Opinion

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Carlos “DC” De Castro Pretelt, who is running for County Board.

Competition is the cornerstone of America. We see it in sports, in school, and at work. It is a critical component of a well-functioning society because it encourages members to collaborate and advance through the creation and implementation of new ideas. Competition enables a marketplace of ideas.

The current state of politics is the oppositive of this. Over the last few decades, the incentives in our electoral system have brought forth a specific type of candidate. One that relies on fear and outrage to continually discourage citizens from communicating and collaborating with each other. Over time, this lack of communication has forced politicians to adopt more extreme positions to win their elections.

I am running for office because I am tired of this nonsense. I refuse to continue being a bystander while political discourse deteriorates, with increasingly tragic results. I understand that as an independent the deck is firmly stacked against me, as I do not have the financial resources of either party. I am fine with that. I like competition and I have been immersed in it since I came to this country over 25 years ago.

Over the past few years, I’ve been an advocate with grass roots organizations promoting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). RCV has been heralded as one of the best ways to increase participation by independents and smaller parties in the political process, increasing competition and a new marketplace of ideas. This November, Arlington County will be using Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) during the general election. Promoting RCV and seeing it implemented is part of what drew me to campaign.

Beyond politics, I want to make Arlington very competitive. I want it to be more than merely a suburb for those who work in DC. I want Arlington to have its own unique, exceptional economic engine, resilient to the whims of the federal government. I want Arlington to be known as a one-of-a-kind destination in the US. A city known for its highly-educated, health-focused, enterprising population and indomitable spirit.

As your elected representative, I promise you all my efforts will go towards ensuring this vision comes true. Our exceptional community is what makes us strong. In these very challenging times, it is time to embrace a new style of politics, one that seeks to understand our differences rather than exploit them. A politics focused on answering all the needs of our diverse community. I think it’s time.

“Nothing else in the world…not all the armies…is so powerful as an idea whose time has come”

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Jeramy L. Olmack, who is running for County Board.

Our government should prioritize the needs and voices of people— not profits, not political parties, and not the pursuit of power. For too long, we have seen communities forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, but that era is over. It is time to step forward and embody the kind of politician we want to see, one who truly serves the community and places the public good above all else.

Far too often, the interests of the many are overlooked in favor of the privileged few, and the resulting policies benefit corporations and powerful individuals rather than the everyday citizens and local businesses who make up the fabric of our neighborhoods. For decades, oligarchs and totalitarians have manipulated party lines to advance their own agendas, discrediting anyone who does not conform. Political parties have always been vehicles for the ambitions of a select group, prioritizing control and narrative over genuine service. This has created an environment where innovative ideas are stifled, dissenting voices are marginalized, and the needs of our diverse communities are neglected.

I have witnessed my own community being ignored, assimilated, and abused to further someone else’s ambitions. This cycle of exploitation breeds cynicism, frustration, and a sense of powerlessness among voters. People are tired of being told that their only choices are between two sides of the same coin, and they are weary of seeing their voices drowned out by political theater and empty promises. The frustration with the current political system is clear, and it is felt by residents from all walks of life—young and old, long-time locals and newcomers alike.

That is why I am standing as an independent candidate for Arlington County Board. I am no longer willing to let empty rhetoric determine our future or to allow the same recycled ideas to continue shaping our destiny. We need politicians who are driven by goodness, integrity, and a true commitment to public service— not party loyalty or personal gain. We need good people to rise up— not to be perfect politicians, but to be politicians who genuinely care, who are willing to listen, and who are unafraid to challenge the status quo for the benefit of the people they represent.

It is essential for politicians to fight against regressive policies that undermine democracy and erode civil rights. We cannot afford to stand by as hard-won rights are chipped away or as discriminatory practices are allowed to persist. If elected, I will use my role on the Arlington County Board to advance policies that strengthen democratic principles, empower individuals, and promote cultural acceptance. This means working to ensure that every resident has a voice in local decision-making, that our policies reflect the diversity of our community, and that we foster an environment of inclusion and respect.

