resigned Tuesday after being told the transit agency’s board planned to replace him, according to a letter he sent to Metro board members and elected leaders. The move comes one day after his office released an audit critical of the board for not giving Inspector General Rene Febles and his staff more autonomy, as required by a law Congress passed last year.” [Washington Post]
Task Force Considers What It’ll Take to Save Lake Accotink — “The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink is looking at a broad array of issues…as it develops a recommendation on how much of the lake should be saved…At the task force’s Nov. 6 meeting, there was some discussion about the need to gather more data, but chair Sharon Bulova expressed concerns about delays in getting the work done to stabilize the lake.” [Annandale Today]
Vienna Police Share Drug Take-Back Results — “The Vienna Police Department on Oct. 28 teamed up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the 25th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative. During this event, Vienna police gathered and properly disposed of 228 pounds of expired or unneeded medications that local residents voluntarily turned in.” [Gazette Leader]
Vienna Fire Department Renovates Event Hall — The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department will hold a grand opening next Tuesday (Nov. 14) to celebrate its newly renovated event hall, which “has been transformed into a lovely event space fit for weddings, birthdays, and celebrations of all levels.” The event will showcase local hospitality businesses and offer snacks, drinks and wine tastings. [Vienna Business Association]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 61 degrees, accompanied by a north wind at 6 mph, later becoming light and variable. For Wednesday night, the sky will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 49 degrees and a southeast wind at 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 12:35 a.m. on 11/8/2023) The Democratic Party’s hold in Fairfax County remains strong, despite Republican efforts to make headway by centering issues from high taxes and “parental rights” in public education to highway tolls.
Preliminary general election results show that candidates supported by the Democrats, either officially or through endorsements, are in line to win every seat on this year’s lengthy ballot — except for Springfield District supervisor.
Seeking a fifth term on the Board of Supervisors, incumbent Pat Herrity is beating Democratic challenger Albert Vega by roughly 14 percentage points, or around 5,000 votes, as of 10:30 p.m. That would be a more comfortable victory than the one Herrity had in 2019, when he edged out Linda Sperling by just 439 votes.
If the current results hold, Herrity will once again be the only Republican on the 10-seat Board of Supervisors, and all 12 Fairfax County School Board seats, along with the county’s entire General Assembly delegation, will be held by Democrats.
Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano are on track for reelection, though about 22% of the ballots cast for the county’s top prosecutor are write-ins. While the results don’t show the names that voters put forward, a write-in campaign for Ed Nuttall — Descano’s opponent in the June Democratic primary — got endorsed by him and the Fairfax County Republican Committee.
In addition, Democrat Chris Falcon, currently the deputy court clerk in Arlington, won the circuit court clerk race with 62% of the vote, even after Republican Gerarda Culipher got endorsed by current Clerk John Frey, who’s retiring after 32 years.
The three open seats on the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District‘s five-person board of directors will also go to candidates endorsed by the Democrats. Voters also approved a $435 million school bond referendum that will fund construction and renovation projects and the installation of security vestibules.
With nearly all precincts reporting, here are the apparent winners of this year’s general election:
Board of Supervisors
- Chairman: Jeff McKay
- Braddock District: James Walkinshaw
- Dranesville District: Jimmy Bierman
- Franconia District: Rodney Lusk
- Hunter Mill District: Walter Alcorn
- Mason District: Andres Jimenez
- Mount Vernon District: Dan Storck
- Providence District: Dalia Palchik
- Springfield District: Pat Herrity
- Sully District: Kathy Smith
School Board
- At Large: Ilryong Moon, Ryan McElveen, Kyle McDaniel
- Braddock District: Rachna Sizemore Heizer
- Dranesville District: Robyn Lady
- Franconia District: Marcia St. John-Cunning
- Hunter Mill District: Melanie Meren
- Mason District: Ricardy Anderson
- Mount Vernon District: Mateo Dunne
- Providence District: Karl Frisch
- Springfield District: Sandra Anderson
- Sully District: Seema Dixit
State Senate
- District 33: Jennifer Carroll Foy
- District 34: Scott Surovell
- District 35: Dave Marsden
- District 36: Stella Pekarsky
- District 37: Saddam Salim
- District 38: Jennifer Boysko
- District 39: Adam Ebbin
House of Delegates
- District 4: Charniele Herring (uncontested)
- District 6: Rip Sullivan
- District 7: Karen Keys-Gamarra
- District 8: Irene Shin
- District 9: Karrie Delaney
- District 10: Dan Helmer
- District 11: David Bulova
- District 12: Holly Seibold (uncontested)
- District 13: Marcus Simon
- District 14: Vivian Watts
- District 15: Laura Jane Cohen
- District 16: Paul Krizek (uncontested)
- District 17: Mark Sickles (uncontested)
- District 18: Kathy Tran
- District 19: Rozia Henson Jr. (uncontested)
Other
- Circuit Court Clerk: Chris Falcon
- Commonwealth’s Attorney: Steve Descano
- Sheriff: Stacey Kincaid
- Soil and Water Conservation: Dana Barakat, Rhonda Bitterli, Chris Koerner
The McLean Project for the Arts is going downtown, at least for a weekend, though it hopes to stay longer.
