Fairfax County voters will soon get the chance to decide the fate of a school bond referendum next week.
The general election ballot will ask voters if they want to approve a $360 million bond referendum for Fairfax County Public Schools.
For families in the Tysons area, the bond includes:
- $19.5 million in construction funds for adding an addition to Madison High School in Vienna
- $49.6 million in construction funds for renovating Cooper Middle School in McLean
- $1.7 million in planning funds for renovating Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna
The bond also includes $2 million in planning funds for a new “Silver Line elementary school.”
Madison High School is one of nearly a dozen high schools in Fairfax that is over 100% capacity, Tysons Reporter previously reported.
Fairfax County uses bonds to pay for renovating and building new schools.
The election is one week away for Fairfax County voters — and several seats are contested on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board.
Eight of the nine district seats on the school board are contested, while six district seats and the chair are contested for the Board of Supervisors.
While many are incumbents — like John Foust, Penny Gross and Pat Herrity on the Board of Supervisors — some new faces are also vying for seats due to officials retiring, like Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth.
Here are the candidates (listed alphabetically by last name) running in the races Tysons Reporter will be reporting on next week:
Chairman of Board of Supervisors
- Joseph Galdo (Republican)
- Jeff McKay (Democrat)
Providence District Supervisor
- Eric Anthony Jones (Republican)
- Dalia Palchik (Democrat)
Dranesville District Supervisor
- John Foust (Democrat)
- Ed Martin (Republican)
Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Steve Descano (Democrat)
- Jonathan Fahey (Independent)
Fairfax County School Board — Providence District Seat
Fairfax County School Board — Dranesville District Seat
Fairfax County School Board — At-Large Seats (voters choose three)
In total, 10 locations will offer in-person absentee voting until Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m.
Voters can find their polling locations with the My Neighborhood Map or through the portal on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Check back on Wednesday and Thursday this week for Q&As with the Providence and Dranesville District candidates for the Board of Supervisors.
The election is next Tuesday, Nov. 5.
(Updated 10/18/19) In-person absentee voting starts today (Thursday) at the McLean Governmental Center, along with several other locations around Fairfax County.
In total, 10 locations will offer in-person absentee voting until Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. — the last day to vote absentee in-person.
Voters in the Tysons area can head to the McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road) and the Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) between 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
All of the locations will be closed on Sundays.
The last day to apply for an absentee ballot was Oct. 29.
10 locations across Fairfax County are now open for in-person absentee voting. Learn more: https://t.co/5hVlINJtoU #absenteeballot #virginiaelections #VAleg #VApol #vote #fairfaxcounty pic.twitter.com/53wjheiCou
— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) October 17, 2019
Heres What’s Closed Today — Government facilities, transit options and community centers are affected by Columbus Day — also known as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in some areas — today. [Tysons Reporter]
FCPS OKs CBD Oil — “The Fairfax County School Board has approved a policy on the storage, dispensing, and administration of cannabidiol oil and THC-A that aligns with Virginia law that became effective on July 1.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Reston Hospital Center Coming to Tysons — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 24 unanimously approved plans by Reston Hospital Center to convert an existing three-story restaurant/bank building at 8240 Leesburg Pike into a freestanding emergency room that will be associated with Reston Hospital.” [Inside NoVa]
New Owners for Tysons Office Building — “American Real Estate Partners (AREP) has acquired 1660 International Drive, a 212,731-square-foot, Class A office building in McLean, Va., from NewTower Trust Company in a $71 million deal, according to AREP.” [Commercial Observer]
Vanpooling in Tysons — “Tysons is aiming to increase the number of residents to 100,000 and the number of employees to 200,000 by 2050. It also wants to reduce the number of cars on the road… In order to accomplish both of these goals, Tysons has to help people get to work without driving themselves alone.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Voter Registration Deadline on Tuesday — The voter registration deadline is on Tuesday (Oct. 15). [Virginia Department of Elections]
Rabid Raccoon Found in Falls Church — “City of Falls Church Police report the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed Wednesday, Oct. 9, that the animal put down on Oct. 4 was suffering from rabies. Police say no human was exposed to the sick raccoon but warn that residents should be aware of the endemic threat of rabies to the area.” [Falls Church News-Press]
The View Moves Forward — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 10-0 Thursday night to recommend approval of the View at Tysons, setting up a final vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.” [Washington Business Journal]
Absentee voting in Fairfax County begins tomorrow (Sept. 20) for the Nov. 5 elections.
