It’s almost show time for the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s School Board endorsement caucus.
Voting will take place over the course of three days, with the winner (among candidates Miranda Turner and Angelo Cocchiaro) moving on to the November general election. Incumbent Reid Goldstein is retiring after two four-year terms.
Voting is slated for:
• Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School, 3500 23rd St. South.
• Wednesday, May 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School, 737 South Carlin Springs Road.
• Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washington-Liberty High School, 1301 North Stafford St.
Results should be available the evening of May 13.
Under Virginia law, political parties cannot formally nominate candidates for school board seats, but can “endorse” candidacies – which usually amounts to the same thing. All five current School Board members won the Democratic nod before general-election victories; the last non-Democrat to win was Republican-backed independent David Foster, who served 2000-07.
Those voting will be required to sign (without making alterations) a declaration form with the following pledge: “I certify that I (i) am a resident of and registered to vote in Arlington County, Virginia, (ii) am a Democrat, (iii) believe in the principles of the Democratic Party, and (iv) do not intend to support, endorse or assist any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee or endorsee in the next ensuing election.”
On the very off chance that the vote ends up tied – unlikely given that several thousand ballots are likely to be cast – the winner will be decided by a coin-flip.
Since the last School Board caucus held two years ago, the Democratic Committee has revamped some of its previous rules for conducting the caucus. Full details are available at https://arlingtondemocrats.org/sbev.