The nonprofit will launch an inaugural “MPA Inspires” celebration of art and jazz on Nov. 18-19 that will also serve as its introduction to a new space at The Signet (6910 Fleetwood Road), a seven-story condominium building with some ground-floor retail space.
Known for now as “MPA Downtown,” the facility is envisioned as a supplement to MPA’s main galleries and offices in the McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue, according to MPA communications director Deb Bissen.
“MPA has been looking for a way to have additional space to provide more arts education opportunities for our community as well as an expanded exhibition and events space,” Bissen told FFXnow.
While the organization isn’t ready to discuss details yet, Bissen confirmed it’s pursuing a space in downtown McLean in place of the arts center that the Fairfax County Park Authority board approved last year last year as an option for future development at Clemyjontri Park.
That proposal — the crux of a revised master plan for the 6317 Georgetown Pike park best known for its disability-inclusive playground — “has now been set aside,” she said.
In addition to being more accessible than Clemyjontri for pedestrians in McLean’s redeveloping downtown, The Signet has a courtyard and Elm Street Park across the street that could support outdoor exhibitions and events, according to Bissen.
“We’re excited about the potential of this idea, and hoping our community of supporters will embrace it as well during this weekend of celebrating MPA’s artistic legacy and our exciting plans to expand our presence within the vibrant D.C. arts community,” she said.
MPA Inspires will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 with an Art Insights panel and reception featuring art collectors Michael Abrams and Sandra Stewart, art advocate Nancy Hirshbein, and University of Maryland University College Arts Program Director Eric Key.
Following the panel, attendees can get a gallery tour and meet the artists showcased in a new alumni exhibition that will be open for viewing from 2-4 p.m. this Thursday (Nov. 9), Sunday (Nov. 12), Nov. 14 and Nov. 17.
Sunday, Nov. 19 will bring an Art + Soul Jazz Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to raise funds for MPA’s new space. It will feature live music by saxophonist Langston Hughes II, bass player Chris Hon and guitarist Jan Knutson, along with a Collectors’ Drawing for the more than 60 works donated to the alumni exhibition.
While the panel event is free, the brunch will cost $150 per person, and the 60 tickets available for the drawing are an additional $600, covering the purchase of the artwork. Sponsorships are also being offered, starting at $1,000 for four brunch tickets.
Proceeds will go to “the development of a new MPA Art and Education Center,” the event website says.
“We are thrilled this weekend will bring such a group of dynamic artists, each esteemed alumni of MPA’s exhibition program, together with our warm and engaged community of supporters,” MPA Executive Director Lori Carbonneau said. “…This moment stands as one of the most remarkable milestones in MPA’s 61-year history, and a celebration of our continued leadership in McLean and the wider regional arts scene.”
Image via Google Maps
A nonprofit that has been serving free meals made at Lewinsville Senior Center throughout the COVID-19 pandemic hopes to establish a permanent presence at the McLean facility.
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), which operates the senior center at 1613 Great Falls Street, applied in late 2022 for a special exception amendment that would let SevaTruck Foundation keep using the center’s kitchen to cook, store and package food.
NCS is now seeking public input on its partnership with SevaTruck. It will host four information sessions on the application, starting with a virtual meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“SevaTruck serves a crucial role in addressing hunger and food insecurity and has a deep understanding of the communities it serves,” NCS said in a press release announcing the meetings.
