Fairfax City Democrats Endorse 4 Candidates In 2024 Election

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — The City of Fairfax Democratic Committee is endorsing four candidates in the city's Nov. 5 election: Incumbent mayor Catherine Read and City Council candidates Billy Bates, Taylor Geagan, and Stacey Hardy-Chandler. Bates is also an incumbent seeking re-election.

From March to late May, the committee posted notices on social media and its website inviting candidates to apply for the party's endorsement. Candidates were required to fill out a questionnaire and participate in a Zoom call to answer any questions committee members might have. The committee then held a caucus on June 29 to select which candidates they were going to endorse.

Laura Stokes, president of the Fairfax City Democratic Committee, said the goal in endorsing candidates for the city election was to give voters clear information about the policy positions of candidates, so they can make choices aligned with the community’s values.

"We look forward to communicating with voters this fall about the positions of our endorsed candidates, who reflect our shared Democratic values," she said.

Fairfax County Republicans did not endorse any candidates in 2022 and are not expected to this year either.

This is only the second time city Democrats have endorsed candidates running for local office. Prior to 2022, the mayoral and city council races had traditionally been nonpartisan.

In fact, the words partisan, nonpartisan, or party, in reference to a political party, do not appear in the Fairfax City Charter. The only defining guidance comes under section 3.3 [Conduct of general municipal election]:

"The ballots used in the election of Council members and Mayor shall be without any distinguishing mark or symbol."

"It's not about whether you've got a 'D' or an 'R.' It's about what are you interested in doing to move the city forward in the City of Fairfax," said then-city council candidate Jeff Greenfield during a Sept. 28, 2022 campaign event at American Legion Post #177. "So, when you see folks being endorsed by different people, I hope you question why are you throwing that into a nonpartisan election?"

That sentiment has already re-emerged this election cycle, with the formation in June of the "Fairfax City Independent Ballot," which includes a group of 2024 candidates who pledged to run as non-partisan, independent candidates.

Fairfax City Independent Ballot Candidates

• Anthony Amos - City Council
• Kate Doyle Feingold - City Council (Incumbent)
• Jeff Greenfield - City Council (Incumbent)
• Stacy Renee Hall - City Council
• Susan Hartley Kuiler - Mayor
• Rachel McQuillen - City Council
• Tom Peterson - City Council

"I believe independent candidates and elections are best for our City," Doyle Feingold told Patch in an email on Thursday. "When someone runs for office as an independent, they have to work for the trust and support of City voters. And while in office they have to continue to work to maintain that trust and support. Candidates endorsed by a political party, via sample ballot or otherwise, may be more responsive to the handful of people in the local party committee who selected them for party endorsement."

Related: Former Fairfax City Senator's PAC Backs Independent, Nonpartisan Group

Aside from being required by the City Charter, independent elections allow federal employees to run for office, something they're barred from doing by the Hatch Act, according to Doyle Feingold.

"I am happy we have a full slate of candidates running as independents this year," she said. "We have a well-qualified and diverse group of moms, dads, veterans, professionals, lawyers and environmentalists who all have strong connections in the City and care deeply about the City and residents."

More information about the Independent Fairfax City ballot can be found online. To learn more about the candidates endorsed by the Fairfax City Democrat Committee, visit the group's website.

2024 Election In Virginia

• Sept. 20, 2024 - First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar's office.
• Oct. 15, 2024 - Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration. Voters can register after this date through Election Day by filing a provisional ballot.
• Oct. 25, 2024 - Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Requests must be made to your local voter registration office by 5 p.m.
• Oct. 26, 2024 - Voter registration offices open for early voting.
• Nov. 2, 2024 - Final day of in-person voting at your local voter registration office ends at 5 p.m.
• Nov. 5, 2024 - Polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone still in line at 7 p.m. will be able to vote.