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Dranesville Supervisor John Foust swept all 30 precincts as he handily won reelection to a second term in Tuesday's elections. Meanwhile Dranesville School Board member Jane Strauss won a hard-fought race with 51 percent of the vote.
State Sen. Janet Howell easily won reelection with 57 percent of the vote.
In the General Assembly races including McLean, Democrat Barbara Favola won the seat for the newly formed 31st Senate District while incumbent Barbara Comstock won reeelection to the 34th District House seat defeating McLean attorney Pamela Danner.
Bob Brink also won reelection running against two little-known independent candidates.
"I'm so looking forward to the next four years," Foust told about 100 of his supporters at a victory party at his home Tuesday evening. "I truly love this job."
"People didn't vote for me because I'm a Democrat, but because of the service we have given," he said surrounded by his campaign manager, family and staff.
Foust's challenger was Republican Dennis Husch, who former served on the Herndon City Council.
Newly elected Sen. Barbara Favola also stopped by the party. "I am delighted and humbled to be your state senator," she said. She defeated Republican businesswoman Caren Merrick, of McLean, who was running for the first time.
"Thank you for all our hard work. . . you all did it," Favola told the crowd of Democratic workers. "I will serve you to the best of my ability," said Favola who has served on the Arlington Board for nearly 15 years.
The Dranesville school board race was perhaps the cliffhanger as Strauss faced school advocate Louise Epstein.
The school board contests across the county were some of most hotly contested in years because of anger at the arrogance of the administration of superintendent Jack Dale. Dale announcement his retirement in September that will become effective when his contract ends in June 2013.
More than half the seats on the board had no incumbents and teachers and parents called for reform.
Strauss, who has served for nearly 20 years on the board, faced a determined and negative campaign by Louise Epstein, a long-time school advocate. Epstein's campaign manager Catherine Lorenze also became a lighting rod for the campaign because of negative statements made against Strauss.
Stauss, who is now chairman of the school board, won with 51 percent of the vote.
Both the Fairfax Teachers Association and the Fairfax Federation of Teachers endorsed Epstein. FCFT President Steve Greenburg was a staunch support of Epstein. He attended her kickoff and applauded for her at public forums with the two candidates.
Judy Bowns
8:05 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thankfully, voters realized that Janie Strauss's record and her passionate caring for kids across the county are both incredibly admirable. She did indeed deserve this victory!
Virginia Fitz Shea
9:22 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It is unfair to label Louise Epstein's campaign as "negative." By definition, when a challenger runs against an incumbent, the challenger will criticize some actions of the incumbent. It would be pointless for a challenger to stipulate that "all is for the best in the best of all possible school systems" while saying only positive things about the incumbent's record. If we insist on having elected school boards, we should welcome the efforts of challengers to offer an analysis of potential improvements for the schools.. Thanks Louise for your hard work and willingness to offer constructive suggestions for change in the school system.
Mozart
9:26 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Ms. Fitz Shea - Perhaps a wake-up call is in order. Face the facts: Louise did run a negative campaign, and voters in Dranesville and elsewhere in Fairfax County soundly repudiated the "reform" slate pushed by Ms. Lorenze, her campaign manager. Not only did Epstein lose, but so too did all of the at-large candidates that Lorenze promoted.
Graham
9:43 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chicago and Boston party machines also made the suprious claim "See? We won. That means everyone else is a LOSER. (Just because we OWN the machine, don't mean a thing.)"
SK
10:57 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
I agree. Since when did telling the truth or challenging complacency become negative. I am hard pressed to see how we will be able to cope until the next election and hopefully this is a wake-up call to all incumbents. Thank you Louise for all your hard work and hopefully our school board "machine" will recognize that more needs to be done to meet the needs of our kids and just being good at politics is not enough. Run again and you have my vote!
Mozart
5:56 pm on Friday, November 11, 2011
I agree that a challenger has to attack an incumbent's record to have a chance of winning. However, in this election, there's no doubt that Epstein lost votes because people thought she ran a negative campaign (since the statements made by her campaign manager had a decidedly nasty edge and many assumed that they met with Epstein's approval).
Ms. Epstein and others will have four years, if they wish, to decide if they'd do it exactly the same way next time around, or attempt a more moderate approach that is perhaps more in tune with the sensibilities of Dranesville residents. You can probably get the vote of every voter in the district who doesn't know how they "will be able to cope until the next election" and still lose.
Will Radle
6:25 pm on Friday, November 11, 2011
Mozart, campaigning for public office is the strongest peaceful stance we can make in petitioning our government to redress grievances.
