Tannia Talento Approved As Katie Cristol's Interim Replacement On Arlington County Board

ARLINGTON, VA — The Arlington County Board voted Saturday to approve Tannia Talento to fill the seat vacated by Katie Cristol who left the county board earlier this month to head a business organization in Tysons.

After her planned swearing in on Tueday, Talento will serve the remainder of Cristol’s term as board member, which expires on Dec. 31, 2023.

Talento, currently U.S. Sen. Mark Warner’s Northern Virginia regional director, served on the Arlington School Board from 2017 to 2020, including as vice chair and chair. Talento previously worked in corporate law for 15 years as a legal secretary.

“Tannia’s commitment to public service is evident in her day-to-day work, in her extensive experience, and in her ongoing involvement with Arlington County," Warner said in a statement Saturday.

"I’m proud to see Tannia step up to fill this vacancy on the Arlington County Board and have no doubt that her strong leadership skills, deep ties to the community, and hardworking disposition will serve her well in this temporary role," he said.

Talento is a founding member and active steering committee member of the Arlington Schools Hispanic Parents Association and served on the Arlington Civic Federation's Task Force in Governance and Election Reform.

On Jan. 1, 2024, the board seat temporarily filled by Talento will be filled by a county board member elected in the Nov. 7 general election where candidates are vying for two seats on the county board.

Arlington County Board Chairman Christian Dorsey said the board had some key considerations when selecting an interim replacement for Cristol, including not interfering in the current county board election process for two open seats.

Dorsey said it was important for the board to pick someone who has demonstrated an ability to appeal to the electorate at large and understands the community. The person also needed to hit the ground running when sworn in.

"We feel very fortunate to have identified someone who checks those boxes and many more," Dorsey said.

Arlington County Board member Takis Karantonis noted that Talento would be the first Latina woman to serve on the county board.

Karantonis also pointed out that several important issues will be coming before the board over the next six months during Talento's tenure, including the draft Plan Langston Boulevard report, which will likely go to the county board for a vote, most likely at the end of 2023.

The Langston Boulevard plan "aspires to provide the foundation for a more diverse and welcoming community in a part of Arlington, the demographics of which have been somewhat lagging behind until now," Karantonis said.

As the daughter of immigrant parents who came to the U.S. from Guatemala, Talento's nomination to fill Cristol's seat on an interim basis makes sense, he said.

Talento will be sworn in to the county board on Tuesday, July 18 around 4:30 p.m.

RELATED: Former School Board Member Nominated As Cristol's Interim Replacement