Eligible community members can register to vote for the upcoming elections online or at the Office of Elections (12000 Government Center Parkway) in conference rooms two and three. Voters may also receive their ballots through the mail.
Absentee voters in the Tysons area may also submit their registration or ballots to the McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road) on Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Some reasons voters may want to submit absentee ballots include temporary residence outside of the U.S., confinement awaiting trial or those who have a religious obligation. Other reasons can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections’ website.
All absentee voters will need a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card and their social security number to register.
This year, voters can choose candidates can choose between candidates for a variety of positions including the next chairman for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
For those unfamiliar with the process of absentee voting, Fairfax County published a variety of resources to explain the procedure and help answer questions.
Ballots will be translated into English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese.
The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is seven days before the election, or Oct. 29 by 5 p.m., according to Fairfax County. All absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 in order to be counted.
Fairfax County is looking for election officers for the Nov. 5 general election.
The Fairfax County Office of Elections needs “hundreds” of officers to serve, according to the county.
Officers will be paid $175 for a full day or they can volunteer their time.
The county recommends that people apply by Oct. 10 for the best chance to receive a precinct assignment.
Registered Virginia voters can sign up online or call 703-324-4735. Before they can work at polling locations, election officers must complete a three-hour training, which will be offered at multiple spots around the county starting Aug. 22.
Bilingual election officers who can fluently speak Korean or Vietnamese, in addition to English, are also needed, especially in Falls Church.
Half of the day has gone by for voting in the Democratic primaries.
For Tysons-area residents, upcoming retirements have the Hunter Mill District, Providence District and chairman seats open on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The voter turnout so far in the Providence District is slightly above 4 percent, while the Hunter Mill District is 4.6 percent — both higher than the county’s district average of roughly 3.4 percent, the county tweeted at 1:02 p.m.
Voting kicked off quietly around Tysons this morning.
“A lot of people vote absentee,” John Shivnen, the chief election officer at the Providence Committee Meeting Room polling place, told Tysons Reporter. By 10:51 a.m., 36 people had voted there (7921 Jones Branch Drive).
While Shivnen said the county is expecting a higher turnout than in previous years, he expected the day to stay slow, except during lunchtime and early evening after people get off of work.
The Democratic candidates for the Board of Supervisors are:
Board of Supervisors chair:
Providence District:
Hunter Mill District:
Tysons-area voters will also determine the Democratic nominees for two Virginia Senate seats and the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Any registered voter can participate in the primaries. Polls are open until 7 p.m.
The polls are now open until 7 p.m. for today's primary election. While it's a Democratic primary, every registered voter can participate because in Virginia you don't register to vote by political party. #vote #votejune11 pic.twitter.com/b93Vqw9fPm
— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) June 11, 2019
Virginia residents have until right before midnight tonight (May 20) to register to vote for the June 11 primaries.
A total of 49 Republican and 45 Democratic primaries spanning the Virginia House of Delegates, Virginia Senate and local offices will be held on June 11. For Tysons-area residents, upcoming retirements have several spots open on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The Hunter Mill District, which covers Vienna and Reston, and the Providence District, which covers Tysons and Merrifield, both have five Democrats vying for the seats. The primary will also determine which of the four Democrats in the race for the Board of Supervisors chair will face Republican Joe Galdo in the November election.
People eligible to vote can register or update their voter information in person before 5 p.m. at a local registration office — the one for Fairfax County is at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323 — or online until 11:59 p.m.
Are you registered to vote? Do you need to update your registration information? If you want to vote in the June 11 primaries, the deadline is Monday (5/20). Go to https://t.co/Z4PThNmbjG and be #ReadyToVote pic.twitter.com/alsgdfPuIE
— VA Dept of Elections (@vaELECT) May 17, 2019
Flickr pool photo by Mrs. Gemstone
Maple Avenue development is in the spotlight for Tuesday’s (May 7) Vienna Town Council election, with two incumbents facing off against four challengers for three council seats.
