[Update, 1/24/24:]
Arlington County Board Chairman Libby Garvey announced at the Jan. 23 County Board meeting that she would not be seeking re-election to the post she has held since 2012.
Garvey first was elected to the County Board in a 2012 special election necessitated by the ascension of board member Barbara Favola to the state Senate. Garvey then won general-election victories in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
More to come.
[Original coverage, 1/22/24:]
It’s coming down to crunch time for Arlington Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for County Board or endorsement for School Board.
The Feb. 7 Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting effectively could be the now-or-never moment for final candidate announcements headed into the spring campaign season.
Three Democrats – Julie Farnam, James DeVita and Natalie Roy – have announced plans to seek the lone County Board seat on the 2024 ballot. Others could still jump into the race, and Libby Garvey, who currently holds the seat, says she will make a formal decision on her plans over the next month.
The Democratic nomination will be decided in a June primary.
On the School Board side, those holding the two seats on the 2024 ballot – Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy – have opted not to seek second terms. The lone formally announced candidate is Chen Ling.
If more than two School Board candidates emerge, Democrats will hold several days of caucus voting in May. If that threshold is not met, the party will decide the matter by other means.
Victors in the County Board primary and School Board caucus move on to the general election, where past history suggests they will have little problem in gaining victories.
