Military Families Advocate Endorses McDaniel In School Board Race

HERNDON, VA — Julie P. Shepard, a military families advocate and the 2022 Hampton Roads Military Spouse of the year, endorsed Kyle McDaniel, who is running for one of the three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board.

“Kyle will be a strong ally and advocate for our military, civilian, and State Department families," Shepard said, in a release. "He understands the challenges faced by military families and the unique needs our children face during the relocation process and wants to help ease them. I am excited to support him, and to work with him to make Fairfax County the go-to jurisdiction for personnel assigned to the region."

McDaniel's campaign issued a release on Monday that included Shepard's endorsement as well as rolling out his pro-military families agenda.

"Coming from a family deeply-rooted in military service, I understand the unique challenges that military families face in the relocation process, commonly referred to as PCSing," McDaniel said, in the release. "FCPS can help ease pain points associated with these relocations. Establishing a Miliary Family Office and working to certify every Fairfax County high school under the Purple Star program are goals of mine.”

McDaniel officially announced his intention on Feb. 28 to seek the endorsement of the Fairfax Democrats for the at-large seat during the 2023 Democratic Endorsement Caucus in May.

McDaniel is running against fellow Democrats Abrar Omeish, the incumbent at-large member on the school board; Lawrence Webb, a former member of the Falls Church City School Board and former School Board Member Ilryong Moon.

Other candidates who have registered to run in the at-large school board race included Cassandra Aucoin, Saundra Davis, Linda Pellegrino, Rachna Sizemore Heizer and Mark Stanley Tenney, according to theVirginia Public Access Project.

RELATED: Democrat Kyle McDaniel Enters At-Large School Board Race In Fairfax

Online voting for the endorsement caucus will take place from May 13, at 10 a.m. to May 20, at 4 p.m. In-person voting will take place on May 20, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., at locations to be announced at a future date.

Those wishing to cast a ballot in the caucus must be a registered voterand must be pre-register for the caucus. Pre-registration opens on April 10, at 10 a.m., and closes on May 5.