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County chairman hopefuls off and running
With Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) preparing to move up to Congress, his counterparts on the board are weighing their future political prospects.Last week, Connolly defeated Republican Keith Fimian to take the 11th District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R), who decided not to run for re-election.
On Nov. 12, board Vice Chair Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) announced her candidacy for the chairman's seat. She said she wants to continue to move the county forward on issues like smart growth, environmental protection, increasing availability of mass transit and affordable housing and other ongoing initiatives.
"My priority is to build upon and enhance the existing priorities of the board," Bulova said, adding that she would involve the full board in setting any new goals, as Connolly did. "We are a board of 10 people and it is important that all of us have a place at the table in setting the agenda."
According to an aide, Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), was still discussing a possible run with supporters, friends and family. The son of former Republican board Chairman Jack Herrity, Herrity has long been thought to seek the chairman's seat and was expected to announce his final decision late this week.
Bulova was first elected to the board in 1987. In addition to serving as vice chair for the past five years, she has chaired the board's budget committee for 16 of her 21 years in office, including the economic downturn of the early 1990s.
Herrity is in his first term on the Board of Supervisors after being elected in 2007. He is also CFO of Arrowhead Global Solutions, a local tech firm.
Under state law, a special election to fill Connolly's seat cannot be held until 30 to 90 days after he is sworn in with the new Congress Jan. 4. If Herrity or Bulova is elected chairman, there would be a second special election to fill the vacant district seat.
The last such special election was in 1995, after former county Chairman Davis was elected to Congress. Katherine Hanley (D), now serving as Secretary of the Commonwealth for Gov. Tim Kaine (D), was elected chairman in that special election and re-elected the following year.
Connolly won his first race as Providence District supervisor in the special election to fill Hanley's seat.
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