Your comment infers that people become politicians because they want to become an officeholder rather than because they want better governance.
As for me, it's not about "going negative" for some Machiavellian strategy, I remain confident most Fairfax County residents do want fair treatment for Fairfax County taxpayers and students and we want our politicians to advocate our community's best interests. We want and deserve effective solutions to the challenges confronting our community.
Thank you for letting me share.
A. Will Radle, Jr.
Creating a Culture of Listening
http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/blog_posts/creating-a-culture-of-listening
Mozart
9:59 am on Saturday, November 12, 2011
Will - my comment did not imply that people who run for public office do not want better governance, so I am not sure why you would infer that.
People who run for public office make decisions about how they want to campaign, who is authorized to speak on their behalf, and what those who are authorized to speak on their behalf are authorized to say. In the case of this one local election, I have noted, as have some of Louise Epstein's supporters in retrospect, that statements made by her campaign manager on her behalf may have cost her a fair number of votes, if not the election itself. That observation does not mean that she didn't enter the race with good intentions, and of course it had nothing to do with your own recent efforts to be elected to the Board of Supervisors.
Will Radle
11:45 am on Saturday, November 12, 2011
Mozart, would you consider my true statements about the BoS chairman's record of cutting education funding, thereby increasing classroom sizes and reducing teachers' take home pay year after year as "attacking an incumbent's record" or "going negative"?
Thank you for the clarification. I remain the most accessible, transparent and accountable politician. Actively participating in community blogs is just one method I use to meet higher standards.
A. Will Radle, Jr.
Creating a Culture of Listening
http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/blog_posts/creating-a-culture-of-listening
Judy Bowns
9:28 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I echo Mozart's comment: "...hope thatLouise Epstein and her supporters will channel their energy into continued advocacy for issues affecting local schools that they consider important."
This is what democracy is all about and these efforts will keep the newly elected school board tuned in to concerns that affect our students!
Mozart
9:32 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
My prior comment - to which Judy Bowns was referring - was inadvertently deleted, was to urge Louise Epstein and her supporters to continue to channel their energies into continued advocacy for issues affecting local schools that they consider important." FCPS needs not only a diverse School Board that represents multiple perspectives, but also parent advocacy and watchdog groups like Fairgrade and FairfaxCAPS to offer competing perspectives.
Graham
9:40 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Strauss is ON NOTICE that her smugness about being a "longtime" member of the school board is not to be tolerated. This was a very close election; she does not have a "mandate" for anything EXCEPT to do a heckuva lot better job hearing out people who have other views than her own versions of reality. It is time for her to put her campaign words into action. Is she really going to promote parent notification? Is she really going to be a better guardian of the interests of our children? Is she really going to challenge the school administration and stop stamping "Yes" to everything they give her? She needs to understand that this voting beast is now awake and she will be under constant vigilance -- to be the FIRST out there seeking collaboration (with people who have sought it and been rebuffed for far too long), the FIRST out there extending a hand, the FIRST out there inviting advocates to the table. She has a chance to show that old dogs can learn new tricks. "Wisdom is not wisdom that anchors itself to stones."
Will Radle
9:56 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Congratulations!
To the victors go the celebrations!
A. Will Radle, Jr.
Mozart
10:02 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I don't recall any suggestion that Strauss or her supporters claimed that her narrow margin of victory provided her with a "mandate."
It helps to be a Democrat in Fairfax County right now. But Strauss also won because she delivered a positive message, accompanied by acknowledgment that there are things she needs to address on behalf of Dranesville students and parents, and because Epstein's campaign was so negative at times that it made parents feel bad for even allowing their kids to attend FCPS.
By all means, lobby and advocate for things you care about, but toning down the negativity would be a nice start. Part of the reason that most of Lorenze's slate lost was that they acted like they had a "mandate" that voters (1) weren't sure they understood; and/or (2) didn't agree with in any event.
rebecca
10:28 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sharon Bulova was re-elected as BOS chair. Bowman neglected to mention that small fact.
Taxpayer
10:33 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Strauss won because she lied to her constituency on many occasions and paid leaders of various groups thousands of dollars to speak on her behalf. Louise Epstein did not pay people to speak on her behalf. I'm still shocked by a Strauss supporter stating that she will vote for Janie because "she hasn't done anything bad to me."
Jack
10:45 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Taxpayer: Strauss won because of Catherine Lorenze. Full stop. She turned people off. Epstein would have comfortably won this race if she had run it without Lorenze.
Lifelong Dranesville Citizen
11:00 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
@Jack I would partially agree that Catherine does not fully grasp the Dranesville District on the pulse of the voters. As for the negative nature, that is a necessary element to unseat an 18 year Incumbent who can utilize ALL of the resources available to her in her capacity (and the DNC co-ordinated campaign) to win her election.