SevaTruck provides “free, fresh, nutritious warm meals to children attending Title 1 Schools and…living in historically low-income, marginalized communities across Fairfax County and the Washington DC, metropolitan area,” according to a statement of justification for the application.
Areas served so far include McLean, Tysons, Reston, Herndon, Fairfax, Annandale, Falls Church and Alexandria. The nonprofit also has chapters in Richmond, Michigan and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The D.C. area chapter began operating out of Lewinsville Senior Center early in the pandemic after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency, which suspended zoning requirements that would “preclude a temporary modification to an activity, use, or structure where the Zoning Administrator determines the modification is needed to respond to the COVID-19 emergency and its impacts.”
However, the county’s official state of emergency for Covid ended on March 1, giving SevaTruck and other organizations or businesses operating under an emergency waiver 12 months to obtain the approvals and permits necessary to continue.
In the application, NCS regional manager Karen De Mijango says two SevaTruck employees work out of the senior center Monday through Friday, preparing 1,800 meals a week that are delivered to around 1,400 Fairfax County residents both on-site and off by an 18-foot-long food truck.
“Meals are either picked-up from the senior center by partners, delivered in either a personal car, or in the food-truck,” De Mijango wrote in the statement to the county’s zoning division. “Partners picking up from the center does not cause disruptions to the senior programs. SevaTruck uses the backdoor of the kitchen to load/unload with a cart-roller.”
She noted that SevaTruck is seeking to expand by boosting its base of volunteers to assist with off-site food distributions, but no increase in staff is planned.
The application is currently scheduled to go to the Fairfax County Planning Commission for a public hearing on Jan. 24, 2024. Two more virtual information sessions will be held on Dec. 12 and Jan. 11, and an in-person meeting is planned at the senior center on Jan. 9.
A hearing before the Board of Supervisors, which is responsible for approving the application, hasn’t been scheduled yet.
The woman who oversaw ArtsFairfax’s transformation from an events programmer into the top advocate for Fairfax County’s arts and culture community will soon step down as leader of the nonprofit.
Linda Sullivan announced her plan to retire after 14 years as president and CEO on Oct. 26 at the 2023 ArtsFairfax Awards, an annual celebration and fundraiser that she established to honor notable local artists, arts and cultural organizations and their supporters.
At the awards ceremony, which was held at Capital One Hall in Tysons and raised $175,000, Sullivan said she was “very proud” of her tenure leading the county’s official arts agency.
“It has been a privilege to work with all the elected officials, community leaders, board members, and staff members as we met our strategic goals and grew both the organization and the strength of its services,” Sullivan said. “Serving and supporting the arts in Fairfax County has been a labor of love and joy.”
When Sullivan first joined as a consultant in 2009, ArtsFairfax was still named the Arts Council of Fairfax County and most known for producing the annual International Children’s Festival hosted by Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts from 1971 to 2011, according to the organization.
Even as the county government made deep budget cuts in the wake of the 2008 recession that included eliminating the children’s festival, ArtsFairfax sought to pivot and expand its mission from programming events to actively working with the county and providing support services to local artists and arts organizations.
John Mason, a former Fairfax City mayor who chaired the arts council’s board of directors at the time, says hiring Sullivan in 2010 to lead the organization through that transition as its president and CEO is “the best thing that I did as chairman.”
“Her term led to a more dynamic, engaged board and staff,” Mason said. “Commendable initiatives included engaging Fairfax County and contributing to its Comprehensive Plan with a strong arts program and, importantly, a comprehensive arts facilities plan for the next decade or so. Additionally, she initiated the challenge of engaging arts organizations and helping to ‘market’ them.”
An arts management consultant with prior experience leading museums and art centers, Sullivan told FFXnow in an interview that she remains proud of the council’s rebranding as ArtsFairfax. Since then, the nonprofit raised its profile and doubled both its budget and the amount of grants it offers to arts organizations.
Recipients of the most recent round of operating support grants, for instance, ranged from theater companies and dance troupes to orchestras and George Mason University’s Fall for the Book Festival.
