At a digital town hall yesterday, Del. Mark Keam (D-35th) discussed potential issues for delaying the fast-approaching Town of Vienna election.
Gov. Ralph Northam issued a statement several days ago asking the General Assembly to postpone the upcoming May 5 election to November so people can avoid all non-essential outings to ease the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northam suggested that local elections be moved to Nov. 3, but Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco issued a letter in response saying she would prefer June 23.
“The ability for local elections to get attention during the presidential-election cycle will be extremely challenging and expensive for candidates who usually have limited resources and budgets,” she wrote.
While Keam said he agrees the election should get pushed — and encourages all of his delegates to follow CDC guidelines and social distancing order — he also said that there are reasons elections usually occur during a certain time of year.
Given the uncertainty and confusion about the coronavirus pandemic, Keam said there is currently “absolutely no consensus” on when the elections should be held.
The issue with holding the election on June 23, according to Keam, is that the federal elections are set to be held around that time as well — which is out of the control of smaller districts.
“You can’t have two different ballots being issued on the same day,” he said.
If the election were to even be held a few days after June 23, like the 25 or 26 for example, this wouldn’t work either, Keam said, because the polling machines need to be locked up for 30 days in accordance with state law. This gives election staffers time to recount votes if necessary, clear the machines and inspect the machines to ensure “integrity in the voting process.”
Keam also brought up the recent Wisconsin elections, which were held earlier this month. Despite expert suggestions to stay home, many voters chose not to fill out absentee ballots and instead headed to the polls in person.
“We’ll know in about two weeks how many of those people went out to vote last Tuesday ended up with COVID. We hope very few, but there is a chance the epidemic might spike in Wisconson because the election was held against the wishes of some government officials,” Keam said. “We don’t want that happening in Virginia.”
Next Wednesday (April 22), the General Assembly will consider Northam’s request to move the local elections across Virginia to Nov. 3.
Image via Facebook Live
Turn Tysons Streets For Recreational Use? — “Select a few roads and open them to people by closing them to all but local traffic. By doing so, we’ll make space for people to get fresh air and exercise without risk of spreading the coronavirus or getting run over. The cost will only be a few traffic cones, temporary signs, and asking a handful of drivers to go a few minutes out of their way.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Mark Keam Hosting Virtual Town Hall Tonight — “As he returns to Richmond for the reconvene session on April 22, Mark will also answer questions about the Governor’s amendments to some of the bills that passed the legislature this year. Of particular interest to voters in the Town of Vienna, Mark will explain the Governor’s recommendation to move the Town Council elections from May to November.” [Facebook]
Locals Start T-Shirt Fundraiser — “Inspired by a friend’s philanthropic effort in Texas, two Falls Church residents have started their own fundraising campaign to help out during the pandemic, raising money by selling Little City-themed t-shirts. After barely a week in operation, more than 700 shirts have been sold and more than $12,000 has been raised.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Falls Church Cancels Memorial Day Festivities — “The City of Falls Church announced today the cancellation of its biggest event of the year, the annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival, set to take place next month, citing recent executive orders issued by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam urging localities to cancel large-scale events through June 10.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Dranesville School Rep to Host Virtual Town Hall — “Thursday, April 16, and next Monday, April 20, Dranesville School Board Representative Elaine Tholen will hold open town hall meetings with At-Large Representatives, Karen Keys-Gamarra and Rachna Sizemore Heizer, respectively. Leigh Burden, Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services at FCPS will participate in the April 16 town hall as well.” [John Foust newsletter, Blackboard, Blackboard]
New Virtual Exploration Center — The Fairfax County Park Authority created a new virtual exploration center for people who want to explore while staying home. [Fairfax County]
Gov. Ralph Northam wants to see the general election and special elections on May 5 — including the one for the Town of Vienna — delayed to a later date.
Northam asked the General Assembly today (Wednesday) to move the elections scheduled for May 5 to the General Election date on Nov. 3 “to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” according to a press release.
“The General Assembly is scheduled to meet April 22 unless called into session sooner,” the Town of Vienna tweeted. “The Town will share additional information as decisions are made.”
There are three mayoral candidates and seven people running to become councilmembers. Absentee voting for the town’s election began on March 20.
