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

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — A group of "dedicated residents from diverse backgrounds" calling itself the "Fairfax City Independent Ballot" sent out an email release on Tuesday announcing its slate of candidates running in the Nov. 5 election

“We are a team of individuals driven by a shared passion for our community, prioritizing the voices of residents over political affiliations,” said mayoral candidate Susan Hartley Kuiler, in the release. "The independent candidates aim to bring fresh perspectives and accountable leadership to Fairfax City, ensuring all residents are heard and valued."

"Fairfax City Independent Ballot" included incumbent City Council Members Kate Feingold and Jeff Greenfield, as well as newcomers Tom Peterson and Anthony Amos. Incumbent School Board Members Stacy Renee Hall and Rachel McQuillen were also listed. They are running for the city council this year.

Related: Fairfax City Election 2022: The Tale Of 3 Sample Ballots

The release was "paid for and authorized by Fairfax Commonsense PAC, Fairfax – Virginia." That is the same political action committee that State Sen. Chap Petersen (D) formed in April 2021 to finance his reelection campaign, according to Campaign Finance Reports filed with the State Board of Elections.

Although the PAC backed FCIB email release, the group's website was paid for and authorized by "Susan Hartley Kuiler for Mayor, Greenfield for City Council, Kate for Fairfax City Council, Stacy For Fairfax, Rachel for Fairfax, Tom4Fairfax, Friends of Anthony Amos."

During the 2023 Democratic Primary race, the Fairfax Commonsense PAC was used to support the "Common Sense Team," which consisted of Petersen, Stacy Kincaid and Ed Nuttall.

"We support responsible, Main Street candidates for office in Fairfax County," was the team's campaign slogan.

Related: Full Slate Of Candidates On Nov. 5 Ballot In Fairfax City Election

After winning the primary, Kincaid was reelected the following November in the Fairfax County sheriff's race. Petersen and Nuttall were defeated in the primary by newcomer Saddam Salim and incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, respectively. Salim and Descano went on to win in the general election.

Petersen's involvement with "non-partisan" and "independent" candidates is not new, according to a release from the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee.

"In 2022, some very conservative candidates ran for both Mayor and City Council who claimed to be 'independents' and part of a 'non-partisan' sample ballot," CFDC said. "Members of the Democratic committee were concerned about this lack of transparency, so we endorsed local candidates for the first time. Unfortunately, some of these same political actors, in connection with former State Senator Chap Petersen’s Common Sense PAC, are now recycling that same deceptive claim by launching another so-called 'independent ticket.'"

Candidates running for city offices are required to do so as independent candidates and can't be aligned with any particular political party. During the 2022 election, both the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee and mayoral candidate Sang Yi handed out sample ballots outside the Fairfax City Hall voting site that listed candidates they supported.

Related: Partisan Politics Emerge In 2022 Fairfax City Mayor's Race

A third sample ballot was handed out to voters in 2022 without any information about who authorized or paid for it. The "Independent/Non-Partisan Sample Ballot" was "Paid for by Concerned Citizens of Fairfax City" and "Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee."

None of the candidates highlighted on the sample ballot, which included 2024 candidates Greenfield and Doyle Feingold, had authorized or approved it. Since it was unclear where the ballot came from, it would be difficult for voters to determine why they should vote for the candidates listed on it.

Eventually, Patch determined that the "Independent/Non-Partisan" ballot from 2022 had been dropped off at the city hall polls by a Petersen employee.

"It was not appropriate for her to be involved," Petersen said, at the time. "I told her that, and she immediately left or stopped whatever she was doing. I did not know about it ahead of time, and I was not happy to learn about it in the way I did."

The following is the full text of both press releases.

Independent Candidates Unite for Fairfax City

Fairfax City, VA — June 20, 2024 — A group of dedicated residents from diverse backgrounds have come together to form the Fairfax City Independent Ballot, presenting a unified front for the upcoming mayoral and city council elections on November 5, 2024. All candidates have qualified for the ballot.

These candidates, including professionals, parents, veterans, and community leaders, emphasize their commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and non-partisan governance. Alongside Jeff Greenfield and Kate Doyle Feingold who are running for re-election, leading the slate is Susan Hartley Kuiler for Mayor with Stacy Hall, Rachel McQuillen, Tom Peterson, and Anthony Amos for City Council. We are the Fairfax City Independent Ballot.

“We are a team of individuals driven by a shared passion for our community, prioritizing the voices of residents over political affiliations,” says mayoral candidate Susan Hartley Kuiler. The independent candidates aim to bring fresh perspectives and accountable leadership to Fairfax City, ensuring all residents are heard and valued.

The Independent Fairfax City candidates invite the community to engage with their platforms, participate in dialogues, and support their vision for a better, more inclusive Fairfax City. Please visit the Independent Fairfax City website https://www.independentfairfaxcity.com for more information on each candidate and their campaign goals.

CFDC Calls On Fairfax Voters To 'Vote Their Values'

The Fairfax City Democratic Committee (CFDC) believes it is our responsibility to ensure that the values and priorities of our community are accurately represented in local government. This year, CFDC members created an endorsement process for candidates for City Council and Mayor in an unassembled caucus that will take place on June 29th after thoroughly vetting each candidate and their submitted policy positions. You can read more about our process, including the questions we are asking candidates about their values, here: cityfairfaxdems.com/endorsements

We aim to provide clarity and transparency for voters, ensuring they are fully informed about where candidates stand on critical issues, with confidence that these candidates will represent these values if elected. In an era where values increasingly influence policy at all levels, endorsing candidates is not about promoting partisanship, but about ensuring voters are fully informed about a candidate’s real policy positions before they vote.

In 2022, some very conservative candidates ran for both Mayor and City Council who claimed to be “independents” and part of a “non-partisan” sample ballot. Members of the Democratic committee were concerned about this lack of transparency, so we endorsed local candidates for the first time. Unfortunately, some of these same political actors, in connection with former State Senator Chap Petersen’s Common Sense PAC, are now recycling that same deceptive claim by launching another so-called “independent ticket.”

We hope that the voters of the City of Fairfax will ask detailed and specific questions about what, if anything, unites this group of candidates, what values they have, and what positions they would take if elected. CFDC believes that voters should be presented with a ticket that has a united and specific plan on how to move our city forward — not a litany of grievances and vague platitudes. Our endorsement process is transparent and clearly asks candidates to provide position statements on the issues. We will make every effort to communicate that shared vision with voters as part of the campaign process this fall. We are confident that Fairfax City voters will once again push back against a misleading “independent” sample ballot and vote their values at the ballot box this November.