Other highlights of Sullivan’s 14-year tenure include the development of two strategic plans and a countywide master arts plan with recommendations for future facilities, the introduction of artist residences and a poet laureate, and a partnership with Capital One Hall that ensures local groups have access to the venue.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished,” Sullivan said. “I’m really proud that we’ve moved this organization in so many ways to a stronger, more professional organization that is a solid local arts agency for the county.”
Eager to travel “while I still can,” Sullivan says she felt the time was right to step back and let a new leader guide ArtsFairfax into its next phase. She anticipates making her retirement effective on Dec. 31 but will stay longer if needed until the new president and CEO is chosen.
ArtsFairfax’s latest strategic plan, which was crafted during the pandemic and lays out priorities through 2026, includes commitments to making the arts “more accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive” and using public art, civic partnerships and placemaking to enhance the community.
“I think the next 10 years or so in the county are going to be an exciting time for the arts, and so, it’s going to be a rewarding job for the next person too,” Sullivan said. “I’ve enjoyed my time and I certainly am proud of what we accomplished, and I look forward to now just being a patron of the arts and coming to the Arts Awards as a guest.”
Abortion Rights at Center of Key Election Day Races — “The most-watched races in Tuesday’s off-year general election have all been dominated by the ongoing debate over abortion rights. From a reelection bid for governor in Kentucky to a statewide ballot measure in Ohio to state legislative elections in Virginia, access to abortion has been a frequent topic in campaign debates and advertising.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Police Investigate Shooting in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Saturday at 4:50 p.m., officers responded to the 3300 block of Glen Carlyn Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads for the report of a shot person. Officers responded and found the victim, an adult man, with two gunshot wounds to his upper body. The man was transported to the hospital for injuries not considered to be life-threatening.” [FCPD]
Scheduling Changes for Wiehle, Route 1 Meetings — Next Monday’s workshop launching a study of Wiehle Avenue in Reston will be in the cafeteria of Langston Hughes Middle School, not at Reston Station as previously announced. In addition, a community meeting on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit project “has been rescheduled from Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024, due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts.” [FCDOT]
Woman Reunites With People Who Saved Her Life — “What should have been a normal day for a 65-year-old woman in Fairfax County became life or death. But with the help of eight people, Linda Carr survived. Now, she got to reunite with them during a life-saving reunion event. On Sept. 13, Carr was participating in a Zumba class at South Run Recreation Center when she went into cardiac arrest.” [WUSA9]
Tysons Consultant Bought by Private Equity Firm — Guidehouse “announced Monday it is being acquired by an affiliate of Boston-based Bain Capital Private Equity for $5.3 billion. Guidehouse CEO Scott McIntyre said the sale to a larger private equity sponsor should accelerate the company’s growth both in the U.S. and overseas.” [Washington Business Journal]
FCPD Uses Drones to Investigate Crashes — “The Crash Reconstruction Unit now has its own drone and its own two-person team of trained drone pilots…The unit has been borrowing a drone from crime scene detectives, and they’ve already seen how it helps them investigate and figure out exactly what happened after a fatal accident.” [WJLA]
Burke School Recognizes Veteran Staff and Volunteers — A “smiling kindergarten teacher” who recently wore “a superhero cape for a themed dress-up day” at White Oaks Elementary School “doesn’t need to wear a cape: she’s a real-life hero who served her country before joining Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). She’s not alone: three other staff members and volunteers within the school’s walls have their own stories to share.” [FCPS]
Fort Hunt School Brings Garden Back to Life — “The school garden is thriving again at Stratford Landing Elementary School, thanks to a new garden coordinator, Get2Green lead, parent volunteers and students. About five years ago, the school had a robust garden program led by outdoor learning teacher Mary Charlton, but after her departure in 2021, the garden fell into disuse.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly cloudy day with a high temperature close to 76 and a southwest wind at about 10 mph. At night, the sky will clear up with the low temperature around 48, accompanied by a north wind at approximately 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
This Halloween brought neither trick nor treat for two men in Vienna who got served instead with assault charges.
Police officers were called to the Vienna Park apartments in the 200 block of Cedar Lane SE around 9:40 a.m. on Oct. 30 after one resident declined to pick up his dog’s feces and another took umbrage, the Vienna Police Department said in its crime recap for the week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 2.
