Any registered to vote in Mason District can vote in the Democratic primary next Tuesday, June 9; the primary is not restricted to Democrats. Voting takes place at the same precinct where you normally vote, and you will need to bring a photo ID.
In-person absentee voting will be available on Saturday, June 6, at the Mason Government Center, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
You can also vote absentee in person at the Fairfax County Government Center 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 4; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
“We’re hitting lots of doors and talking to lots of voters,” Gross says. The top concerns she’s hearing about are schools, road paving, which is a state issue, and the environment, including the tree cover, clean water and storm water.
Swanson, manager of teaching and learning strategies for D.C. Public Schools and a former vice president of the Ravenwood Park Citizens Association, is new to politics. The top concerns she’s heard from voters deal with land development, schools, parks, and libraries.
“In the past three months, I’ve been so encouraged by the incredible coalition that has come together to support this campaign,” Swanson says. “These supporters believe, like I do, that we need to invest in our schools, make smarter development decisions, and truly incorporate community input.”
She invites the public to an event at JEB Stuart Park June 3, 7 p.m., to talk about ways to involve the community in thinking about how the park can be improved.
Swanson is counting on dissatisfaction among some residents with Gross’ failure to meet Fairfax County Public Schools’ demands for increased funds and Gross’ pro-developer attitude.
In fact, Gross has gotten some large contributions from real estate companies, including $3,000 from First Potomac Realty Investment LP in April, $2,000 from the Northern Virginia Realtors Political Action Committee in May, and $4,500 from the Realtors Political Action Committee of Virginia, also in May.
As of June 1, the Gross campaign reports receiving a total of $168,555. Gross has also locked up endorsements from the Washington Post and a slew of local and state Democratic politicians and labor unions.
A statement issued by the Swanson campaign reports receipt of a total of $119,384 in contributions since March – from 395 donors with a median donation of $50 – and blasts the Gross campaign for taking in more than $200,000 in donations from developers and the construction industry since 1998.
Gross, in turn, accuses her opponent of being “bankrolled with $87,000 in contributions from the controversial Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), which was described in an article in American Prospect magazine as ‘the Trojan horse of the privatization of public education.’”
Swanson, a former teacher in D.C., says LEE “supports teachers and former teachers of any party running for office.”
“As a first-time candidate, I need all the help I can get to get my message out, especially in a race where big developers have their thumb on the scale,” Swanson says. Noting that she’s “fully committed to public education,” Swanson says, “LEE’s support indicates that the stakes are high for our kids here in Fairfax, and my teacher colleagues, families, and folks who believe in a quality education for every child have invested serious money to help get us across the finish line.”
A poll conducted for the Gross campaign April 6-8 by Global Strategy Group puts Gross ahead by 45 points among likely Democratic primary voters. Swanson notes that poll was taken before she started actively campaigning and a lot of people didn’t know much about her. According to data from her campaign, “it’s extremely close.”
The winner of the Democratic primary for Mason supervisor will face off against independent candidate Mollie Loeffler in the general election Nov. 3.