My goal is to see the world as it truly is, not as it is portrayed through partisan lenses or filtered by special interests. I believe that by acknowledging our reality, we can build a better future for everyone in Arlington County, Turtle Island, and beyond. Ranking me #1 on your ballot means that service on the county board is just the beginning of our work toward positive change. Together we can set a new example for what a good government should be—democratic, representative, responsive, transparent, and truly accountable to the people.

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Bob Cambridge, who is running for County Board.

I am Bob Cambridge, a resident of Arlington since 1982. I ran as the Republican candidate for County Board in July of 2020 and got hammered. So why am I running again? While running I met a lot of good people and running is an opportunity to get viewpoints out there and to learn from others.

I am motivated by several current issues. For example, female sports leagues were formed to provide opportunities to biological females who, as a group, otherwise would be at a severe disadvantage in competition with males who, as a group, tend to be faster, taller, heavier, stronger, and have a longer reach. Females do well versus males when the challenge is intellectual rather than physical, so I am not aware that there is a female chess league. Allowing males to intrude in female leagues takes away from biological females opportunities created specifically for them. LGBTQ+ students should not be bullied or denigrated, but accommodating their wishes by disregarding the interests of all other students is a step too far and is neither fair nor safe.

I am also concerned that Arlington is becoming unaffordable. I note that taxes and the tax portion of rent – the dollars out of my pocket – have increased every year 1982 to 2025 with only two exceptions when the tax dollars due stayed the same as the amount due the prior year. Arlington is in a favorable location and is a great place to live, but I believe and am concerned that there is an additional reason for the high taxes.

Most years there are bond questions on our ballots. Arlington has been issuing bonds for many years, generally for stated purposes – Metro, schools, parks, roads, and so on – that I am inclined to support. Arlington County publishes every year a Comprehensive Financial Report. That is something they must do if they want to sell bonds. The 2025 report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, has not been made public yet. I am an attorney, not an accountant, but I read the 2024 report. I found on page 274 of the 371-page 2024 report a stunning fact. EVERY YEAR 2015 TO 2024 ARLINGTON COUNTY SPENT MORE MONEY THAN IT RECEIVED IN REVENUE! I looked in the 2014 report, page 169, and found that EVERY YEAR 2006 TO 2024 ARLINGTON COUNTY SPENT MORE MONEY THAN IT RECEIVED IN REVENUE! How can you do that? You can issue bonds (incur more debt) to pay off debt service (principal, interest, and middleman fees) due on previously sold bonds. Isn’t that a Ponzi scheme? Apparently not. The arrangement is legal as long as the annual reports do not conceal the Ponzi- like practice.

Arlington’s debt service has been a larger and larger number since 2015. See page 289 of the 2024 Report. Debt service has been a larger and larger number since 2006. See page 185 of the 2014 Report. Debt service has been a larger and larger number since 1997. See page 172 of the 2006 Report. In 2024 $174 million of our taxes went right back out the door to cover debt service. See the 2024 Report, page 289. In a Ponzi scheme, debt goes up and up until it is not sustainable. Can what happened to Stockton, California happen to Arlington? Google Stockton California bankruptcy.

We have apparently been kicking Arlington’s debt problem down the road at least since 1997. At some point that has to stop and the sooner we address Arlington’s debt the better. I ask anyone who reads this writeup to do three things. (1) Do not believe me, an attorney and, worse, a politician. Check out for yourself the information cited. (2) Question my assessment and if you find out I am wrong, please tell me. I would be grateful. I have to live here too. (3) If my assessment is not wrong, please tell your neighbors and friends and ask them to tell their neighbors and friends. This problem cannot be ignored indefinitely. You may note that addressing Arlington’s growing debt preempted my asking you to vote for me. Resolving Arlington’s debt problem is more important than any particular candidate winning the election. That is a concern that I believe must be made public, and that is why I am running.

Please email me at [email protected] with your comments and viewpoints. The reports cited above can be found on Arlington County’s web site at https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/DMF/Arlington-County-
Accounting-Reporting-and-Control.