“The man advised that he and his brother confronted the dog’s owner, resulting in an altercation,” the VPD said. “The dog’s owner advised his two neighbors assaulted him while he was picking up the waste, causing minor injury. Rescue responded to treat the small cut, but the man refused transport to a medical facility.”
Police say the dog owner later got court summonses from the Fairfax County Magistrate’s Office that charged both men — a 41-year-old Vienna resident and a 26-year-old from Harrisionburg — with simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia that could result in a jail sentence of up to a year or a fine of up to $1,000.
VPD officer Celines Fitchue delivered the summons on Oct. 31. Both men “were released on their signatures,” the recap says.
October also closed on an unpleasant note for a customer of the Popeyes in the Maple Avenue Shopping Center, according to the Vienna police report:
Trespassing and Petit Larceny 23-010041 and 23-010052
Popeyes
325 Maple Avenue, East
October 28 8:19 p.m.An employee reported a customer was upset with the quality of their meal and threw a stack of disposable cups at them. When the man left the restaurant, he forgot his book bag. The employee requested the man be trespassed from the restaurant. A short time later, the man called the police station, reporting his book bag stolen. The man was advised that he had left the property in the restaurant and could come to the police station to retrieve it. When he recovered his property, he reported that US currency was missing. An officer advised the man he was trespassed from the restaurant and would be arrested if he returned to the premises.
A day later, police helped F45 Fitness Training (322 Maple Avenue West) trespass a patron who was “talking inappropriately to the employees.”
Officers also took a report on Oct. 25 of someone pouring “syrup on the pickleball court” at Glyndon Park (300 Glyndon Street NE) sometime between midnight and 8:30 a.m., according to the recap.
“[The citizen] also advised that on October 11, she observed another liquid that had been poured on the court,” the VPD said.
Photo via Google Maps
Early voting is over, and Election Day 2023 is less than 24 hours away.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday). Virginia now allows same-day registration, though those voters will cast provisional ballots that are counted and validated later by the Fairfax County Electoral Board.
Mail ballots can be placed at dropboxes at all polling sites throughout the day. They can also still be sent to the Fairfax County Office of Elections (12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323) but must arrive by noon on Monday, Nov. 13 to be counted. In addition, the voter’s year of birth and the last four digits of their social security number needs to be written on the return envelope in lieu of the previously required witness signature.
As of last Wednesday (Nov. 1), almost 9% of registered voters had voted early in person or returned a mail ballot, amounting to about 64,000 votes, according to Fairfax County election officials. Last time this election cycle came around in 2019, there were 36,584 absentee votes total and an overall 44.3% turnout.
This year’s general election is focused on local and state offices, with every Board of Supervisors, school board and General Assembly seat up for grabs. Vienna is also holding mayoral and town council elections in November for the first time.
Board of Supervisors
Chairman
- Jeff McKay (D)
- Arthur Purves (R)
McKay, the incumbent, was elected in 2019 after serving as supervisor of the Franconia District — then known as Lee District — since 2008. Citing mental health services and pedestrian safety among his top priorities this year, he faces a challenge from Purves, president of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance and a frequent critic of the county’s taxation and spending practices.
Braddock District
- James Walkinshaw (D)
- Carey Campbell (I)
No Republican candidates came forward to challenge Walkinshaw, who also didn’t get pulled into the Democratic primary in June. Chief of staff for Rep. Gerry Connolly before getting elected in 2019, he is once again facing off with independent Carey Chet Campbell, a Green Party member who’s now on his sixth campaign for Braddock District supervisor.
Dranesville District
- Puneet Ahluwalia (R)
- Jimmy Bierman (D)
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who’s retiring after four terms in office, has endorsed Bierman as his successor. The McLean resident and former Dranesville District Democratic Committee chair has identified diversifying the local economy, addressing climate change and creating “viable transportation options” as his top priorities.
Bierman is squaring off with a Livingtston Group lobbyist and former Fairfax County Republican Committee first vice chairman. Calling politicians “out of touch” and “out of control” on his website, Ahluwalia lists his key issues as property taxes, public safety, education, recreation and the pay raise approved earlier this year for the incoming board.