The Vienna Voice, the official town newsletter, recently profiled the Vienna Town Council candidates. Several of those profiled said they are concerned about the scale of new developments planned for Maple Avenue and are running to preserve Vienna’s “small town feel.”
The following candidates are listed as their names will appear on the ballot:
- Howard Springsteen — An incumbent who was a leading voice in opposition to new larger Maple Avenue developments. Springsteen said managed growth with low-density residential zoning and modest, appropriate developments for the commercial zones are critical for the town.
- Julie Hays — Pedestrian and bicycle safety and protecting residential neighborhoods are centerpieces of Hays’ campaign. Hays is a former member of the Transportation Safety Commission and chair of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
- Steve Potter — Potter is a founding member of the Vienna Citizens for Responsible Development, a group that has pushed for developments that preserve the “small-town character” on Maple Avenue.
- Nisha Patel — Patel is a local small business owner who has expressed concerns about the impact of high-density mixed-use developments on traffic and schools. Patel, Potter and Springsteen are all endorsed by the Vienna Citizens for Responsible Development.
- Tim Strike – Strike is a vice president of a local technology service company who has expressed opposition to the medium-high density developments while fast-tracking local businesses through the process. Strike has also said increasing public parking, reducing vacancies and improving traffic need to be town priorities.
- Tara Bloch — Bloch is an incumbent Vienna Town Council member and preschool teacher. Bloch has said pushing for a pedestrian-friendly business corridor is a priority of her campaign and touted the increased number of sidewalks and bike routes, as well as new commercial redevelopments, as part of her accomplishments.
Local residents who are registered can vote at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE.) from 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Photo via Facebook
Rite Aid, Walgreens Raising Age to Buy Tobacco — “Beginning Sept. 1, Walgreens will stop selling tobacco products to people who aren’t legally allowed to drink alcohol. Rite Aid will do the same, and plans to implement the policy at all stores by July 22.” Rite Aid has two locations in McLean. [McLean Patch]
WWII Vet Lauded at Earl’s — “A World War II veteran born in 1919 is spending his centennial birthday year on the road traveling to all 50 states and the nation’s capital on a journey he calls the ‘No Regrets Tour’ … While at dinner Friday night [April 19], [the reporter] witnessed all the patrons and staff at Earl’s Kitchen and Bar in Tysons Corner give him a standing ovation when his son and daughter brought him to the restaurant.” [ABC7]
Absentee Voting Began Friday — Absentee voting started on Friday (April 26) for the June 11 primary elections statewide. People can vote absentee in-person at their local voter registration office or by mail. [Virginia Department of Elections]
Vienna Students Honor Fallen Warriors — Madison High students and staff members “cut yellow ribbons and attached the name tag of a fallen warrior: one for each service member killed in-theater since September 11, 2001… The ribbons and their attached tags will be suspended from the rafters at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Three Arrested at Tysons Corner Center — “On Thursday, Fairfax County police said they arrested 22-year-old Molly Helmer, of Annandale, and accused her of shoplifting from a Spencer’s store… As Helmer left the store with friends, 19-year-old Lia Chen, of Annandale, was accused of throwing her water bottle down and spilling her drink all over the store’s floor, police said… During the incident a third person was arrested, 27-year-old Steven Bun, of Fairfax. Police said Bun ‘aggressively approached officers, cursing at them and attempting to interfere with their investigation.’ Bun was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.” [WUSA9]
Veronica Youngblood Not Appearing in Court — “Fairfax County prosecutors were frustrated that the Tysons mom, 33-year-old Veronica Youngblood was absent again for court. The judge appeared to be, as well, telling the courtroom, ‘This case has got to move on.’ Youngblood is accused of shooting and killing her two daughters inside their Fairfax County apartment in August 2018.” [ABC7]
Development Hits Height Issues — “It may not be the largest senior living facility unit-wise, but The Mather will almost certainly be the region’s tallest. And that is a problem for Fairfax County planners, who have recommended denial of the application citing three reasons: its height — the building will rise to a maximum 285 feet — design and open space plan.” [Washington Business Journal]
