Dear John,
Early voting in the Democratic primary for Arlington County Board is underway. I strongly encourage you to make your voice heard and vote on or before Election Day on June 18th. I am supporting JD Spain, Sr. and Tenley Peterson.
As a reminder, the election is being conducted using ranked choice voting; you may vote for up to three candidates. It is in your interest to take advantage of this system and rank multiple candidates. Ranking a candidate second or third does not take away from the candidate you ranked first. It just ensures that if your first choice candidate does not get enough votes and is eliminated, your vote will not be wasted—it will be transferred to your next preferred choice. You can learn more and practice ranked choice voting here.
Locations and hours for early voting have recently expanded. You can find information about how to vote early, including additional hours and locations, here. Election Day is June 18th, and you may also vote on that day at your regular polling location. You can look up your polling place here.
Why I’m Supporting JD and Tenley:
JD Spain, Sr. is my first choice in this race. He is a longtime community leader and advocate who previously headed the Arlington NAACP. JD is a combat veteran who served our country in the Marine Corps, and gained policy experience as a staffer in Congress. He is committed to building an inclusive community where everyone has a chance to succeed and build a quality life. I believe his experience advocating for Arlington’s underrepresented communities and his perspective as a person of color will be very valuable on the County Board. I know JD is a good listener who will ensure that no voices are left behind in making important policy decisions.
Tenley Peterson is my second choice in this race. Tenley is a substitute teacher, a union member, and a mom of three children currently attending our public schools. She has served on the Planning Commission, which advises the County Board on development and land use issues, and has chaired the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission, a body which advises decisionmakers on fiscal issues. Tenley understands Arlington’s housing and transit issues firsthand, as her family of five lives in a two-bedroom high-rise condominium in the Metro corridor.
I believe both of these candidates would represent our community’s progressive values well on the County Board. They will fully fund our public schools, push to increase affordable housing, work to address climate change, and ensure the availability and accessibility of mental health services to those in need. I strongly encourage you to rank them both.
It is an honor and privilege to represent you in Richmond. Thank you for your ongoing support, and please remember to vote. This election is very important for the future of our community. The best way to make your voice heard is to vote.
Sincerely,
