Meet The Candidate: Lori Silverman For Falls Church School Board

FALLS CHURCH, VA — In addition to voting for statewide office in Virginia, along with candidates for House of Delegates, residents of the City of Falls Church will be voting for candidates to fill seats on the city council and school board.

As part of 2021 election coverage, Patch has asked each of the candidates in Falls Church to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

This questionnaire was completed by Lori Silverman, a political consultant who is running for Falls Church City School Board.

Four seats are opening up on the school board in November due to a mix of resignations and incumbents passing on reelection.

In Virginia, school board positions are officially nonpartisan, meaning none of the candidates running for Falls Church City School Board will have party affiliations next to their names on the ballot.

In-person early voting began at Falls Church City Hall at 300 Park Avenue on Sept. 17. In-person voting will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also vote in person on two Saturdays: Oct. 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Nov. 2, election day, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Learn more about Silverman and why she is running for reelection to the Falls Church City School Board in 2021:

Age (as of Election Day)

45

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

School Board

Family

Isabella, 8. Ryan, 5.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I’m a consultant for Democratic political candidates

Education

University of Illinois- undergrad (political science and speech communication)

The George Washington University- JD

Occupation

Political consultant - about 20 years

Campaign website

Lorisilverman4fcc.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

We have an exceptional school district, and I want to work hard to make sure all of our children can benefit to become curious lifelong learners.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

COVID. The most important thing we need to focus on is keeping our schools open, full time, with as few disruptions as possible. This needs to be done safely and responsibly. We need to implement every mitigation measure we have, whether the state mandates it or not, as long as the Centers for Disease Control or the American Association of Pediatrics recommends it. I support masking in schools. I applaud FCCPS for opting into a COVID testing program that will be at the schools. Every layer of mitigation gives us a better chance for our schools to stay open full time with as few disruptions as possible.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I bring a distinct and diverse background to the table. As a single mom and small business owner, I would come into the role from a different perspective.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

As a school board member, what I would do differently is hold office hours from Day 1. I commend Chair Litton and Vice Chair Downs for beginning to hold office hours, but I would do that from Day 1. I would also encourage real town halls (either virtually or outdoors) to hear from the community, rather than more Zoom presentations. Communication, collaboration and community are pillars of my campaign and having these office hours and town halls are critical for our Little City.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I give tremendous credit to Dr. Noonan, the Board, the teachers and staff for opening last spring when the rest of Northern Virginia remained closed. However, I believe our schools could have opened, in some capacity with at least a hybrid approach, in August 2020 when our case positive numbers were actually lower than they are today when we're open full time. A very critical point: we would have needed our teachers and staff to be on board with this plan in order for this to work. The teachers and staff would have needed an authentic voice during the 2020 summer to ensure there was real buy-in of the reopening plans. This would have involved much more communication and collaboration during the summer of 2020, and on a continuous basis, to determine what their needs were in order to feel safe. Additionally, they would have needed to be given grace if learning standards weren't met because of the focus on social and emotional needs.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I’m a thoughtful and reasonable person who can come to the Board and work with people who may have differing opinions. Our children come first, and we need to ensure the schools provide the academic, social, and emotional support they need to become the best versions of themselves. We need to keep our schools open full time with as few disruptions as possible. This can only be done with proper mitigation measures in place. I want to ensure our teachers, staff, parents, and the rest of the community have an authentic voice, feel truly heard, and receive the respect they deserve. While we have a great diversity, equity, and inclusion statement, I want to ensure it’s properly funded and that money goes into the classroom to implement the curriculum.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a small business owner for most of my adult life, I understand budgets and balancing priorities. As a (non-practicing) lawyer, I have proven communication skills and can effectively advocate for principles I believe in. I understand collaboration, negotiation, and the fact that we don’t always get everything we want, but we can surely find common ground even on some of the even more contentious issues.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You win or you learn.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Communication. Collaboration. Community. I’m deeply committed to our wonderful Little City and its schools. I will work hard to ensure we give our children every opportunity to succeed. Teaching our children to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective are the attributes they need to make their community and world a better place. Providing academic, social, and emotional support, especially now after a trying year and a half, is critical. Giving our teachers, staff, parents, and community an authentic voice, allowing people to feel truly heard, and giving everyone the respect they deserve is of upmost importance.

RELATED: VA Election 2021: Early Voting Set To Begin In Falls Church