“As other states have shown, conducting an election in the middle of this global pandemic would bring unprecedented challenges and potential risk to voters and those who work at polling places across the Commonwealth,” Northam said in the press release.
Northam is asking the General Assembly to have one ballot in November and to discard all absentee ballots that have already been cast. He also wants elected officials’ terms that will end on June 30 to be continued until the November election.
Additionally, Northam plans to move the June primary election from June 9 to June 23.
Today's news on changing Virginia election dates has 2 parts: (1) Moving 5/5/20 local elections to 11/3/20 will need State Legislature to act, which we can vote on 4/22/20; (2) delaying 6/9/20 primary to 6/23/20 can be done by @GovernorVA's own discretion: https://t.co/KacblZVldd
— Mark Keam 🇺🇸 (@MarkKeam) April 8, 2020
People can now watch two forums with the candidates running for the Vienna Town Council and mayor’s seat.
In lieu of in-person forums due to the coronavirus pandemic, the North East Vienna Citizens Association (NEVCA) and Vienna Business Association (VBA) teamed up to host the forums virtually.
Doug Francis, NEVCA’s vice president, moderated the two forums — one for three mayoral candidates and a second one for the seven people running for council seats.
The forums, which were recorded on April 2, were uploaded to YouTube earlier today (Monday).
The town’s upcoming election is May 5. Absentee voting — which Fairfax County officials strongly encourage to reduce the risk of spreading the virus — is already underway.
Tysons Reporter will also reach out to the candidates for Q&As that will be published this spring ahead of the election.
If you have a question you would like the Tysons Reporter team to consider asking, please let us know in the comments below or on our social media pages.
Images of three mayoral candidates via Town of Vienna
The Vienna Business Association (VBA) and the North East Vienna Citizens Association (NEVCA) plan to host a virtual debate ahead of the town’s upcoming election.
“The VBA and NEVCA are teaming up to host a virtual Vienna candidate forum in April,” according to the VBA’s email newsletter today (Tuesday). “It will be recorded so that you can watch at your convenience.”
People can submit questions for the candidates.
Previously, several in-person candidate forums were scheduled for the Vienna candidates.
There are three mayoral candidates and seven people running to become councilmembers. Absentee voting for the May 5 election began on March 20.
Tysons Reporter will also reach out to the candidates for Q&As that will be published this spring ahead of the election.
If you have a question you would like the Tysons Reporter team to consider asking, please let us know in the comments below or on our social media pages.
For the upcoming election in the Town of Vienna, Fairfax County wants residents to vote using an absentee ballot.
The county issued a statement on Tuesday (March 17) reminding voters that they can mail in their ballots.
People who don’t feel comfortable going out to vote on May 5 because of COVID-19 concerns can request an absentee ballot, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
To qualify for an absentee ballot, people must choose the “disability or illness” box during the application process, Fairfax County’s website said, adding that the last day to register for an absentee ballot is April 28, at 5 p.m.
“Voters who choose the absentee option should do so as soon as possible so they can get their ballots in time to return them by mail by Election Day,” the website said.
Absentee voting begins on March 20, according to the website.
Several candidates are competing for seats on the Vienna Town Council.
Due to #coronavirus, the Virginia Dept of Elections "strongly encourages" absentee voting in the May elections. Use reason "2A My illness or disability." Absentee vote by mail: https://t.co/xRsj4c4jP7#COVID19 #socialdistancing #FlattenTheCurve #VoteAbsentee #Vote @vaELECT pic.twitter.com/kDfRDDlRQU
— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) March 18, 2020
The Town of Vienna is gearing up for its election in a few months.
Recently, the filing deadline passed for people looking to run for the Town Council. Tysons Reporter has information below on who the candidates are, when debates are scheduled and how to ask questions.
Mayoral Candidates
Three councilmembers are vying for Mayor Laurie DiRocco’s seat.
DiRocco, who has been the town’s mayor since 2014, announced in December that she will not seek re-election.
Linda Colbert has been on the council since 2014 and has previously served on the Transportation Safety Commission and Hunter Mill Transportation Advisory Council, according to her town bio.