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from James “Vell” Rives IV, who is running for School Board.

I have lived in Arlington 26 years. My wife Carmen and I are parents of a Wakefield High School graduate and a Wakefield freshman.

I am not a Republican. I have never voted for Donald Trump. I am not a Democrat, but I care about Democratic values, like transparency and accountability from our leaders, and protecting civil rights for everyone, including women and girls.

Too often our School Board, the School Board caucus, and their endorsee, my opponent Monique “Moe” Bryant, have lost sight of these core values. I’m running for School Board because we need somebody to stand up for girls and to get our focus back on education.

Our graduates have to be prepared for real-world jobs or college. I want to see all Arlington students making measurable gains, outpacing their peers in Virginia and other leading states.

I don’t disagree with the School Board on everything. But every board needs one outside voice – someone who will ask the hard questions and ensure that different ideas are truly considered. That’s essential to transparency, and that’s how I will build trust and strengthen our schools.

We have to stabilize our budget. If I’m elected, I won’t be stingy, but I will be smart, insisting that we spend where it matters most – on instruction. That’s classroom teachers and the materials they need to succeed, not bureaucracy or pet projects. We spend more per pupil than any other Virginia county or D.C., and we deserve to get our money’s worth.

We need to bring our School Resource Officers back. Drug use in our schools has surged since their removal. Arlington had an exemplary SRO program viewed favorably by every demographic group, including Black and Hispanic students and their parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GgXvitG82/ Every day that goes by without our SRO’s, our kids are more vulnerable to the kinds of tragedies we’ve seen elsewhere.

About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.): Diversity is a good thing, but our School Board lacks diversity of thought. Equity is a good thing, but we should not turn equity into rigid uniformity or lower academic standards. And inclusion is a good thing, but inclusion goes too far when it means boys and girls in the same locker room. I support Arlington’s 2017 nondiscrimination policy. At the same time, Federal Civil Rights law guarantees exclusive sports teams and facilities for girls. We should amend our local policy to clarify this.

As a physician with over 20 years’ experience practicing adolescent and adult psychiatry, I know there is a lot of distress and suffering over gender issues. I believe we can find solutions that respect and serve everyone.

I may not be from the School Board caucus, but I am not a stranger: I am serving my 7th year on Arlington’s School Health Advisory Board (as Co-Chair 2021-22), and I know Bethany, Miranda, Kathleen, and Zuraya, the continuing School Board members. I would be honored to work alongside them. I am the candidate who would complement their strengths and make a more effective Board. I hope you can see that too, and I respectfully ask that you vote for me, James Vell Rives IV, for Arlington School Board. Thank you.

My website includes information in Amharic, Arabic, Mongolian, and Spanish:

https://www.rives4sb.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rives4sb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080615153852

Hay información en español en mi sitio de web:

https://www.rivesforsb.com/espanol

Adicionalmente, tengo un vídeo breve en español:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moqkI7vxsFA

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Adele McClure, who is running for House of Delegates – 2nd District as a Democrat.

It has been an honor to represent Arlington in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2024, and I’m excited to run for a second term to continue building on the progress we’ve made together.

During my first term, I had the highest bill passage rate in the House of Delegates and worked with advocates, community leaders, and residents to pass meaningful legislation that breaks down barriers, expands human rights, and improves access to critical services across Virginia.

I’ve been responsive to both immediate and long-term needs, from addressing the chaos out of Washington that has harmed Virginia’s federal workforce to advancing solutions for affordable housing. I’ve championed policies to expand multi-family housing, strengthen tenants’ rights, and increase funding for essential services, including eviction prevention programs.

I’ve stood firm in defending reproductive freedom and proudly co-patroned the constitutional amendment to safeguard those rights. I’m committed to protecting civil rights and expanding statewide protections for all Virginians.

Education also remains a top priority. I’m fighting to fully fund our schools, raise teacher pay, and ensure students have access to the wrap-around services they need to succeed. I’ve also advanced legislation to protect consumers from hidden “junk” fees, requiring transparent pricing and ending deceptive practices.

