Good news for those of us who support the real Democrat and progressive in this race, Erik Guthsall.
Ferguson, O’Leary Endorse Gutshall; Winning Endorsement Battle 16-4
Gutshall beating Garvey in all five current/former local elected official endorsement categories
Arlington, VA– Today, Clerk of the Circuit Court and former County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson, and longtime Treasurer Frank O’Leary, endorsed Erik Gutshall for the Arlington County Board over incumbent Libby Garvey. With this endorsement, Gutshall has earned the support of both current and former elected officials from the State Senate, House of Delegates, County Board, School Board, and Constitutional Office. Despite being in elected office for nearly twenty years, Garvey does not have endorsements from both current and former elected officials in any of the five local office categories. Gutshall also leads in the number of combined endorsements for each category. A comprehensive list can be found at the end of this press release.
“Erik and I are both former Civic Association Presidents, and we worked together when I was on the County Board, where I was immediately impressed with his effective and passionate representation of his neighborhood,” said Ferguson. “We share a deep commitment to environmental policies which allow residents and businesses to reduce energy usage and save money. As a planning commissioner, Erik understands the value of infrastructure investments that increase property values and improve our quality of life. I urge my fellow Arlingtonians to join me in supporting him on June 14th.”
“As Arlington’s treasurer for more than thirty years, I know how important it is to have leaders who will make sound investments in our community while respecting budget constraints,” said O’Leary. “For two decades, Arlington has been without a small business owner on the County Board. Erik’s small business perspective would help diversify and bring a unique voice to the County Board, and I wholeheartedly support his candidacy.”
“Arlington’s success is a direct result of the forward-thinking and forward-looking leadership of Paul Ferguson and Frank O’Leary,” said Gutshall. “Paul has brought a high level of customer service to the Clerk’s office, and as a County Board member, I would follow his example to create a service-oriented environment. I would also build on Paul’s work on pedestrian safety and neighborhood conservation.”
“For more than thirty years, Frank O’Leary served as Arlington’s treasurer,” continued Gutshall, “and his legacy is still felt today. Frank worked to drastically reduce Arlington’s tax delinquency rate, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. I will be a good steward of taxpayer dollars, and as a small business owner, know that every penny counts. I am honored to earn Frank and Paul’s support.”
Campaign spokesman Takis Karantonis said, “The lack of support that Libby Garvey has received from her past and current colleagues speaks volumes about her failed leadership and inability to work collaboratively with others throughout her twenty years in elected office. In his first campaign, Erik has been able to build a diverse coalition of supporters who appreciate his unique perspective and his ability to work together and plan for the future. Erik’s 16-4 endorsement lead among current and former elected officials comes months after he launched his campaign and Arlingtonians have had a chance to evaluate both candidates. Voters across this County have a choice this election, and are overwhelmingly siding with Gutshall, giving him the momentum heading into the final weeks of the campaign.”
LIST OF CURRENT/FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENTS BY CATEGORY
State Senate, Current
Gutshall: 1 (Adam Ebbin)
Garvey: 0
State Senate, Former
Gutshall: 2 (Mary Margaret Whipple, Ed Holland)
Garvey: 0
Combined Current/Former State Senators: Gutshall 3, Garvey 0
House of Delegates, Current
Gutshall: 2 (Rip Sullivan, Alfonso Lopez)
Garvey: 0
House of Delegates, Former
Gutshall: 1 (Karen Darner)
Garvey: 0
Combined Current/Former State Delegates: Gutshall 3, Garvey 0
County Board, Current
Gutshall: 1 (Jay Fisette)
Garvey: 0
County Board, Former
Gutshall: 6 (Mary Hynes, Walter Tejada, Chris Zimmerman, Joe Wholey, Mary Margaret Whipple, Paul Ferguson)
Garvey: 0
Combined Current/Former County Board Members: Gutshall 7, Garvey 0
School Board, Current
Gutshall: 1 (Reid Goldstein)
Garvey: 0
School Board, Former
Gutshall: 4 (Mary Hynes, Mary Margaret Whipple, Elaine Furlow, Ed Fendley),
Garvey: 3 (Abby Raphael, Frank Wilson, Noah Simon)
Combined Current/Former School Board Members: Gutshall 5, Garvey 3
Constitutional, Current
Gutshall: 1 (Paul Ferguson)
Garvey: 1 (Theo Stamos)
Constitutional, Former
Gutshall: 1 (Frank O’Leary)
Garvey: 0
Combined Current/Former Constitutional Officers: Gutshall 2, Garvey 1
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Erik Gutshall is a longtime community leader in Arlington. A small business owner, and APS parent, Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission and Liaison to the Economic Development Commission, former Civic Association President and Board Member at Doorways for Women and Families, Gutshall is running in the Democratic primary for the Arlington County Board on June 14th.
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