Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Encyclopedia
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, sometimes abbreviated as FCBS, is the governing body of Fairfax County; a county of over a million in Northern Virginia
. The board has nine districts, and one at-large
district which is always occupied by the Chair. Members are elected to an unlimited number of four year terms, as there are no term limits.
The chair presides at all meetings, and has all of the powers of a member, including one vote. The chair, however, does not have the power to veto
legislation. The Vice Chair is elected amongst the members annually at the first meeting of the year in January.
. The Board of Supervisors acts within the limits set forth by the Virginia General Assembly
. The Board usually meets two Tuesdays every month in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center
near Fairfax, Virginia
. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings.
form of government until the mid 1960s, after which the position of Chairman was created. Frederick Babson
was the first person to hold the chairmanship from 1966 to 1970. In recent years, the chairmanship has acted as a stepping stone to offices of higher political power; Gerry Connolly
, the chairman from 2003 to 2007, now serves in the U.S. House of Representatives; as did Tom Davis
, who was Chairman in the early 1990s, and Katherine Hanley
, who served from the late 1990s to early 2000s, and has since served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
.
Jack Herrity
served as Chairman during Fairfax County's period of growth during the 1980s, when the County, previously known as a quiet suburb of Washington, D.C.
; became the high population center of the Dulles Technology Corridor
that it is known as presently. During that period of growth, the Board advocated for the construction of Interstate 66
inside the Capital Beltway and for the Dulles Toll Road, as well as for a major expansion of Tysons Corner, Virginia
, which now is home to many employers in the information technology
industry.
, who have seven out of the ten seats, and currently control both the Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship. The board districts are divided so as to give every member an equal population to represent. The current districts and their Supervisors are:
In the most recent elections in 2011
, all the incumbent supervisors won re-election.
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
. The board has nine districts, and one at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
district which is always occupied by the Chair. Members are elected to an unlimited number of four year terms, as there are no term limits.
The chair presides at all meetings, and has all of the powers of a member, including one vote. The chair, however, does not have the power to veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
legislation. The Vice Chair is elected amongst the members annually at the first meeting of the year in January.
Responsibilities
The Board is responsible for setting local tax policy, approving land use plans and appointing officials to various countywide positions; including a County Executive who prepares the annual budget, and carries out laws enacted by the Board. The Board is the creator, and also in charge of the Fairfax County Economic Development AuthorityFairfax County Economic Development Authority
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is an independent authority in Fairfax County, Virginia, created under Virginia state law in 1964 and funded by Fairfax County government. The FCEDA exists to promote investment and business growth in Fairfax County in order to expand the...
. The Board of Supervisors acts within the limits set forth by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. The Board usually meets two Tuesdays every month in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center
Fairfax County Government Center
The Fairfax County Government Center is the headquarters for the Fairfax County, Virginia local government. It is the meeting place of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, as well as the County Executive. Naturalization ceremonies are also held at the center, as well as flu shot distribution...
near Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings.
History
The Board of Supervisors has been in existence since at least the 1890s. It operated under an urban county executiveCounty executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
form of government until the mid 1960s, after which the position of Chairman was created. Frederick Babson
Frederick Babson
Frederick A. Babson, Jr. was a politician from Fairfax County, Virginia who was the inaugural holder of the position of Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a job he held from 1966 to 1970. He also unsuccessfully sought the seat of retiring Senator William L. Scott in 1978, but did...
was the first person to hold the chairmanship from 1966 to 1970. In recent years, the chairmanship has acted as a stepping stone to offices of higher political power; Gerry Connolly
Gerry Connolly
Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th congressional district. He was first elected in 2008. Connolly is a member of the Democratic Party....
, the chairman from 2003 to 2007, now serves in the U.S. House of Representatives; as did Tom Davis
Thomas M. Davis
Thomas Milburn "Tom" Davis III was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Virginia's 11th congressional district in Northern Virginia. Davis was considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by five-term incumbent and fellow Republican John...
, who was Chairman in the early 1990s, and Katherine Hanley
Katherine Hanley
Katherine Keith Hanley is a Democratic politician in Virginia. She served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, having been appointed to that post by Governor Tim Kaine following the rejection of his first nominee, state AFL-CIO President Daniel G...
, who served from the late 1990s to early 2000s, and has since served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
The Secretary of the Commonwealth is a member of the Virginia Governor's Cabinet. The office is currently held by Janet Polarek.-Duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth:# Serving as the Keeper of the Seal of the Commonwealth...
.
