APS - best county board candidate for schools?

[Anonymous]

The county board candidates are all talking about affordable housing, but my priority is APS and funding the schools. Do any of the candidates stand out as better than the others on this issue?

[Anonymous]

Roy had kids in the school system in the 2010s and has coached for APS high schools since. Cunningham was involved with the planning and opening of the new Dorothy Hamm Middle School. I don’t know about the other candidates, but both Roy and Cunningham are/were parents during a period of dramatic growth in APS, when schools were rebuilt and expanded or reopened.

[Anonymous]

Roy and Cunningham are who I will be voting for. At this point the whole expanded housing options may be a done deal, but it's evident the county has already done a poor job planning for school growth and adding more density is not going to help the schools (in my humble opinion)

[Anonymous]

Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

I found it annoying and inappropriate. Graduation doesn't even take place in Arlington. A lot of wasted flyers dumped in the trash on the way into DAR Hall,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

She was introducing herself to parents and families who were waiting in line with nothing else to do. She did not go into graduation. She was friendly and did not linger. Just hello, I'm Susan, I'm running for the board, congratulations to your graduate, etc. Perfectly nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but why is it inappropriate to attend a public school event where parents (voters) are present in large numbers? Presumably this constituency cares about the schools. And there would ideally be a large and diverse group of parents at an event like graduation. It’s a great way to reach busy working parents. My two cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but why is it inappropriate to attend a public school event where parents (voters) are present in large numbers? Presumably this constituency cares about the schools. And there would ideally be a large and diverse group of parents at an event like graduation. It’s a great way to reach busy working parents. My two cents.

First, the event was not even in the voting jurisdiction. It was in DC.
Second, a large # of attendees were not even Arlington residents or voters, but visiting relatives from out of town.
Third, it was a time for families to just gather and celebrate. They were focused on their visiting relatives and did not need to be interrupted by politics and carrying flyers they didn't have anything else to do with. I, for one, was not carrying a purse. Men don't tend to carry purses much, either. The trash bin at the entrance was already full. Flyers were on the sidewalk along with other trash. (maybe she should try stickers next time instead)

Yes, she was pleasant and polite. But she just didn't need to be there. She isn't even running for school board. Just let families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but why is it inappropriate to attend a public school event where parents (voters) are present in large numbers? Presumably this constituency cares about the schools. And there would ideally be a large and diverse group of parents at an event like graduation. It’s a great way to reach busy working parents. My two cents.

First, the event was not even in the voting jurisdiction. It was in DC.
Second, a large # of attendees were not even Arlington residents or voters, but visiting relatives from out of town.
Third, it was a time for families to just gather and celebrate. They were focused on their visiting relatives and did not need to be interrupted by politics and carrying flyers they didn't have anything else to do with. I, for one, was not carrying a purse. Men don't tend to carry purses much, either. The trash bin at the entrance was already full. Flyers were on the sidewalk along with other trash. (maybe she should try stickers next time instead)

Yes, she was pleasant and polite. But she just didn't need to be there. She isn't even running for school board. Just let families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

We understand DC isn’t in Arlington. But it was a graduation for Arlington Public School students and a lot of us hope that the county and school boards will start working more collaboratively rather than hiding behind each other.

It just doesn’t seem like a big deal. I doubt she hassled people who clearly didn’t want to talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but why is it inappropriate to attend a public school event where parents (voters) are present in large numbers? Presumably this constituency cares about the schools. And there would ideally be a large and diverse group of parents at an event like graduation. It’s a great way to reach busy working parents. My two cents.

First, the event was not even in the voting jurisdiction. It was in DC.
Second, a large # of attendees were not even Arlington residents or voters, but visiting relatives from out of town.
Third, it was a time for families to just gather and celebrate. They were focused on their visiting relatives and did not need to be interrupted by politics and carrying flyers they didn't have anything else to do with. I, for one, was not carrying a purse. Men don't tend to carry purses much, either. The trash bin at the entrance was already full. Flyers were on the sidewalk along with other trash. (maybe she should try stickers next time instead)

Yes, she was pleasant and polite. But she just didn't need to be there. She isn't even running for school board. Just let families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

We understand DC isn’t in Arlington. But it was a graduation for Arlington Public School students and a lot of us hope that the county and school boards will start working more collaboratively rather than hiding behind each other.

It just doesn’t seem like a big deal. I doubt she hassled people who clearly didn’t want to talk.

It was just annoying.
Two years from now, I really don't want to have to walk through a whole line of candidates because she's started a "not a big deal" trend. I just don't like being bothered by politicians at an event like graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Susan was at graduation last night, talking to parents in the line, wishing them well, explaining her campaign. I thought that was really nice! She's definitely my #1.

How is politicking during a milestone that's not about politics "really nice"?

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but why is it inappropriate to attend a public school event where parents (voters) are present in large numbers? Presumably this constituency cares about the schools. And there would ideally be a large and diverse group of parents at an event like graduation. It’s a great way to reach busy working parents. My two cents.

First, the event was not even in the voting jurisdiction. It was in DC.
Second, a large # of attendees were not even Arlington residents or voters, but visiting relatives from out of town.
Third, it was a time for families to just gather and celebrate. They were focused on their visiting relatives and did not need to be interrupted by politics and carrying flyers they didn't have anything else to do with. I, for one, was not carrying a purse. Men don't tend to carry purses much, either. The trash bin at the entrance was already full. Flyers were on the sidewalk along with other trash. (maybe she should try stickers next time instead)

Yes, she was pleasant and polite. But she just didn't need to be there. She isn't even running for school board. Just let families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

We understand DC isn’t in Arlington. But it was a graduation for Arlington Public School students and a lot of us hope that the county and school boards will start working more collaboratively rather than hiding behind each other.

It just doesn’t seem like a big deal. I doubt she hassled people who clearly didn’t want to talk.

It was just annoying.
Two years from now, I really don't want to have to walk through a whole line of candidates because she's started a "not a big deal" trend. I just don't like being bothered by politicians at an event like graduation.

Remember this the next time you complain about how "they never listen to the people....they are so out of touch...the Arlington Way is broken." I would have jumped all over that chance to give her my two-cents publicly about needing to support schools in county priorities, and it would have been a friendly and YouTube-ready moment. I've lived in Arlington for 24 years and the only time I ever saw country members come to an event convenient for me was John Vihsatd, and in South Arlington, no less.