Jack
11:23 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sure the incumbant has some advantages and sure her record needed to be challenged. But not in the way it was done. Any credible candidate would have won this race by 5-10% with a positive campaign that simply played on what people were thinking (i.e. it is time for someone new).
Lifelong Dranesville Citizen
10:58 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
@Mozart - Soundly is not how I would describe this win by Janie. Look at the Precinct results and you will see that YES Strauss won mostly in Herndon period. The McLean, Great Falls and Falls Church precincts were split BOTH ways... As for Janie being a positive role model on the school board - hardly. As Taxpayer posts that is more what occurs. Janie spins her own spin - I call it a lie when someone spins half truths to me smiling for the Administration to the detriment of MY community and quality of life. Get REAL.
Lifelong Dranesville Citizen
11:03 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Here is the link for the Precinct results for the Strauss - Epstein race :
https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Unofficial/00_p_059_1FBC79BF-9D14-446E-9EDA-1A6965F00019.shtml
Mozart
11:20 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Very Interesting link. For the most part, it looks like, with a few exceptions, almost all the precincts that feed primarily into Herndon HS and McLean HS went for Strauss, and almost all the precincts that feed primarily into Langley HS went for Epstein. It's hard to win an election (other, perhaps, than as a PTA president) when your base is limited to the wealthiest part of an affluent district.
Mozart
11:11 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
"Concerened Citizen" - Read my posts. I noted that Strauss won by a narrow margin. However, in general, Catherine Lorenze's slate of purported "reform" candidates were soundly defeated. The only exceptions were Megan McLaughlin, who was the only one of Lorenze's candidates endorsed by the Democrats and who distanced herself from Lorenze during the campaign (actually, Lorenze distanced herself from McLaughlin first, which turned out to be a god-send to Megan), and Elizabeth Schultz, who faced an inexperienced opponent perceived by have been endorsed by Liz Bradsher. Not a single one of Lorenze's at-large candidates was elected. Her slate, as a whole, was indeed "soundly" defeated.
You can continue to attack Strauss personally, or you can do what other Epstein supporters have done (namely, call people in Herndon "stupid" and "uninformed"), but it will only relegate you to the margins. My own precinct in McLean voted for Strauss by a substantial margin.
Bob
11:21 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Well enjoy living with the results for the next four years Mclean.
Lifelong Dranesville Citizen
11:47 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
@Mozart when you are the Chair of the School Board and an 18 year incumbent and you BARELY hold your seat it speaks volumes... IMO this is her LAST term and she retires on her own terms.
Mozart
11:55 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Catherine Lorenze and the advocacy groups associated with her had a slate of candidates, but it became clear that their primary goal - to which the vast majority of their energies and rhetoric were dedicated - was unseating Strauss. They failed. I don't know if that speaks volumes or just speaks to a poor campaign and a lack of success. If this does turn out to be Janie's last term, you're right that she leaves on her own terms.
Bob
11:20 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
You know what it takes to win an At-Large race in majority Democratic Fairfax County? It takes one thing - you'd better be a Democrat. That's the bottom line. If you ain't a Democrat - your chances are nill!
Mozart
11:30 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Maybe it's too soon after the election for the defeated candidates and their supporters to assess what went wrong. I think the Republicans might have fared better had they persuaded Epstein to run for an at-large seat and endorsed Stuban. He was a good candidate who didn't have a chance without a party endorsement. Kendall was viewed as a Tea Party candidate; Brown-Kaplan was viewed as a single-issue candidate; and Mancheno-Smoak, while gracious, did not communicate her priorities clearly.
jody bennett
11:37 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Bobbi, the editor.....do you have inside information to FCPS....Did this really happen?
You reported that Dale retired in September....
"The school board contest across the county were some of most hotly contested in years because of anger at the arrogance of the administration of superintendent Jack Dale. Dale retired in September."
Sophia Bruner
12:08 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
To Jodi Bennett, I believe what Ms. Bowman meant to report was that in September, Dale announced he would retire at the end of his term - which is not until mid 2012.
Bobbi Bowman
12:25 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
In September Superintendent Dale announced that he would retirement when his contract ends in June 2013. We used too much shorthand in the early morning hours of today. Many thanks.
jody bennett
12:31 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Understand Bobbi...
Ray Fridley
12:44 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Interesting results from yesterday's elections. Maybe Northern Virginians will have the privlege to see a new meaning given to "Comstock Load", be it good or bad.
