By Todd Smyth: We know how to solve epidemic gun violence. Every other developed country has solved this problem. Republicans won’t allow it in America. We know how to get better healthcare that covers everyone. Every other developed country spends…
Fighting to stay together, not break apart
By Brandon Thurner: In today’s heated political atmosphere, Americans need to learn from successful married couples how to “fight in a way to preserve the union,” and to avoid demonizing each other. This message was delivered by prominent sociologist and…
Fairfax Young Democrats take national level slots
By Paul Davis: Four young Democrats from Fairfax County were recently elected members of issues caucuses at the national level. The elections took place at the 2019 Young Democrats of America convention on July 16-22 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Fairfax…
Absentee voting in-person helps Dems win. Boost it with the Voting QuickGuide
By Todd Thurwachter: Early voting is a key tool in increasing Democratic voter turnout — just ask Dr. Ibraheem Samirah. In Samirah’s successful race for state delegate in a special election on Feb. 19, early voting shot up 335% in…
Meeting the challenge of affordable housing in Fairfax County
By Jerry Poje: Fairfax County’s future is on the line. As we saw in part I of this series, high housing costs are forcing lower income families, young adults and seniors to migrate out of our region. This cripples our…
Republican lawmakers ambush Northam’s special session on gun violence
By Susan Laume: A day that began with hope quickly ended in anger and frustration as Republican state legislators in Richmond abruptly shut down a special session on gun violence less than 90 minutes after it began on Tuesday, July…
Personal testimony of gun violence fails to heal rift at Leesburg roundtable
By Susan Laume: On the eve of a special state legislative session on gun violence, a roundtable in Leesburg hosted by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D- 33) on July 7 revealed the deep divide among the public on this critical…
Affordable housing: a challenge we must face in Fairfax County
By Jerry Poje: Part 1 of a series on affordable housing. Coming soon, Part 2: Meeting the challenge. Affordable housing topped the list of issues among the Democratic candidates for Fairfax County Board of Supervisor chair in last month’s primary…
Drums and parade underscore political power at Women’s Summit
By Lola Quintela: Drummers, a parade, and rousing speeches gave last weekend’s northern Virginia Women’s Summit a charge of excitement while breakout sessions allowed participants to dive deep into important issues at the sold-out event. Northern Virginia lawmakers at both…
First Person: What Gay Pride means to me
By Bill Edgin: Growing up in Tomball, TX, I knew I was gay by the time I entered high school. But I also knew to bury this secret deep and never tell anyone, as I had been taught from an…
The Supreme Court did not solve gerrymandering in Virginia — here’s how to do it
By Brad Swanson: The recent Supreme Court decision allowing Virginia legislative elections to go ahead this year under a map drawn by a court-appointed expert doesn’t solve the problem of gerrymandering. Only a state Constitutional amendment taking district-drawing power away…
Fairfax County Democrats seek unity in aftermath of primary
Now that the Democratic primary is over, Fairfax County Democrats are seeking to unite the party behind winning candidates in the runup to the Nov. 5 general election. Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee was first off the mark, holding its…
McKay, Descano among Democratic Primary winners
Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay won the Democratic Primary for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night, beating opponents at-large school board member Ryan McElveen, Georgetown Law professor Alicia Plerhoples and developer Tim Chapman. The race for Commonwealth’s…
Under my leadership, says Plerhoples, Fairfax will be a greener county
By Alicia Plerhoples: Alicia Plerhoples is a candidate for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in the Democratic primary on June 11. Fairfax County is one of the best educated and wealthiest communities in the country. Fairfax voters…