“I am running for Mayor of Vienna to advocate for Vienna residents, to preserve our neighborhoods, and to improve our commercial areas to create a more vibrant and economically viable main street that our residents will use with pride,” according to a statement on her Facebook page.
Pasha Majdi is running on a platform to “keep [Vienna] a small town.”
He was first elected to the council in 2014 after serving on the Town Business Liaison Committee, according to his town bio.
“Vienna should be an independent, green oasis that is a sharp contrast to Tysons, not a housing district for Tysons,” he said in his campaign announcement.
Howard Springsteen is also running on a platform to maintain the “small-town feel” of Vienna.
Springsteen was first elected to the Town Council in 2009 and has served on the Transportation Safety Commission for eight years, according to his town bio.
“I have a reputation for getting things done and focusing on residents’ concerns and issues,” Springsteen said. “I think Vienna should be determined by taxpaying residents and not non-tax paying developers.”
The terms for both Majdi and Colbert expire in June this year, while Springsteen’s term expires in June 2021.
Vienna Town Council Candidates
Depending on the mayoral election, either two or three council seats will be open.
Vienna Town Councilmember Douglas Noble, who has been on the council since 2016, plans to retire after his current term ends on June 30. (The terms for councilmembers Nisha Patel and Steve Potter expire in 2021.)
Voters will be able to pick no more than three of the seven candidates running to be councilmembers, according to the Fairfax County Department of Elections.
The candidates are:
- Chuck Anderson, a former member of Vienna’s Planning Commission
- Ray Brill, Jr., a former U.S. Air Force pilot, pastor, lawyer and congressional aide
- Roy Baldwin, an attorney who chairs Vienna’s Board of Architectural Review
- David Patariu, an attorney who is a member of Vienna’s Planning Commission
- Chris Wright, the vice president of sales at Datastrong
- Ed Somers, a member of Vienna’s Transportation Safety Commission
- Andrea Kristin Dahl
Meet the Candidates
Ahead of the election on May 5, several candidate forums will give locals opportunities to hear the candidates debate and answer questions from residents.
Unless canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus, here are the scheduled forums, according to the Vienna Business Association (VBA):
- NEVCA Candidates Forum: April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center Auditorium
- NARFE Candidates Forum: April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center Auditorium
- VBA Mayoral Forum: April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department
- Mayoral Forum: April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Cunningham Park Elementary School
Tysons Reporter will also reach out to the candidates for Q&As that will be published this spring ahead of the election.
If you have a question you would like the Tysons Reporter team to consider asking, please let us know in the comments below or on our social media pages.
Images via Town of Vienna
Former New York City mayor and presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is set to make an appearance in Tysons tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
Bloomberg plans to participate in the Women for Mike get-out-the-vote event ahead of the March 3 Super Tuesday primary in Virginia.
The event is set to take place at 9 a.m. at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner (7920 Jones Branch Drive), according to a press release. Doors will open at 8 a.m.
After the event, supporters plan to knock on doors for Bloomberg’s campaign.
“This will be Mike’s seventh trip to Virginia since launching his presidential campaign,” the press release says.
Updated 2/28/2020 — Adds number of polling places in schools.
Students at Fairfax County’s public schools will get to stay home on March 3 for Super Tuesday.
Large crowds are expected to turn out for the primary election in Virginia. Brian Worthy, a spokesperson for the county, said that 167 polling places will be in the schools for voters casting their ballots for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Some of those polling spots will be at public schools, including George Marshall High School in Falls Church and Langley High School in McLean.
The county’s school board voted last spring to make Super Tuesday a student holiday for the 2019-2020 school year.
While students will have the day off, staff will still need to report to the schools, Lucy Caldwell, an FCPS spokesperson, said.
Eligible voters can find their polling location on the Virginia Department of Elections website or the My Neighborhood App.
Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic candidate for president and senator from Minnesota, is coming to Falls Church tomorrow.
Klobuchar will be at a rally supporting her campaign ahead of the March 3 Super Tuesday primary in Virginia.
The event is set to take place at noon at the State Theatre (220 N. Washington Street). Doors will open at 11:15 a.m.
After stopping in Falls Church, Klobuchar will then head to Nashville, according to a press release from her campaign.
Photo via Amy Klobuchar/Facebook