Ruth Tatlock
3:04 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I agree that Lorenze turned off a lot of people. For me, her statement that she loves to be a "king maker" who would "go crazy" if she'd have to work with those she had critized, did it.
She was in this to build her lobbying business in wealthy McLean; at least, that's what I think FWIW.
Bob
6:45 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2011
There are plenty of parents that hate dealing with FCPS because FCPS does drive them crazy - start with the Clifton community and how about the families who have dealt with FCPS' punitive discipline and grading policies - how about the families who have had to fight for what should be a no-brainer - decent class size. Lorenze was right - I would "go crazy" working with those out-of-touch FCPS bureaucrats too. FCPS has major problems - Lorenze just has the courage to say it out loud.
McLean Parent
4:28 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
As as supporter of Louise Epstein, of course I was disappointed in the results. In the end, 500 people changing their votes would have made a difference in the outcome. Did Epstein lose because of the Lorenze factor, the negative tone of the campaign, or simply the result of the Democratic party going all out to save Janie's seat? (As Stuban's poor showing demonstrated, most people lazily vote the party line.)
Or was it because Strauss, in many cases, simply adopted Epstein's positions in a politically adept way to neutralize the opposition?
Put another way, Strauss ended up with 6,000 fewer votes than the last election and she really had to fight very hard to retain her seat. I hope she realizes that she has a mandate to keep the many promises she made during the campaign, including her still mysterious plan to reduce class sizes. And then I hope she decides to retire after serving 22 years on the board, and finally make way for a new generation of leaders.
Mike Darcey
10:42 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
500 votes is the operative point. Yes, Lorenze cost her 500 votes at least, likely more like 1500-2000 votes. Janie did have to fight hard to retain her seat, but the Lorenze/negative factor was responsible for the defeat in the end.
I too hope Janie learned a lot in this election. That is what elections are for. The voters spoke for reform, just not the reform served up by Lorenze.
Bob
6:46 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2011
Strauss won't get it - she said as much in the Fairfax County Times stating, "I'm still trying to figure out what this election means." Well DUH... it means get off your butt and represent your district for change.
Mozart
10:42 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Bob's comment is the definition of churlish. This was a close election and the voters have re-elected Janie Strauss.
jody bennett
11:03 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Mike are you saying there were mostly likely 1500-2000 Democrat votes who were planning on voting for Louise....
jody bennett
11:05 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sorry, I should have said 1500-2000 Democrat voters....
Rob Jackson
11:01 am on Saturday, November 12, 2011
John Foust won so handily because he combined fiscally conservative policies with listening to his constituents and working to address their concerns. While I believe Fairfax County still needs to work even harder to provide services more efficiently, transfer funding to programs that work, and combine administrative functions with the Schools, John Foust looked for savings as hard as any supervisor I've seen in Fairfax County. The voters rehired John for the good job he has done.
Judy Bowns
11:04 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
The energy from Louise's supporters who continue posting is 'negative' at best and additionally smacks of seventh grade wording--I know since I taught seventh graders.
I suspect Louise would be all for moving forward with the issues she feels so passionately about, and as I said in an earlier post, this is a GOOD thing since what we all want is what is best for our students, right?
So, Bob and others, I am NOT going to suggest you 'build a bridge and get over it' since I would then be lowering my standards to yours.
Let's elevate the discussions here...be pro-active and move the concerns you have to the newly elected school board. Champion your cause(s) in a constructive way and we will have the results all are hoping to find...and the kids will be the winners (as well as having even more positive role models.)
Will Radle
11:23 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thank you Judy for remaining focused on our community's highest priorities. Let us come together to keep politicians accountable for investing in our greatest priorities.
A. Will Radle, Jr.
Creating a Culture of Listening
http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/blog_posts/creating-a-culture-of-listening
FairfaxAdvocates@gmail.com
http://YouTube.com/WillRadle1
jody bennett
11:35 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Judy, since you have pointed out that Louise's supporters smacks of seventh grade wording....since you taught seventh graders, would you care to comment on Strauss's
supporter's postings?
Ruth Tatlock
12:12 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Judy and Jody,
Please, quit your seventh grade polemic! You're embarassing our seventh graders.
Will Radle
12:36 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2011
"For both parties, the most disagreeable way of responding to a polemic is to be angry and keep silent: for the aggressor usually takes the silence as a sign of disdain."
-Friedrich Nietzsche
jody bennett
2:03 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Will are you addressing me, Judy or Ruth Tatlock?
Will Radle
2:16 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2011
There has been enough said about the past SB campaign. I support the shared desire to move forward in creating effective solutions to the challenges confronting our community.