Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is a caucus for the endorsement which is likely to win based on the strength of the dem sample ballot. It’s not over.
So does that mean other people can still run as a Democrat?
Sorry if it's a dumb question but I don't usually participate in the caucus part of the election...
No, no one can run as a Dem, or as a member of any other political party. School board seats as ostensibly non-partisan, so candidates are not allowed to runs as Democrats, Republicans, etc. That is why ACDC does this stupid caucus thing, because they legally cannot have a primary for school board seats, they can only endorse a candidate of their choosing (which they choose through the caucus).
I've lived in Arlington since 2006, and the only time I can remember someone other than the Democrat or Dem-endorsed candidate winning a school or county board seat was John Vihstadt in the 2014 county board special and then general election. His election was largely a revolt against the Columbia Pike streetcar project, which was still an in the active planning stages at the time of the election and had significant citizen opposition. He got knocked out by the 2018 blue wave, though, because there was record turnout and many people just blindly voted the Dem ballot.