Washington Post Endorses Vihstadt in Arlington County Board Race

The Washington Post’s Editorial Board has endorsed a Republican running as an Independent for the Arlington County Board.

The newspaper endorsed John Vihstadt, who is running against Democrat Alan Howze. Vihstadt beat Howze earlier this year in a special election. The election Tuesday will give the winner a four-year term on the board. Here’s what the Post had to say:

“We support the incumbent, John E. Vihstadt, a badly needed independent voice in a heavily Democratic county.”

While the newspaper mentions the topic that has been front and center in the campaign — the controversial Columbia Pike streetcar — it also mentions:

“Equally important, in our view, is his insistence that the county reevaluate other expensive projects, such as a proposal for a state-of-the-art aquatic center, which he regards as unaffordable.”

“Whether Mr. Vihstadt prevails or not, it’s important for Arlington to have the debate; without him, the board runs the risk of groupthink.”

Read the entire endorsement here.