WaPo Endorsement for FCPS School Board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who follows politics realizes that limiting voter turnout is a key component of GOP politics. Even Republicans will concede this point. This is why they do better in off-year elections. This is also why they favor stricter voter ID laws, limits to polling hours, not having elections on the weekends, etc.

Yes, go vote for Keys Gamarra. It's a school board election so I'm sure very few people know the details of the four candidates. But efforts to limit voter participation should be stopped.

What utter B.S. If you mean Republicans want to limit voter fraud by ensuring all voters are legal citizens, that's a whole different animal. Please, get your facts straight and stop spreading misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who follows politics realizes that limiting voter turnout is a key component of GOP politics. Even Republicans will concede this point. This is why they do better in off-year elections. This is also why they favor stricter voter ID laws, limits to polling hours, not having elections on the weekends, etc.

Yes, go vote for Keys Gamarra. It's a school board election so I'm sure very few people know the details of the four candidates. But efforts to limit voter participation should be stopped.

What utter B.S. If you mean Republicans want to limit voter fraud by ensuring all voters are legal citizens, that's a whole different animal. Please, get your facts straight and stop spreading misinformation.

DP. It must be nice to live in your world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Regardless of party affiliation, as a democracy, we should make it easier for people to vote. If you've worked the polls, then you have options in life that aren't available to everyone.

Why is it harder to vote on August 29 than in November. The polls are open for 13 hours.

And, I am grateful to have been able to serve. And, I certainly realize that it is not an option available to some. Certainly, there have been times when I did not have that option myself.

I just don't understand why you consider this voter suppression. I also don't understand why you think the voters from your party care so little that they cannot make it to the polls.

It is harder because the in person absentee places for the November election are in several locations all over the county and it is easier to get to those than to get to the Fairfax Government Center. Plus, for the November elections they have more weekend hours open. With this one it is just the Sat before the elections- otherwise for the August one you have to go during business hours unless you can make it there by 7pm on Thursday.

For someone who is going to be out of town the week of the August election - starting before that Sat, it is WAY WAY WAY more of a hassle and what would have taken no more than 30 minutes in November (at my local in person absentee location) became a 105+ minute jaunt.

Good grief - always the victim. Do you guys *ever* run out of excuses or "hardship" complaints?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that, as the minority parent of three sons who recently went through FCPS, Keys-Gamarra would bring a fresh perspective to the table. That's very different from a Chris Grisafe, who simply doesn't appreciate what it means to be anything other than a white male in America.

Identity politics. That will solve all our problems.

Yep. That's a candidate I won't be voting for (Keys-Gamarra).

Spouse, son and I have voted or will all be voting today for Karen Keys-Gamarra.

Grisafe actually seems like more of an "identity politician" than Keys-Gamarra, insofar as everything he says is designed to make white conservatives feel better about themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

1. I'm not sure I would have voted in this election knowing that the Democrats will have 9-3 or 10-2 majority on the School Board through 2019 either way, but the Republicans have been so snarky and hypocritical in their efforts to get Grisafe elected that I will make a special effort to vote for Karen Keys-Gamarra tomorrow

LOL! snarky and hypocritical?

Budget concerns?
Transparency issues?
Classroom size?
Teacher pay?

You call that snarky and hypocritical? And, FWIW, I find it hard to believe that anyone who reads/posts on this thread has not already decided to vote. But, pretend all you like.

+100
And imagine - identity politics are nowhere to be found. Thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

These four issues are issues for any School Board member, past, present or future. The hypocrisy is the Republicans triggering a costly special election, along with Grisafe's suggesting he could take on these issues when he has a paper-thin resume and his patrons stand for under-funding the public schools.

And, Keys-Gamarra wants to spend millions to rename schools. Paper-thin resume? Depends on your point of view. Someone who understands that we need to re-examine budget and look at program effectiveness rather than spend time on things that have little or no impact on instruction in the schools? He has my vote.

