Anonymous wrote:Like say a normal person who lived in Alexandria or Arlington wanted to get on the school board. Do you have to have tons of money to run?

No, but having friends or family members who would donate to you would be helpful. I've heard that it costs in the neighborhood of $20,000 to launch a full on campaign, with direct mailers, signs, etc.; if you run seeking the endorsement of a party, you will be expected to attend various fundraisers and "buy" a table or at least a plate, and that's part of the cost. So, if you can swing the costs yourself, super. If you have a large network of supportive family and friends, you can probably raise enough to run a respectable campaign; or if you have a lot of talented friends who could do all these thing that cost money for you as an in-kind donation, then you might be in a good position. I think most candidates for say, school board, go into it expecting that they will have to put up the majority of the money themselves. Sometimes they recoup the money, but most times, they don't. I'm an active and involved member of my community, but I've never donated money to a local campaign before (I have given my time, though).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

The Vihstadt bloc carried Garvey last Spring as we flooded the Democrat primary.

We're starving the beast on affordable housing. The new funding rules John promoted make everyone compete at one time, and that's it. In this case, the "competition" actually increases costs contrary to what you'd expect. So if there's a market opportunity to get units, there's no money left to take advantage of it. If your project isn't ready, too bad. The larger principle is to eat up the housing money on expensive, low-density units like what John pushed through in Westover. That served effectively as a pilot that swallowed money for what would have been high-density units

Can't win running against SJW's? You just have to be smart about it. You can't say IN ARLINGTON that you want to throw Jesus's parents Jose and Maria back across the fence. Or that you want them to go live in a barn. But you CAN just express platitudes, and use regulations, the police, and other mechanisms to get the same result.

Sure, guy. I wonder what it's like to live in that crazy head of yours. I am almost 100% certain that you're being facetious and are a rabid AH proponent, who thinks we should build 20,000 units ASAP, and all within a 2 mile radius, and you resent that those with some sense who think maybe concentrating poverty isn't smart planning and you are trying to smear everyone who isn't as rapid about housing as you are as a Trumpist. That, or you're the head of the Arlington Republicans, and are delusional in thinking that you're on some sort of upswing. I mean, you've got Mike Webb. And that's about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

The Vihstadt bloc carried Garvey last Spring as we flooded the Democrat primary.

We're starving the beast on affordable housing. The new funding rules John promoted make everyone compete at one time, and that's it. In this case, the "competition" actually increases costs contrary to what you'd expect. So if there's a market opportunity to get units, there's no money left to take advantage of it. If your project isn't ready, too bad. The larger principle is to eat up the housing money on expensive, low-density units like what John pushed through in Westover. That served effectively as a pilot that swallowed money for what would have been high-density units

Can't win running against SJW's? You just have to be smart about it. You can't say IN ARLINGTON that you want to throw Jesus's parents Jose and Maria back across the fence. Or that you want them to go live in a barn. But you CAN just express platitudes, and use regulations, the police, and other mechanisms to get the same result.

I said running against social justice issues. Not Social Justice Warriors.

Also while we can debate the merits of getting the most units for the buck in South Arlington, or preserving some diversity (and some old low density areas) in North Arlington, I can't really see the Westover purchase as a defeat for committed AH.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

The Vihstadt bloc carried Garvey last Spring as we flooded the Democrat primary.

We're starving the beast on affordable housing. The new funding rules John promoted make everyone compete at one time, and that's it. In this case, the "competition" actually increases costs contrary to what you'd expect. So if there's a market opportunity to get units, there's no money left to take advantage of it. If your project isn't ready, too bad. The larger principle is to eat up the housing money on expensive, low-density units like what John pushed through in Westover. That served effectively as a pilot that swallowed money for what would have been high-density units

Can't win running against SJW's? You just have to be smart about it. You can't say IN ARLINGTON that you want to throw Jesus's parents Jose and Maria back across the fence. Or that you want them to go live in a barn. But you CAN just express platitudes, and use regulations, the police, and other mechanisms to get the same result.

Not sure this is playing out that way.

https://ggwash.org/view/62378/thanks-to-good-planning-arlington-is-building-over-200-new-affordable-housing-units

OP, reach out to your current school board representative and let them know that you want to get more involved. Dont tell them that you want to run, as chances are good that would be taking their seat. Ask them if they have any openings on committees that you can join.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

The Vihstadt bloc carried Garvey last Spring as we flooded the Democrat primary.

