Caucus Decides 5 Democratic Endorsements For Fairfax County School Boards

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Three at-large candidates for Fairfax County School Board and two candidates in the Hunter Mill and Mount Vernon Districts will be endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee after a caucus. The endorsements apply to candidates that will be on the ballot in the Nov. 7, 2023 general election.

The Democratic committee will endorse three candidates for the three at-large School Board seats: Ilryong Moon, Ryan McElveen and Kyle McDaniel. For the Hunter Mill District representative, Melanie Meren will be endorsed. In the Mount Vernon District, Mateo Dunne earned the endorsement.

"We thank everyone who voted in the endorsement caucus this year," said Fairfax County Democratic Committee chair Bryan Graham in a statement. "Public education is vitally important to the families of Fairfax County and to the businesses that choose to locate here. We are excited to see our endorsees deliver a strong message and affirmative vision to voters throughout the summer and into the fall."

While Fairfax County School Board candidates don't have a primary election and will run in the Nov. 7 general election, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee chose to endorse candidates based on a caucus. Fairfax County Democratic Committee members and other registered voters who signed up could vote in the caucus from May 13 to 20 online and May 20 in person.

Over 3,300 voters participated in the caucus. Among at-large candidates, Moon had the most votes — 1615. McElveen secured 1,535 votes, while McDaniel had 1,277 votes. Other at-large candidates in the caucus were Lawrence Webb and Hamid Munir.

The incumbent Meren won the Hunter Mill District endorsement with 646 votes over Paul Thomas's 396 votes. In the Mount Vernon District, Dunne won with 438 votes over Harold E. Sims, Jr.'s 179 votes.

The Democratic committee is also endorsing School Board candidates who are unopposed in the party: Rachna Sizemore Heizer in the Braddock District, Robyn Lady in the Dranesville District, Marcia St. John-Cunning in the Franconia District, Ricardy Anderson in the Mason District, Karl Frisch in the Providence District, Sandy Anderson in the Springfield District and Seema Dixit in the Sully District.

For the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District board, Democrats endorsed Dana Barakat, Rhonda Bitterli and Chris Koerner. This race is no longer contested after candidate Mary Paulet withdrew.

See more information about candidates and the caucus at www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2023endorsement.