Democrat Petersen Endorses GOP Supervisor Pat Herrity In BOS Race

WEST SPRINGFIELD, VA — Democrat Chap Petersen, who represented the 34th District of the Virginia Senate during the 2023 session, endorsed Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity's reelection to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Herrity is the lone Republican on the board.

“Nearly every single race in Fairfax County is uncontested this fall," Petersen said, in a release. "That's not healthy, especially when the Party has less and less room for debate. We need diverse viewpoints, which means we need to keep Pat Herrity on the County Board. Pat's father, Jack Herrity, set a gold standard for public service. Pat has been an advocate for small business and common sense law enforcement. He deserves reelection.”

A life-long resident of Fairfax County and a graduate of West Springfield High School, Pat Herrity has represented the Springfield District for 16 years. He's currently on the Nov. 7 ballot, facing Democrat Albert Vega and Corazon Foley, who is running as an Independent Green candidate.

"I am honored to have the endorsement of State Senator Chap Petersen. Chap and I have many common interests," Herrity said. "We both grew up in Fairfax, attended Fairfax County Public Schools, raised our families in Fairfax, have a passion for rugby and most importantly love the area we live in and have a passion for listening to our constituents and taking a commonsense approach to government.”

Herrity added that partisan politics too often get in the way of making "sound common sense decisions" and that politics never impeded Petersen from serving his constituents.

Patch reached out to Herrity's opponent for his reaction about Petersen's endorsement.

"Senator Petersen's tenure in office has been defined by actions that are not just out of touch with the Democratic Party, but with the Fairfax County residents as a whole," said Vega. "That is precisely why he was defeated by Saddam Salim, and why so many of the other candidates whom he has previously endorsed have been so soundly defeated. By endorsing Supervisor Herrity's pro-gun, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-choice, anti-worker, anti-environment agenda he has fully cemented that legacy. My team remains focused on coordinating the most organized, robust and effective Democratic campaign that the Springfield District has ever seen. We will carry that momentum forward past election day so that the residents of Springfield can finally have a voice on the board that speaks for all our residents."

Defeated by fellow Democrat Saddam Salim in the June 20 Democratic Party Primary, Petersen represented a large portion of Fairfax County, including Fairfax City, in both the state Senate (2007-2023) and the House of Delegates (2001 to 2006). Before being elected to the General Assembly, he also was a member of the Fairfax City Council.

During the lead up to the primary, Petersen teamed with Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Commonwealth's Attorney candidate Ed Nuttell, and ran as the Fairfax Common Sense candidates. Of the three, only Kincaid defeated her primary opponents.

With redistricting in place, Petersen and Salim competed in the new 37th District, which includes Fairfax City and parts of Falls Church, Tysons, Oakton, and Vienna. Salim faces Republican challenger Ken Reid in the Nov.7 election.

Both the candidates in the 37th District race shared their thoughts on Petersen's endorsement of Herrity.

"I am pleased Sen. Petersen endorsed the best candidate for supervisor in Springfield, Republican incumbent Pat Herrity, and also Saundra Davis for at-large School Board, who is backed by the Fairfax County Republican Committee, among other groups," Reid said, in an email. "I am friends with both and have known Pat since the early 2000s when we were seeking cross-Potomac River transportation solutions, and worked with his late father, Jack, on the Dulles Rail issue."

“So much is at stake in this election — including gun violence prevention and abortion access — and Democrats are the only party standing up for those values," said Salim. "Albert Vega is one of those Democrats and I’m proud to stand with him. All of the Democrats who cherish those same values will stand with Albert and fight for those same things.”

Election Day is Nov. 7 in Fairfax County, where registered voters will be casting ballots for candidates running for open seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board races. In Fairfax County, candidates are running to be chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, sheriff, commonwealth's attorney, and clerk of the court, as well directors for the Soil and Water Conversation District. Voters will also be choosing who will represent them in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

The first absentee ballots for the General Election were mailed on Friday, Sept. 22, which was also when early voting begins. Early voting will continue through Nov. 4, which is three days before Election Day. More information about about how to register to vote, vote early, request an absentee ballot and find your polling place in Fairfax City, Falls Church and Fairfax County is available online.