Wanda Younger Announces Candidacy For Arlington County Sheriff

ARLINGTON, VA — A long-time member of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office officially kicked off her campaign for sheriff on Monday, vowing to bring reform to the sheriff’s office.

Wanda Younger, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for sheriff, spent 31 years in the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, starting off as an intern and retiring in January 2020 as a lieutenant and director of pretrial services.

In a news release Monday, Younger criticized the failures of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office.

“For far too long, the Sheriff’s Office has failed to be a presence in our community that people can look to for service and protection,” Younger said. “That is not because of the hardworking men and women that staff this office, it’s because the Sheriff’s Office has failed to set the right priorities in addressing our community.”

These failures have led to sheriff’s office staff members "leaving in droves" and community members expressing "their concerns about crime in the community."

"That is why there have been seven deaths in our jails within seven years. It is time for reform," Younger said.

Younger joins Jose Quiros and James Herring in seeking the Democratic nomination for Arlington County Sheriff.

Quiroz, a 21-year veteran of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, has the endorsement of former Sheriff Beth Arthur, who retired in early January after more than two decades in the job. Quiroz was named the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy in August.

Herring, who currently serves as an Arlington County police officer, previously was a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, where he trained new recruits as a field training officer.

Arlington County Board members on Jan. 21 voted to request that the Arlington County Circuit Court not order an election to fill the remaining months of the term of Arthur. Under state law, Quiroz, as chief deputy, rose to the post in an acting capacity.

Virginia law gives the County Board the obligation to either ask the Circuit Court to hold a special election, or not hold a special election. Board members chose the second option, letting Quiroz serve as acting sheriff until the November election, when a successor to Arthur will be picked by voters.

The sheriff leads a staff of 298, manages the Arlington County Detention Center, administers security of the courthouse and oversees a $47 million budget.

In a video announcing her candidacy, Younger said the sheriff's office should "should be doubling down on mental health and drug treatment services."

She also called for doing more to help the community. "We should be changing the lives of Arlingtonians by reinvigorating our auxiliary deputy program and enhancing community safety by establishing a neighborhood patrol program, supplementing our police department with sheriff’s personnel," she said in the video.

Outside of her job in the sheriff's office, Younger volunteers with the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington County Democratic Party, and as the Branch Secretary of the NAACP Arlington Branch.

She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration from Colorado State University and an A.A.S. in Administration of Justice from Northern Virginia Community College.

Younger and her husband live in Douglas Park, in the same house that her grandfather bought in 1969. Wanda has two sons and three grandchildren.

The Democratic primary to pick the candidate for Arlington County Sheriff will take place on June 20.

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