We're starving the beast on affordable housing. The new funding rules John promoted make everyone compete at one time, and that's it. In this case, the "competition" actually increases costs contrary to what you'd expect. So if there's a market opportunity to get units, there's no money left to take advantage of it. If your project isn't ready, too bad. The larger principle is to eat up the housing money on expensive, low-density units like what John pushed through in Westover. That served effectively as a pilot that swallowed money for what would have been high-density units

Can't win running against SJW's? You just have to be smart about it. You can't say IN ARLINGTON that you want to throw Jesus's parents Jose and Maria back across the fence. Or that you want them to go live in a barn. But you CAN just express platitudes, and use regulations, the police, and other mechanisms to get the same result.

What's this "we" shit? What on EARTH are you prattling on about? SJW's? Dafuq?

Vihastadt is gone this year. He's not going to win reelection. Not in this environment. Ain't no way a Republican is winning election for governor, so no way John wins in November, either. People are over it.

Anonymous wrote:Like say a normal person who lived in Alexandria or Arlington wanted to get on the school board. Do you have to have tons of money to run?

Go to the State Board of Elections site and search on "school" to see all the campaign reports for committees where an individual ran for school board.

http://cfreports.sbe.virginia.gov/?CommitteeName=school&CommitteeType=Candidate+Campaign+Committee

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

The Vihstadt bloc carried Garvey last Spring as we flooded the Democrat primary.

We're starving the beast on affordable housing. The new funding rules John promoted make everyone compete at one time, and that's it. In this case, the "competition" actually increases costs contrary to what you'd expect. So if there's a market opportunity to get units, there's no money left to take advantage of it. If your project isn't ready, too bad. The larger principle is to eat up the housing money on expensive, low-density units like what John pushed through in Westover. That served effectively as a pilot that swallowed money for what would have been high-density units

Can't win running against SJW's? You just have to be smart about it. You can't say IN ARLINGTON that you want to throw Jesus's parents Jose and Maria back across the fence. Or that you want them to go live in a barn. But you CAN just express platitudes, and use regulations, the police, and other mechanisms to get the same result.

Anonymous wrote:First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

1. OP asked about the school board, not the Arlington County Board.
2. There is no street car to run against any more. Last two new members of ACB are Dorsey and Kristol. So the Vihstadt block is not strengthening.
3. ArlCo is still investing in affordable housing, with the support of Garvey and I think even Vihstadt (or did her recuse himself?)
4. If you want to win based on financial pressures you need to do it NOW, because at some point WMATA will do better financially, the school enrollment surge will slow, and the ArlCo office market will recover (the Nestle win is already a good sign)
5. I doubt you can win running against social justice. The wins were focused on talking loudly about the street car and the swimming pool, which were widely not seen as social justice issues.

First of all, Jay Fisette realized he'd get destroyed if he ran for re-election

Now, OP, you are not going to be replacing Jay Fisette. No Sweetie, it won't be you. Fisette's replacement is going to be the third vote to fix Arlington, joining John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey. We've already taken down affordable housing with the new budgeting process. Now we'll finish the other SJW initiatives as financial pressures get brought to bear on them.

The people I have known somewhat who have served on the school board were very active PTA members, then PTA presidents, then ran for school board at some point after that. They got to know a lot of people, some of whom hosted meet and greets at their houses and campaigned for them.

None of them used large amounts of their own money, as far as I know.

Anonymous wrote:Like say a normal person who lived in Alexandria or Arlington wanted to get on the school board. Do you have to have tons of money to run?

In Alexandria, as long as you are a Democrat, very easy. But do consider that these positions take a lot more time than anticipated.

I don't think it is too hard in Alexandria. I know two people who did it and got elected. But in Alexandria it's a difficult job and their school board is always being criticized. Both were local parents with other regular jobs.

my friend ran for county board in her area. It is NOT easy to just step in. And she actually had a background in campaigns, so she wasn't an amateur. But, she worked hard and the party noticed her and want her to run for something else later on.

It never hurts to try. You never know....

Like say a normal person who lived in Alexandria or Arlington wanted to get on the school board. Do you have to have tons of money to run?