Fairfax County's 'Most Bipartisan Benches' Dedicated To Bulova, Cook

BURKE, VA — Elected officials from across Fairfax County gathered in Burke Saturday morning to dedicate benches to two former members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Former Board Chairman and Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova and former Braddock District Supervisor John Cook had benches dedicated in their honor at the Braddock District Office, which is also home to the Kings Park Library.

The event was hosted by current Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D), whose office came up with the idea to dedicate the two benches to his predecessors.

After Walkinshaw's election as Braddock District supervisor in November 2019, Cook, who did not seek reelection after serving three terms as supervisor, "could not have been more gracious and helpful" in helping with his transition to the role of supervisor, Walkinshaw said.

Cook, a Republican, said he hopes the benches will serve as a reminder for people to try to find common ground with their neighbors and work on bridging political divides.

"I'm hopeful that these benches will represent the Braddock way of doing things," Cook said at the event. "We’ve had a tradition now for decades in the Braddock District of … being involved, coming to meetings and serving on committees and commissions and task forces as we collaboratively talk about our community and talk about ways to make things better."

Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeffrey McKay, who attended the event, said in a statement that the benches will be "the most bipartisan benches in all of Fairfax County."

"Former Chairman Bulova and former Supervisor Cook built a legacy of working 'across the aisle' to champion causes that are tenets driving our board's priorities today: affordable housing, public safety reform, expansion of mental health services, and investments in a sophisticated transportation network," McKay said.

During their long tenures, Fairfax County saw the establishment and expansion of the Virginia Railway Express, a commitment to the county's Diversion First program, and a track record of reforms to policing and behavioral health that put residents' health and wellbeing at the front, the chairman said.

“This site feels like home,” Bulova, a Democrat, said at Saturday's event. “These benches are cool because I can sit on the bench and recollect and remember some of the fun, neat things we were able to accomplish and do as a community.”

Among the other elected officials at the ceremony were U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th), Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41st), Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and former Fairfax County Board Chairman Kate Hanley, who led the board from 1995 to 2003.