From the Erik Gutshall for Arlington County Board campaign (which I strongly support).
Gutshall Wins Historic Landslide at First Straw Poll
Gutshall wins unprecedented 88% of vote in first straw poll of the year
Arlington, VA — Last night, Erik Gutshall won a decisive victory in the first straw poll of the Democratic County Board primary. For the first time in Arlington political history, an incumbent County Board Chair lost a straw poll to a primary challenger by a margin of more than 65 percent (88%-12%). Erik Gutshall released the following statement after his landslide victory:
“Delegate Lopez has been a tireless advocate for hard-working families throughout his service in the General Assembly. Unfortunately, Libby Garvey has chosen a different path– sandbox politics over sensible solutions. Tonight, voters sent a clear message to Libby Garvey about her record of failed leadership on the School Board and County Board.
“Perhaps no constituency has felt the consequences of Libby Garvey’s failed 20-year tenure as a career politician more than the people of South Arlington, located in the heart of Delegate Lopez’s district. On education, Libby Garvey failed to anticipate and adequately plan for school enrollment growth in her five-terms as School Board chair, leading to today’s overcrowded classrooms and trailers. On transportation, Libby Garvey abandoned South Arlington families and residents by dividing the community without offering any real solutions to our transit problems. And on affordable housing, Libby Garvey voted to withhold millions of dollars from the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, ignoring the important community benefits brought about by economic diversity.
“Time and again, Libby Garvey has abandoned the progressive values on which Arlington was built. Voters have a real choice in this election. I am honored to have such overwhelming support all across this County, and I look forward to that support propelling us to victory in June.”
Delegate Lopez’s straw poll has proven to be a strong indicator of electoral success in the past. Last year’s first-place straw poll winner in a six-way race was Christian Dorsey, who was elected later that year to be a Democratic nominee and went on to win a seat on the Arlington County Board. Reid Goldstein also won the straw poll last year, later defeating his Democratic opponent and winning a seat on the School Board.
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Erik Gutshall is a longtime community activist in Arlington. A small business owner, and APS parent, Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission and Liaison to the Economic Development Commission, Gutshall is running in the Democratic primary for the Arlington County Board.
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