Franconia District
- Rodney Lusk (D)
- Paul Beran (R)
- Mark T. Welch (I)
When he launched his reelection bid last year, Lusk told FFXnow that he hopes to continue championing affordable housing, full funding for schools, bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements and criminal justice reform.
Affordable housing is also a priority for Beran, who says he founded the advertising company Advertel. Per his campaign website, the Republican candidate is also focused on public safety, education and creating a “Great American Walk of Fame” to honor war heroes, first responders, historic figures and others along Richmond Highway, among other issues.
Welch, a longtime Springvale resident and former federal government employee, told On the MoVe that his priorities, if elected, would be “keeping the tax rate stable, improving public safety and focusing education dollars for the classroom.”
Hunter Mill District
- Walter Alcorn (D)
- Indira Massey (R)
Seeking his second term in office, Alcorn highlights his role in creating the county’s co-responder program and decision not to advance development proposals for Reston’s golf courses on his campaign website, which also lists pedestrian and bicyclist safety, affordable housing and climate change among his top issues.
An entrepreneur who was born in the Soviet Union, Massey says on her site that she decided to run for office to “demonstrate that immigrants from all around the world can and do embrace American conservative values.” If elected, she would support incentives to recruit more police, oppose tax increases and advocate for a limited government.
Mason District
- Andres Jimenez (D)
- Terry Modglin (I)
Jimenez and Modglin are vying to replace retiring Supervisor Penny Gross. In his second bid for the Mason District seat, Jimenez is an at-large Fairfax County planning commissioner and executive director of the environmental advocacy group Green 2.0, while Modglin identified himself to Patch as a veteran and consultant with the Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center.
Mount Vernon District
- Dan Storck (D)
- Richard Hayden (R)
- Christopher Morgan (I)
If reelected, incumbent Storck told On the MoVe that he would advocate for investments in education, public safety, housing, green land use policies and development, the workforce and the future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system. Per his website, Hayden is a real estate agent and volunteer who wants to improve school standards, reduce taxes and “modernize” the police department with training and equipment.
President of the Stratford Landing Citizens Association, Morgan’s policy positions include preservation of trees and the tidal shoreline, opposition to the planned homeless shelter in Penn Daw and support for widening Richmond Highway, though he opposes the exclusive BRT lanes.
Providence District
- Dalia Palchik (D)
- Brian Murphy (R)
Seeking reelection, Palchik lists her priorities as fully funding Fairfax County Public Schools, reducing the county’s carbon footprint and building a community that’s inclusive, healthy and walkable. Murphy, a realtor for Samson Properties, cites crime, taxes, consumer protection and “parental rights” as his chief concerns.
Springfield District
- Pat Herrity (R)
- Albert Vega (D)
- Corazon Foley (I)
The only Republican currently on the board, Herrity was first elected in 2007 and advocates for reducing taxes and government spending, road improvements to address congestion and improve safety, and addressing crime. He has frequently brought up “panhandling” as an issue, leading the board to recently approve funding for a study.
Chief technology officer for the consultant Building Momentum and founder of the nonprofit Athena Response, which assists with disaster responses, Vega champions affordable housing, inclusivity, more efficient public transportation, transparency around public safety and other changes in his bid to unseat Herrity.
In a Patch profile, Foley, a former diplomat and intelligence officer, said her top priority, and the reason she decided to run for supervisor as an Independent Green Party candidate, is to ensure the construction of a new Senior Center Without Walls for the Burke and West Springfield area. The county held meetings on a proposed facility at Huntsman Square last month.
Sully District
- Kathy Smith (D)
- Keith Stone Elliott (R)
Smith is campaigning for a third term as Sully District supervisor, listing affordable housing, school funding, road improvements, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and economic development among her priorities.
Elliott, a property manager and McLean High School graduate, says on his website that he’s running to reduce spending and taxes. He also supports “common sense” land development, which would include studying the concept of a Historic Centreville District, and he proposes an ombudsman for the county.
School Board
While the school board races are nonpartisan, candidates can get endorsed by political parties, which is marked in parentheses.
At Large
- Cassandra Aucoin (R)
- Maureen Brody (R)
- Saundra Davis (R)
- Peter Gabor
- Ahmed Mahdi Hussein
- Ilryong Moon (D)
- Ryan McElveen (D)
- Kyle McDaniel (D)
- Linda Ann Pellegrino
This crowded race features none of the three at-large incumbents, but it does have two former school board members in Moon and McElveen, who are attempting to regain the seats they stepped away from after 2019.