As for suggesting--does Keys-Gamarra really believe she can "eliminate bullying"? Seriously?

+1,000,000 to all of the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Regardless of party affiliation, as a democracy, we should make it easier for people to vote. If you've worked the polls, then you have options in life that aren't available to everyone.

Why is it harder to vote on August 29 than in November. The polls are open for 13 hours.

And, I am grateful to have been able to serve. And, I certainly realize that it is not an option available to some. Certainly, there have been times when I did not have that option myself.

I just don't understand why you consider this voter suppression. I also don't understand why you think the voters from your party care so little that they cannot make it to the polls.

It is harder because the in person absentee places for the November election are in several locations all over the county and it is easier to get to those than to get to the Fairfax Government Center. Plus, for the November elections they have more weekend hours open. With this one it is just the Sat before the elections- otherwise for the August one you have to go during business hours unless you can make it there by 7pm on Thursday.

For someone who is going to be out of town the week of the August election - starting before that Sat, it is WAY WAY WAY more of a hassle and what would have taken no more than 30 minutes in November (at my local in person absentee location) became a 105+ minute jaunt.

Good grief - always the victim. Do you guys *ever* run out of excuses or "hardship" complaints?

What's the point? Do you seriously want to deny that the Republicans engineered an unnecessary special election that will cost taxpayers $250-300K because they historically do better in special elections than general elections? You might as well take credit for it, because everyone knows it's the case.

[Anonymous]

Grisafe is in his mid-30s, didn't attend FCPS, and has no children. It's hard to think of a more unqualified SB candidate in recent history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think anyone who follows politics realizes that limiting voter turnout is a key component of GOP politics. Even Republicans will concede this point. This is why they do better in off-year elections. This is also why they favor stricter voter ID laws, limits to polling hours, not having elections on the weekends, etc.

Yes, go vote for Keys Gamarra. It's a school board election so I'm sure very few people know the details of the four candidates. But efforts to limit voter participation should be stopped.

What utter B.S. If you mean Republicans want to limit voter fraud by ensuring all voters are legal citizens, that's a whole different animal. Please, get your facts straight and stop spreading misinformation.

DP. It must be nice to live in your world.

You mean a world in which people obey the laws? Yes, it is nice to live in such a world. Too bad others feel they're above the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that, as the minority parent of three sons who recently went through FCPS, Keys-Gamarra would bring a fresh perspective to the table. That's very different from a Chris Grisafe, who simply doesn't appreciate what it means to be anything other than a white male in America.

Identity politics. That will solve all our problems.

Yep. That's a candidate I won't be voting for (Keys-Gamarra).

Spouse, son and I have voted or will all be voting today for Karen Keys-Gamarra.

Grisafe actually seems like more of an "identity politician" than Keys-Gamarra, insofar as everything he says is designed to make white conservatives feel better about themselves.

So, by not mentioning race *at all,* he's somehow making "white conservatives feel better about themselves"? How bizarre. Give me a candidate - of any race or ethnicity - who does not make his or her platform center around identity politics, but rather about the issues at hand (in this case, what's best for our students) and that's who I'll be voting for.

[Anonymous]

Grisafe actually seems like more of an "identity politician" than Keys-Gamarra, insofar as everything he says is designed to make white conservatives feel better about themselves

I don't think you have read any of his campaign material. Suggest you go to his website and read what he has said.

Identity politics? That's Keys-Gamarra. But, then, you know that already And, anyone who opposes her is a racist. Just like anyone who opposes spending millions of dollars to change the names of schools is a racist. Here's a clue: Keys-Gamarra will probably win because she has tons more money than Grisafe. But, she has certainly not followed the spirit of a non-partisan election. Even her yard signs are partisan. Why is that? Could it be because the Democratic Party controls Fairfax County? And, she knows that her platform won't win--but, aligning herself with Dems will.