I’ve also made it a priority to address the rising cost of childcare. I will reintroduce my bill to create the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program, which incentivizes employers to help cover childcare expenses for their workers through matching state funds. This critical initiative will make childcare more affordable in communities like Arlington, where childcare costs are the highest in the nation. In the last session, I successfully secured $25 million for the new program before Governor Youngkin vetoed the funding in our budget. I remain committed to bringing it back next year.

Gun violence prevention is a critical priority for my constituents and me. As a member of the House Firearms Subcommittee, I voted to block dangerous Republican bills and carried legislation to promote gun safety, including requiring firearm locking devices and closing the “dating partner loophole” to prevent those convicted of assault and battery against an intimate partner from accessing firearms.

Finally, with transportation being such a critical concern for so many Arlington residents, I am proud to serve on the Transportation Committee. Last session, I carried and passed legislation curbing predatory towing practices. My bill, driven by feedback and concerns from my constituents, empowers our community to hold bad actors accountable. I’m appointed by the Speaker to serve on the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee where we are working hard to identify revenue streams for dedicated transit funding.

My work has been driven by the voices of residents, families, business owners, and community advocates—and that will never change. I’m honored to have been recognized nationally with the 2025 EMILYs List Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, the first Virginian ever to receive it. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, but there’s more to do. I look forward to earning your vote and continuing our work to move Arlington and the Commonwealth of Virginia forward.

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Del. Patrick Hope, who is running for House of Delegates – 1st District as a Democrat.

It has been a privilege to represent Arlington as your Delegate since 2010, and I am deeply honored by the trust you have placed in me throughout the years. It would be an honor to continue to serve the people of the Arlington community.

My wife Kristen and I moved to the Buckingham neighborhood in 2000 and have enjoyed raising our family in Arlington. All three of our kids attended Arlington Public Schools, from Barrett Elementary School, to Kenmore and Swanson Middle Schools, and Washington-Liberty High School. Our family loves Arlington and our entire community, from our schools to our parks, but most importantly the values we all cherish and share as Arlingtonians.

As Delegate, I am committed to advocating for the rights and needs of all my constituents, and I am proud of the ways I’ve delivered on that commitment. During my time in the Virginia House of Delegates, I have passed 115 bills into law – delivering real results for Arlingtonians. As chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee, a senior member of the House Health & Human Resources Committee and the House Public Safety Committee, I have led efforts to protect and expand access to healthcare, prevent gun violence, maintain and advance civil rights, reform our criminal justice system, and protect reproductive freedom.

Virginia Democrats have been fighting to preserve our core democratic values, and one of the ways we can ensure the continued protection of the rights of all Virginians is through passage of three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution: codifying Roe v. Wade abortion protections, removing the state ban on same sex marriage, and adding the automatic restoration of voting rights to individuals after they have served their time in prison. In order for these proposed amendments to get to the voters for a referendum, it is crucial we retain our Democratic majority in the House of Delegates.

If re-elected, my top legislative priorities will be to: 1) pass gun safety legislation to enhance background checks for all firearm purchases; 2) pass legislation to update Arlington’s County Manager Plan of Government, allowing for the popular election of a Board chair, allowing for the expansion of the size of the Board, and allowing for districts, at-large, or hybrid – all powers other localities already have; and 3) ensuring all Virginians have continued access to life-saving vaccines.

In conclusion, I believe it is our duty to shape a more just and inclusive society. Government has a responsibility to protect and care for those most in-need, and as long as I represent the people of Arlington, I will continue to make good on this belief. I will never stop working to ensure that our government fulfills its promise of care, justice, and opportunity for all.

As your Delegate, I am proud of the progress we’ve made over the years. I hope to earn your vote on or before Tuesday, November 4th, and grant me the privilege of being your voice in Richmond. For more information or to contact my office, please visit my website at www.HopeforVirginia.org or iwillvote.com to find your polling place.