Braddock District
Instead of seeking reelection as an at-large member, Sizemore Heizer has opted to run for the seat being vacated after three terms by incumbent Megan McLaughlin. A disability advocate first elected in 2019, she faces a mother in DeStefano who says she’s running to “give parents a voice a gain” after getting frustrated by school closures during the pandemic, a sentiment shared by many of this year’s Republican-endorsed candidates.
Dranesville District
- Paul Bartkowski (R)
- Robyn Lady (D)
A lawyer and parent of three FCPS students, Bartkowski says he represented plaintiffs who challenged the school system’s mask requirements during the pandemic, calling for “academic excellence over ideology.”
Lady is a small business owner and former director of student services for Chantilly High School, according to her website, which points to staffing shortages, achievement gaps and crowding in schools, especially in the Tysons area, as some of the issues that need to be addressed.
Franconia District
- Kevin Pinkney (R)
- Marcia St. John-Cunning (D)
A former interpreter and family liaison for FCPS, St. John-Cunning was restored to the ballot last Wednesday (Nov. 1) after getting disqualified a week earlier in a legal battle over her candidacy petition. Her website says she’s committed to “improving academics, the development of the whole child, to supporting educators, staff, parents and community engagement, and assuring equity and inclusion.”
Pinkney, a lawyer, says on his campaign website that he “watched with concern as FCPS lowered academic standards and became distracted by social movements and fads that do not advance education, and that bring division and rancor.” His policy proposals include competitive pay for teachers, a redesign of English as a Second Language programs and technology to “reinforce windows” for security purposes.
Hunter Mill District
- Harry Jackson (R)
- Melanie Meren (D)
One of just three school board members seeking reelection to their current position, Meren cites funding for outdoor classrooms and security vestibules among the accomplishments of her first term on the board, listing learning, employment and safety as her priorities.
Advocating for “world-class education services for children and adult learners,” parental rights and security, Jackson was a central figure in the Coalition for TJ, which sued the school board over changes to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions policies, and the right-wing organization Parents Defending Education. He has also faced a defamation lawsuit and dropped an early bid for a school board seat after he was criticized for laughing at an autistic student.
Mason District
Anderson, the incumbent, says on her campaign site that she decided to seek reelection to continue her work on the school board, particularly the fight for equity and “needs-based allocation of resources” such as staff and facilities. A former professor at George Washington and Radford universities, Froemling Ball told the Washington Post that she wants to tackle learning losses, bullying, an audit of the FCPS budget, and teacher and supply shortages.
Mount Vernon District
- Mateo Dunne (D)
- Stori Zimmerman (R)
A lawyer, entrepreneur and former vice president of advocacy for the Fairfax County Council of PTAs., Dunne says his priorities include increasing access to education and addressing learning losses and achievement gaps, according to his website.
“I have fought for our children, families, and educators for 10 years, and I will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen our public schools,” Dunne said in a statement. “I will work tirelessly to ensure the School Board preserves the legacy of excellence while expanding opportunities for all children.”
Zimmerman’s website says she has worked “as an educator in and out of the classroom for 25 years.” Her stated priorities are academic excellence, parents’ rights, safety and security, transparency, fiscal responsibility and compensation.
Providence District
- Karl Frisch (D)
- Anthony Arthur Sabio (R)
Elected to school board in 2019, Frisch said when announcing his reelection campaign that he wants to “give every student safe and inclusive public schools with exceptional educators and equitable access to the rigorous academics and other opportunities they need to be successful after graduation.”
Sabio’s campaign bio says he has “decades of experience” working in the U.S. Navy, Secret Service and CIA, and his platform focuses on school safety, mental health and academic excellence. He has proposed expanding mentorship and trade and vocational school programs for students.
Springfield District
Anderson is an FCPS graduate working as a contractor for Defense Department youth programs, per her campaign website, which lists funding, special education support, representation for students in military families, and science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education as her “core issues.”
Bixby-Eberhardt, a real estate agent, says his priorities are creating more opportunities for students, improving student health and public safety, and simplifying the process for getting special education services.
