Stacey D. Hardy-Chandler Becomes First Black Woman On City Council

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — History was made shortly after 11 a.m. on Friday at Fairfax City Hall. Stacey D. Hardy-Chandler became the first Black woman sworn in as a member of the Fairfax City Council in the city’s 62-year history.

Hardy-Chandler’s political journey started when Mayor Catherine Read sent her a text at 8:35 a.m. on May 12, asking her to run for office.

“I remember looking at it and just honoring the fact that there is a reality when a text or a communication from a mayor would be unimaginable to me, so that, in itself, is a little bit of a miracle in my life,” she said, after being sworn in by City Clerk Melissa Shinaberry.

A social worker with 35 years of experience, Hardy-Chandler has been an active member of the City of Fairfax Commission for Women, but being a city council member is the first time she has served as an elected official.

“I see this is a new way of serving and now I can look forward,” Hardy-Chandler said. “It's easy to look forward, because I've talked to a lot of our neighbors who have been in Fairfax for decades, if not generations, and they have chosen to stay here as their home.”

Although Hardy-Chandler is the first Black woman to serve on the city council, Henry Minor was the first Black man elected to the council in 1968. Anthony Amos, who was also elected to the council in the Nov. 5 general election, is the second Black man to achieve that distinction.

“Why is this so significant for our community?” Read asked the audience on Friday. “Virginia, as a commonwealth, has existed for over 400 years. Women have had the vote for 104 and African Americans have had even less opportunity, not just in the ballot box to be but to represent an elected office in their community.”

During the ceremony, Rev. Jeffrey O. Johnson of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church recalled the defiance of a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama 69 years ago saying "No," when she was asked to move out of the white section of a bus.

"We are happy now that the voters of the City of Fairfax have gone to the polls," he said. "When it came to two African Americans being added to the city council, their reply has been 'Yes.' The miracle of America is to be merely included."

A formal swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the first meeting of the new city council on Jan. 14. However, each member of the new council was required to be sworn in prior to Dec. 31, so they could begin serving on Jan. 1.

Read and newly elected council members Amos, Stacy R. Hall, Thomas D. “Tom” Peterson, and Rachel M. McQuillen participated in a Dec. 11 ceremony at city hall.

Billy M. Bates, the only council member to be re-elected in November, was present Friday at Hardy-Chandler’s ceremony. He opted to take the oath of office in front of a Christmas tree in the city hall lobby.