In any case, no one on this thread is being influenced here. Everyone here posts because they have an opinion. However, reading the posts from Karen's supporters, makes me double down on my support for Grisafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that, as the minority parent of three sons who recently went through FCPS, Keys-Gamarra would bring a fresh perspective to the table. That's very different from a Chris Grisafe, who simply doesn't appreciate what it means to be anything other than a white male in America.

Identity politics. That will solve all our problems.

Yep. That's a candidate I won't be voting for (Keys-Gamarra).

Spouse, son and I have voted or will all be voting today for Karen Keys-Gamarra.

Grisafe actually seems like more of an "identity politician" than Keys-Gamarra, insofar as everything he says is designed to make white conservatives feel better about themselves.

So, by not mentioning race *at all,* he's somehow making "white conservatives feel better about themselves"? How bizarre. Give me a candidate - of any race or ethnicity - who does not make his or her platform center around identity politics, but rather about the issues at hand (in this case, what's best for our students) and that's who I'll be voting for.

Grisafe dog whistles to the right by claiming School Board members support their "social preferences," while claiming that students and families at JEB Stuart don't associate the name with a Confederate general.

It's pure right-wing identity politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Regardless of party affiliation, as a democracy, we should make it easier for people to vote. If you've worked the polls, then you have options in life that aren't available to everyone.

Why is it harder to vote on August 29 than in November. The polls are open for 13 hours.

And, I am grateful to have been able to serve. And, I certainly realize that it is not an option available to some. Certainly, there have been times when I did not have that option myself.

I just don't understand why you consider this voter suppression. I also don't understand why you think the voters from your party care so little that they cannot make it to the polls.

It is harder because the in person absentee places for the November election are in several locations all over the county and it is easier to get to those than to get to the Fairfax Government Center. Plus, for the November elections they have more weekend hours open. With this one it is just the Sat before the elections- otherwise for the August one you have to go during business hours unless you can make it there by 7pm on Thursday.

For someone who is going to be out of town the week of the August election - starting before that Sat, it is WAY WAY WAY more of a hassle and what would have taken no more than 30 minutes in November (at my local in person absentee location) became a 105+ minute jaunt.

Good grief - always the victim. Do you guys *ever* run out of excuses or "hardship" complaints?

What's the point? Do you seriously want to deny that the Republicans engineered an unnecessary special election that will cost taxpayers $250-300K because they historically do better in special elections than general elections? You might as well take credit for it, because everyone knows it's the case.

When, exactly, are you going to admit your hypocrisy and acknowledge that the Democrats (Keys-Gamarra) plan to rename JEB Stuart HS will cost $1 million? Something that has ZERO to do with educating our students is actually going to cost the taxpayers $1 million. How about you own that, because everyone knows it's the case.

As for Republicans, they will do well no matter when the election is held. Reasonable people have had it with your identity politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Grisafe actually seems like more of an "identity politician" than Keys-Gamarra, insofar as everything he says is designed to make white conservatives feel better about themselves

I don't think you have read any of his campaign material. Suggest you go to his website and read what he has said.

Identity politics? That's Keys-Gamarra. But, then, you know that already And, anyone who opposes her is a racist. Just like anyone who opposes spending millions of dollars to change the names of schools is a racist. Here's a clue: Keys-Gamarra will probably win because she has tons more money than Grisafe. But, she has certainly not followed the spirit of a non-partisan election. Even her yard signs are partisan. Why is that? Could it be because the Democratic Party controls Fairfax County? And, she knows that her platform won't win--but, aligning herself with Dems will.

In any case, no one on this thread is being influenced here. Everyone here posts because they have an opinion. However, reading the posts from Karen's supporters, makes me double down on my support for Grisafe.

Precisely.

[Anonymous]

Ralph Northam recently reiterated his support for Karen Keys-Gamarra. He seems like an incredibly decent, good candidate for Governor, and I trust his judgment over Resistance Media and other right-wing hacks supporting Grisafe.

https://twitter.com/RalphNortham/status/902311188012429312