Jack Herrity
Jack Herrity
John F. "Jack" Herrity was a politician from Fairfax County, Virginia. He served as the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1976 to his defeat for reelection by Democrat Audrey Moore. He has previously served as a member of the board, representing the Springfield district, from...
served as Chairman during Fairfax County's period of growth during the 1980s, when the County, previously known as a quiet suburb of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; became the high population center of the Dulles Technology Corridor
Dulles Technology Corridor
Located in Northern Virginia near Washington Dulles International Airport, the Dulles Technology Corridor, dubbed the "Netplex" in 1993 by Fortune magazine, contains the "vital electronic pathways that carry more than half of all traffic on the Internet...
that it is known as presently. During that period of growth, the Board advocated for the construction of Interstate 66
Interstate 66
Interstate 66 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. As indicated by its even route number, it runs in an east–west direction. Its western terminus is at Middletown, Virginia, at an intersection with Interstate 81; its eastern terminus is in Washington, D.C., at an...
inside the Capital Beltway and for the Dulles Toll Road, as well as for a major expansion of Tysons Corner, Virginia
Tysons Corner, Virginia
Tysons Corner is an unincorporated census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Part of the Washington Metropolitan Area located in Northern Virginia, Tysons Corner lies between the community of McLean and the town of Vienna along the Capital Beltway . The population was...
, which now is home to many employers in the information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
industry.
Membership
The board is currently controlled by DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, who have seven out of the ten seats, and currently control both the Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship. The board districts are divided so as to give every member an equal population to represent. The current districts and their Supervisors are:
| Position | Name | Party | First elected | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Sharon Bulova Sharon Bulova Sharon Bulova is currently the chairman of the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors after having beaten Republican Pat Herrity in a special election held February 3, 2009. The special election was held to replace fellow Democrat Gerry Connolly who was elected to the US House of... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
2009 | At-Large | |
| Supervisor | John Cook John Cook (Virginia politician) John Cook is currently the supervisor for the Braddock District of Fairfax County. He represents his district on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He is a partner in the Fairfax based law firm of Cook Kitts & Francuzenko, PLLC... |
Republican Party Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2009 | Braddock | |
| Supervisor | John Foust John Foust John W. Foust is a member of the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors from the Dranesville district. He first won election in 2007 as a Democrat, defeating Republican Joan DuBois.... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
2007 | Dranesville | |
| Supervisor | Cathy Hudgins Cathy Hudgins Cathernine M. "Cathy" Hudgins is a Democratic member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; representing the Hunter Mill district, which includes the town of Reston... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1999 | Hunter Mill | |
| Supervisor | Jeff McKay Jeff McKay Jeffrey C. "Jeff" McKay is a Democratic politician who currently serves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Northern Virginia. He represents the Lee district, which includes the towns of Springfield and Franconia. He first won election in November 2007.-External links:**... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
2007 | Lee | |
| Supervisor | Penelope Gross Penelope Gross Penelope A. "Penny" Gross is a member of the Fairfax County, Virginia board of supervisors. She represents the Mason district; which encompasses the towns of Annandale and unincorporated areas of Fairfax County near the city of Falls Church. She is the Vice Chairman of the board, serving under... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1995 | Mason | |
| Supervisor | Gerald Hyland Gerald Hyland Gerald W. "Gerry" Hyland is a member of the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors. A Democrat, he has represented the Mount Vernon District, which includes Mount Vernon and the town of Alexandria since 1988 . He served in the United States Air Force for 30 years, six of which on active... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1988 | Mount Vernon | |
| Supervisor | Linda Smyth Linda Smyth Linda Smyth is the incumbent representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for the Providence magisterial district.-Political Career and Community Involvement:... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
2003 | Providence | |
| Supervisor | Pat Herrity Pat Herrity Patrick S. "Pat" Herrity is a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Springfield District since being elected November 2007. Herrity is also a certified public accountant and is the Chief Financial Officer of Arrowhead Global Solutions... |
Republican Party Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2007 | Springfield | |
| Supervisor | Michael Frey Michael Frey Michael R. Frey is a politician from Virginia, who has been a Republican member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 1991; representing the Sully district in the western part of the county. The Sully district includes the town of Chantilly and part of Dulles Airport.-External links:*... |
Republican Party Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
1991 | Sully | |
In the most recent elections in 2011
Virginia state elections, 2011
The 2011 Virginia state elections took place on November 8, 2011. All 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly were up for re-election, as were many local offices.-Virginia Senate:...
, all the incumbent supervisors won re-election.