Barring any surprises, it looks likely that school board member Abby Raphael will coast to re-election this fall.
No other Democrats have filed to challenge Raphael for the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. School board races are officially non-partisan, but parties will usually endorse a candidate.
The last Republican to hold a school board seat was Dave Foster, who currently sits on the Virginia Board of Education. Foster declined to run for re-election in 2007, clearing the way for Raphael to run unopposed for the seat and easily claim her first term.
County Democrats issued the following press release last night.
As of the filing deadline of 7:00 p.m. tonight, only one candidate — current School Board Vice Chair Abby Raphael — filed papers seeking the Democratic nomination for the Arlington School Board, making her the presumptive Democratic endorsee for the position.
“We are proud to have School Board Vice Chair Abby Raphael running for re-election,” said ACDC Chair Mike Lieberman. “In her four years on the Board, Abby has been a model for inclusive and creative leadership in Arlington’s schools. Her work to encourage achievement by all Arlington’s students is a foundation for the success in Arlington schools that many take for granted. Every Arlingtonian should be excited about the prospect of four more years under Abby’s leadership.”
Ms. Raphael’s endorsement will be made official upon a vote of the Arlington County Democratic Committee at its meeting on April 6. As a result, the party will cancel its May School Board Caucus and focus its efforts on a general-election victory.
Abby Raphael issued the following statement: “I am honored to serve Arlington and want to continue working with my colleagues on the School Board, and the community to ensure that each child reaches his or her potential.”
Abby Raphael was first endorsed by ACDC and elected to the School Board in 2007.