Mary Hynes (politician)
Encyclopedia
Mary Hughes Hynes is an American
politician from Arlington, Virginia.
In 1993, following the decision of the Virginia General Assembly
to allow localities to elect rather than appoint their own school boards, Hynes was the consensus candidate to run against the incumbent, appointed school board chairperson and won the election. She served on the Arlington School Board from 1995 to 2006. She was chair for three of those years.
In November 2007, Hynes was elected to the Arlington County Board as a Democrat
. As vice chair of the county board, she is seeking reelection in 2011.
Hynes also represents Arlington on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission
. That group, in turn, appointed Hynes to represent Arlington County as a voting member on the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(WMATA). Hynes joined the WMATA board on January 27, 2011, and was appointed that day to chair its Governance Committee, which is seeking to modernize the board as a policy-makng body. Since Hynes' family has one car, she will ride the Metrorail
to all her WMATA meetings.
Hynes participates in the Metropolitan Development Policy Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and was appointed by its Board as its Aviation Policy Liaison. She is represents Arlington in the Virginia Municipal League, serving as the Chair of its Urban Section and a member of its Executive Committee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Arlington, Virginia.
Biography
Hynes graduated from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. In 1978 she married Patrick Hynes (born 11 February 1944), a widower with two daughters. The couple went on to have a son and two more daughters of their own, and settled in Arlington in 1983. As a result of parenting five children through various Arlington public schools, Hynes became interested in student advocacy and parlayed that experience into community service. In 1991 she chaired the Arlington Schools Futures Committee, a year-long project involving 150 citizens and public-school staff which gave its recommendations for meeting educational needs in light of rapidly increasing enrollment and student diversity.In 1993, following the decision of 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,...
to allow localities to elect rather than appoint their own school boards, Hynes was the consensus candidate to run against the incumbent, appointed school board chairperson and won the election. She served on the Arlington School Board from 1995 to 2006. She was chair for three of those years.
In November 2007, Hynes was elected to the Arlington County Board as a Democrat
Democratic Party of Virginia
The Democratic Party of Virginia is based in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party of the United States. The organization is governed by a State Party Plan, which guarantees an open and fair candidate selection process...
. As vice chair of the county board, she is seeking reelection in 2011.
Hynes also represents Arlington on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission
Northern Virginia Transportation Commission
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is an independent agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia to promote and improve transportation. It covers the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. NVTC manages the Northern Virginia...
. That group, in turn, appointed Hynes to represent Arlington County as a voting member on the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
(WMATA). Hynes joined the WMATA board on January 27, 2011, and was appointed that day to chair its Governance Committee, which is seeking to modernize the board as a policy-makng body. Since Hynes' family has one car, she will ride the Metrorail
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
to all her WMATA meetings.
Hynes participates in the Metropolitan Development Policy Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and was appointed by its Board as its Aviation Policy Liaison. She is represents Arlington in the Virginia Municipal League, serving as the Chair of its Urban Section and a member of its Executive Committee.