Tomorrow, November 5th is Election Day. Here in the 41st District, we will be selecting our State Senator, Member of the House of Delegates, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board from Braddock, Providence and Springfield Districts, Sheriff, School Board at Large, Commonwealth’s Attorney and Members of the Soil and Water Conservation Board.
The choices we make in the voting booth on Tuesday will affect every level of state and local government. I encourage you to make your voice heard and VOTE.
My choices this Election Day: Please note that if you live in Fairfax County, your ballot will be double sided! Additionally, I would like to share my choices for the aforementioned positions:
I am proud to support Dave Marsden and Chap Petersen for State Senate in districts 37 and 34 respectively. I have been proud to serve in the legislature with both since I was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2010. We have worked closely together on a variety of issues over the years and both have a deep knowledge of the legislative process that proves how important it is for them to return to the Senate.
For Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I encourage you to support Jeff McKay. For more than two decades, Jeff has served the people of Fairfax County–first as a staffer and since 2007, as a Supervisor. As Chair, I know he will continue to champion the issues that matter most to us: ensuring quality education for our kids, creating more affordable housing, fixing transportation, bringing more jobs to the county and protecting the environment.
For Sheriff, I hope you will re-elect Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. Since 2014, Sheriff Kincaid has put our county’s public safety as her highest priority. She has worked tirelessly on diversion programs and championed Shop With a Sheriff (a program that places in-need children with a Sheriff during a two hour shopping spree at the Burke Target to properly prepare for the start of school) in the 41st District.
For Commonwealth’s Attorney, I will be voting for Steve Descano. Steve will advocate for a criminal justice system that reflects our shared values and focuses on safety, community, justice and equality.
For the three Supervisor Seats in the 41st District, I am supporting James Walkinshaw (Braddock), Dalia Palchik (Providence) and Linda Sperling (Springfield). Each has a variety of unique experiences and will bring fresh perspectives on the Board of Supervisors.
For the three School Board Seats in the 41st District, I am supporting Megan McLaughlin (Braddock), Karl Frisch (Providence) and Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield).I also am supporting Karen Keys-Gamarra, Abrar Omeish and Rachna Sizemore-Heizer for the three school board at large positions. All of these candidates are committed to our county’s most precious resource–our children. I firmly believe they are completely committed to ensuring that Fairfax County Public Schools remain world class for all students, while standing up for the issues and values we hold dear, including fighting for equality and equity.
For our three representatives to the Soil and Water Conservation Board, I encourage you to vote for Jerry Peters, Chris Koerner and Monica Billger. Each candidate will promote hands-on conservation and provide technical expertise. Please also join me in support of the public school bond on our ballot. You might be interested to know that but approval of the bonds’ referendum will help fund the much-needed renovations of Bonnie Brae Elementary and Frost Middle Schools. You can learn more about the school bond by clicking here.
For those of you who live in the 41st District, I would also like to take this opportunity to ask for your vote! Since my first election in 2010, it has been my privilege to represent you in Richmond. I am proud to have introduced, co-patroned and passed important pieces of legislation that: strengthens our schools, improves our transportation, keeps children safe, helps small businesses, aids our military families & veterans and increases access to healthcare. I am committed to working with groups from across the spectrum on a variety of issues to make our Commonwealth and our community a better place. I will continue to work hard for the 41st District, should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected.
Helpful information for Election Day
The polls will be open from 6:00 am. to 7:00 pm tomorrow at your usual polling location–which you can confirm here. Please remember the requirement for every voter to present one of the documents listed below when casting your ballot:
- Valid Virginia Driver’s License
- Valid Passport
- Any photo ID issued by a local, state or federal government
- Valid Student Photo ID from a Virginia college or university
- Valid employee ID card
A valid form of identification includes those which are current or have expired within the past 12 months. If you do not bring valid identification with you, you can leave your polling place to retrieve it and return to vote by regular ballot. Otherwise, if you prefer to cast a provisional ballot, you must then submit a copy of your photo ID to your local Electoral Board via fax, email, in person or by mail, which must be delivered no later than noon on the third day following the election, Friday, November 8th. If you choose to cast a provisional ballot, ask an election official if any additional steps will be required to ensure that your ballot is counted.
A few other important facts concerning the voting process are as follows:
- While the polls officially close at 7:00 pm., any person waiting in line at that time must be given the opportunity to cast their ballots.
- If you are elderly, disabled or otherwise unable to enter the polling location without physical assistance, curbside voting will be made available to you at your assigned polling place.
- If you previously requested and received an absentee ballot, but prefer to cast your vote in person on Election Day, be sure to return the unopened ballot to either the local Electoral Board or to the General Registrar before Election Day, or to the election official at your polling place. This will enable you to cast a regular ballot on Election Day.
Paid Family and Medical Leave Subcommittee Meeting
Two weeks ago, I was in Richmond attending the second meeting of the Commerce and Labor Committee’s Special Subcommittee on Paid Family and Medical Leave. We listened to presentations and analysis from my colleagues, as well as the Virginia Employment Commission and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry regarding paid leave legislation. I look forward to continue working to find a way to make paid leave more accessible for everyone in our Commonwealth.
Health Insurance Marketplace
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace has begun and ends on December 15th. The deadline to sign up for coverage starting on January 1, 2020 is December 15th.
To apply online, please visit www.healthcare.gov. If you need any assistance, please visit Enroll Virginia by going to www.enrollva.org or calling the statewide toll-free hotline at
1-888-392-5132. Enroll Virginia’s mission is to help Virginians get the assistance they need and is a valuable resource for any Virginian requiring guidance and assistance in this process.
Remembering Governor Baliles I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, former Governor Gerald Baliles earlier this week. He served our Commonwealth with distinction as a member of the House of Delegates, as Attorney General and finally as Governor from 1986-1990. His foresight and planning paved the way for one of Virginia’s largest investments in transportation in a generation, and also helped lay the groundwork to: protect the Chesapeake Bay, improve access to education and foster a substantial increase in international trade and economic growth. The Commonwealth is a better place because of Governor Baliles. I join so many in Virginia in sending my thoughts and prayers to his family.
We stayed in the Fight! Go Nats!Congratulations to the Nationals for their first ever World Series Championship! What a season. They never gave up and showed us all the meaning of “Stay in the Fight.” I look forward to the continued success of all the players. I cannot wait to see their continued success next season.