A disability rights advocate and former special education teacher, Tisler wants “to restore academic excellence and the joy of learning for the children of Fairfax County.” Her priorities include “empowering parents,” advocating for “rigorous curriculum and instruction” and reducing bureaucracy to better serve children.
Sully District
- Seema Dixit (D)
- Cynthia Lang Walsh (R)
Vying to succeed Stella Pekarsky, a nominee for the 36th State Senate District, Dixit is a mother of two FCPS students, and Walsh is a Freedom of Information Act officer who wrote a book about autism that questions the effectiveness of vaccines.
Dixit says she’s running to advocate for a school district “where every student, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality education and support services, while Walsh told the Washington Post that she wants to protect “the innocence and safety of children” from explicit materials and trafficking.
Other
General Assembly
The state races look a little different this year after redistricting in 2021 placed several incumbents representing parts of Fairfax County in the same districts. Many veteran legislators opted not to seek reelection, while others got defeated in primaries.
The county is represented in the House of Delegates by districts 4 and 6-19 and in the State Senate by districts 33 to 39. Sample ballots with the candidates, along with those in the Vienna and Clifton races, can be found on the county’s Office of Elections website.
Circuit Court Clerk
- Gerarda Culipher (R)
- Chris Falcon (D)
Current Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk John Frey is retiring after 32 years in the position. He has endorsed Culipher, his chief deputy clerk, over Falcon, the deputy clerk court in Arlington. Both candidates say they would prioritize customer service and accessibility, but they differ on the extent of their support for making public records available online for free.
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Incumbent Steve Descano is the only candidate on the ballot after winning the Democratic primary in June, but his primary opponent, Ed Nuttall, recently endorsed a write-in campaign after getting removed from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.
Sheriff
First elected in a 2013 special election, Stacey Kincaid is the county’s first female sheriff. Her bid for a third full term is now uncontested after she defeated primary challenger Kelvin Garcia with 75% of the vote.
Soil and Water Conservation
The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District works with the county to prevent erosion, reduce runoff and generally preserve local water resources, such as Lake Accotink. There are seven people vying for its five-seat, nonpartisan board of directors:
- Dana Barakat (D)
- Rhonda Bitterli (D)
- Mary Ellen “Mell” Flynn (R)
- Chris Koerner (D)
- Debra Maddrell (R)
- Edward Monroe, Jr.
- Mary Strayhorne (R)
School bond referendum
FCPS is asking voters to approve a $435 million bond referendum that will fund several school construction and renovation projects:
- Construction — Dranesville, Armstrong, Herndon, Lees Corner, Brookfield, Willow Springs and Bren Mar Park elementary schools
- Planning/Design — Franklin Middle School and Waples Mill, Cub Run, Poplar Tree, Virginia Run, Centre Ridge, Union Mill, Sangster and Saratoga elementary schools
Approved by the school board on May 25, the project list also includes $9 million to relocate three classroom modulars, $10 million to address inflation-related cost adjustments to previously approved projects and $2.5 million to install security vestibules.
One U.S. Park Police officer fatally shot another in Tysons yesterday (Sunday), leading to an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Fairfax County police officers were called to an unintentional shooting in the 1700 block of Old Meadow Road — the Scotts Run area — at 12:20 a.m. When they arrived at the apartment, Jesse Brown Hernandez, a 22-year-old McLean resident, was found dead with “a gunshot wound to the upper body,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police say an off-duty Park Police officer identified as 25-year-old Alexander Roy from McLean “was attempting to dry fire” his gun.
“Dry firing is when one simulates the discharge of a firearm by pulling the trigger of a firearm that is unloaded,” the FCPD said in a news release. “Roy unintentionally shot the firearm he believed to be unloaded, fatally striking Hernandez.”
Police believe alcohol played a role in the shooting.
There were a total of four people in the apartment at the time of the shooting, three of them off-duty Park Police officers, including Roy and Hernandez, according to the FCPD.
Roy has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is currently in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Park Police said it was aware of the shooting but directed questions to the FCPD, which is conducting the investigation.
“Our focus right now is on supporting the family, friends and coworkers of our employees involved in this tragic incident,” the agency’s press office said in a statement. “USPP has nothing further to share at this time.”
