Tell me more about the School Board election process

[Anonymous]

So in multiple threads, people bring up the current SB and the upcoming 2023 elections. Based on what I've read on DCUM, there are no actual primary elections--the parties hand pick who they want to run? Is this correct? I am not happy with the current state of things in a lot of areas but I also do not want to vote for book banning/right wing funded/undermine public education folks. What are the chances that moderates will actually be on the ballot? Is it usually 2 people running for a specific district? And several for the at large positions? I feel bad that I honestly never paid attention to the SB before.

[Anonymous]

It's a mess.

The School Board is supposed to be "non-partisan" but the parties endorse the most partisan people running. Whoever gets the Dem nomination usually wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess.

The School Board is supposed to be "non-partisan" but the parties endorse the most partisan people running. Whoever gets the Dem nomination usually wins.

PP here. That should read "endorsement" not nomination. The committee decides who gets the endorsement. It is not a primary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess.

The School Board is supposed to be "non-partisan" but the parties endorse the most partisan people running. Whoever gets the Dem nomination usually wins.

PP here. That should read "endorsement" not nomination. The committee decides who gets the endorsement. It is not a primary.

But do Democrats realize this time around they might lose if they endorse the far left candidates? They have to realize that many people are unhappy with the status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess.

The School Board is supposed to be "non-partisan" but the parties endorse the most partisan people running. Whoever gets the Dem nomination usually wins.

PP here. That should read "endorsement" not nomination. The committee decides who gets the endorsement. It is not a primary.

But do Democrats realize this time around they might lose if they endorse the far left candidates? They have to realize that many people are unhappy with the status quo.

I think just here on DCUM. Many people simply are not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax Democrats posted on their website re: the endorsement process: https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement/

[Anonymous]

The parties pick who appear on their sample ballots. And then most people in Fairfax County do not use their own critical thinking and then just vote the D sample ballot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a mess.

The School Board is supposed to be "non-partisan" but the parties endorse the most partisan people running. Whoever gets the Dem nomination usually wins.

PP here. That should read "endorsement" not nomination. The committee decides who gets the endorsement. It is not a primary.

But do Democrats realize this time around they might lose if they endorse the far left candidates? They have to realize that many people are unhappy with the status quo.

Not only do they not realize that - I hear they are kicking anyone who questions their narrative out of the FCDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Democrats posted on their website re: the endorsement process: https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement/

This is a change from 2019 and I don’t want anyone to forget it. In 2019 they did not have the qualified voter caveat and Omeish got a ton of people who couldn’t vote in the regular election to vote for her in the FCDC sample ballot process. They did change their rules as a result but that doesn’t change the fact that largely based on their endorsement she won.

[Anonymous]

But to answer OP’s question - there will be Republicans and Independents and Libertarians running that I know of. I advise you to research and speak to all candidates before deciding how to vote.

[Anonymous]

And also to the OP - you have the opportunity to vote for up to 4 people.

Your local rep and the 3 at large reps.

[Anonymous]

I’ll vote for school security and student safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Democrats posted on their website re: the endorsement process: https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement/

This is a change from 2019 and I don’t want anyone to forget it. In 2019 they did not have the qualified voter caveat and Omeish got a ton of people who couldn’t vote in the regular election to vote for her in the FCDC sample ballot process. They did change their rules as a result but that doesn’t change the fact that largely based on their endorsement she won.

Since 2019, FCDC has kicked out lifelong Dems, and did not allow anyone to join who was critical of the school board. They are in an echo chamber and further radicalizing. The ones left to sign a petition to endorse candidates are fringe left. Their only hope is to paint opposition as a extreme right wing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Democrats posted on their website re: the endorsement process: https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement/

This is a change from 2019 and I don’t want anyone to forget it. In 2019 they did not have the qualified voter caveat and Omeish got a ton of people who couldn’t vote in the regular election to vote for her in the FCDC sample ballot process. They did change their rules as a result but that doesn’t change the fact that largely based on their endorsement she won.

Since 2019, FCDC has kicked out lifelong Dems, and did not allow anyone to join who was critical of the school board. They are in an echo chamber and further radicalizing. The ones left to sign a petition to endorse candidates are fringe left. Their only hope is to paint opposition as a extreme right wing.

If the opposition doesn’t want to be painted as extreme right wing, maybe they need to express their clear support for safe and secure public schools with adequately funded facilities. Right now it seems many are just looking to say as many negative things about public schools as possible with the goal of replacing funding of public schools with vouchers. That didn’t get anywhere in the divided state legislature this session but it doesn’t mean they won’t stop trying.

I never see anyone really trying to appeal to the middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Democrats posted on their website re: the endorsement process: https://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement/

This is a change from 2019 and I don’t want anyone to forget it. In 2019 they did not have the qualified voter caveat and Omeish got a ton of people who couldn’t vote in the regular election to vote for her in the FCDC sample ballot process. They did change their rules as a result but that doesn’t change the fact that largely based on their endorsement she won.

Since 2019, FCDC has kicked out lifelong Dems, and did not allow anyone to join who was critical of the school board. They are in an echo chamber and further radicalizing. The ones left to sign a petition to endorse candidates are fringe left. Their only hope is to paint opposition as a extreme right wing.

If the opposition doesn’t want to be painted as extreme right wing, maybe they need to express their clear support for safe and secure public schools with adequately funded facilities. Right now it seems many are just looking to say as many negative things about public schools as possible with the goal of replacing funding of public schools with vouchers. That didn’t get anywhere in the divided state legislature this session but it doesn’t mean they won’t stop trying.

I never see anyone really trying to appeal to the middle.

Because you have to be crazy to run. I could do a better job than these people, it turns out, but I’m too sane to run.