Karen Keys-Gamarra Runs In June 20 Democratic Party Primary: Profile

RESTON, VA — When long-time Del. Ken Plum announced that he would not seek re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates in November, four Democrats put their names forward as candidates to represent the Reston area in Richmond.

Karen Keys-Gammara, an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, is running against Paul Berry, Mary Barthelson, and Shyamali Hauth in the June 20 primary. This will determine who will be the Democratic Party candidate on the ballot in November.

Early voting for the primary got underway on May 3 and runs through June 17, which is the Saturday before the primary. More information about voting in Fairfax County is available online.

Patch invited each of the candidates in the 7th District House of Delegates race to fill out a questionnaire about their campaign. The following are Keys-Gamarra's responses.

Name

Karen Keys-Gamarra

Position Sought

Delegate, HD-7

Age (As of Election Day)

63

Campaign Website

www.karenkeysgamarra.com

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

I am the daughter of a military veteran and a social worker in a family of all boys. I grew up with the understanding that I am my brother's keeper, a value that has guided my actions into adulthood. My husband, Antoine, and I raised our family in Fairfax County, where our three sons were born and graduated from Fairfax County Public Schools before attending college. Our three gainfully employed adult sons attended William & Mary, Mary Washington, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Antoine holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and works for a small business engineering consulting firm.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

I am a current Fairfax County At Large School Board member. My middle son is a West Point graduate and a Captain on active duty in the U.S. Army. My late father was a retired military veteran.

Education

Tulane University, BA; Washington University (St. Louis) School of Law, JD Other Education/Training includes Virginia Indigent Defense Commission Certification (July 2022); Virginia Tech, Certified Planning Commissioner (2017); Emerge (2016); Virginia Leadership Institute (VLI)

Occupation - Please include years of experience

I am a practicing attorney, licensed to practice law in Virginia since 1993. I have a small business, solo law practice, and serve as guardian ad litem. In 2022, I earned the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission Certification. After graduating from Washington University School of Law, I focused on work that addressed the public interest, including work with a state agency that protected ratepayers, addressing worker's rights in employment discrimination actions, and protecting union workers for whom I provided union member rights workshops and handled cases including termination matters for those who suffered retaliation for union activity. I previously practiced in multiple states concerning bankruptcy, employment discrimination, labor law, and criminal and family law. My experience includes service at Eastern Missouri Legal Aid, EEOC (St. Louis), and Teamsters for a Democratic Union. In 1995, I took time off to care for my young boys and volunteered for pro bono cases. When I returned to full-time practice in 2008, I worked in family law, focusing on representing children’s best interests as guardian ad litem and developing solutions for families. In addition to my work as a practicing attorney and school board member, I serve on the Advisory Board for the Carter School Political Leadership Academy at George Mason University; the PLA teaches conflict resolution and leadership skills to those aspiring to serve in elected or appointed office.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Fairfax County School Board, At Large Member 2017-Present; Fairfax County Planning Commission, 2016-2017

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am a sitting At Large School Board member, first elected in 2017. I am running for the House of Delegates because I have the ability to lead on a wide variety of state-level issues that impact our community, including our children.

I am concerned about our neighbors and the direction of state leadership which has focused more on cultural wars than the best interests of communities.

We live in a time when important historical facts have been questioned, and attempts have been made to rewrite history and eliminate the mention of any topic that could be considered divisive. We cannot disregard the importance of our history or public education. Rather, we must embrace that history, learn from it, and use our discussions of the human experience to build a better future.

We must support small businesses and care for our neighbors. Caring and experienced leadership is critical as we recover from the pandemic.

We must provide a world-class education in safe environments free of gun violence.

We must protect our environment and build green jobs.

The time is now for proven, demonstrated leadership that can serve on Day One. Our children deserve a future that contemplates their well-being.

I am prepared to work on behalf of children, families, and all residents to execute solutions that include listening to my constituents and implementing proven techniques to get things done. As a Delegate, I will focus on making our collective voices heard, working for our progressive values, and supporting our schools, neighborhoods, and economy

The single most pressing issue facing District 7 is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing District 7 is the full funding of a robust public education system, from universal pre-K through college and career opportunities. We must also raise teacher pay and ensure our schools are safe for students and staff.

I will work to revise the statute governing public schools to include pre-k and to provide education in a safe and caring environment. This legislation will focus on providing a world-class education for all and the right to a free and appropriate public education that is governed by best practices rather than political discussions or culture wars. Finally, this Act will include increased state funding for college and career education to ensure that Virginia produces a first-class, competitive, and educated workforce that will support a thriving economy.

Now, more than ever, we need a leader who has been in the trenches, on the front lines protecting our students, families, and community. As your next Delegate, I will focus on serving our community while protecting and expanding educational opportunities to support our residents.

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

I am honored to run alongside Paul, Shyamali, and Mary for this position, and I appreciate the commitment to service and the endorsement of former candidate John Farrell. We all care deeply about our community. What sets me apart?

Experience matters. As an elected official, I have been responsible to voters and families across Fairfax County. In addition to acting in a legislative and policy-making role, I have handled constituent requests, solved problems for families, created new opportunities for all students, and led the fight or supported difficult issues facing the schools.

I have first-hand experience in developing strategies to provide education during a pandemic where we worked to protect students and staff. This included developing ways to provide meals for families experiencing food insecurity and delivering meals using school busses, providing laptops and broadband for students to continue learning, using our school resources to provide vaccination clinics, education to avoid infection, and outreach to those communities most impacted, especially immigrant communities who were afraid to return to school. I also collaborated with colleagues to provide learning support and tutoring programs, as well as mental health support, all of which have been vital in supporting our community during unprecedented times. I also worked to ensure our schools stayed on track when attacks from state officials encouraged book censorship, revisions of history, bans of AP African American Studies, the marginalization of students and parents, and attempts to defund our public schools. My policy positions on public education and my accomplishments, to date, as a school board member are posted on my website.

I am a battle-tested leader. I am also not afraid to work with people of all backgrounds and beliefs to form coalitions to enact progressive policies or programs as I did in creating the John Lewis Leadership Academy.

I also have experience collaborating with all levels of state government: the Board of Supervisors, the General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Education, the Governor’s Office, as well as the Virginia Congressional Delegation.

I am humbled that Delegate Ken Plum has endorsed our campaign. In a recent email to constituents, Delegate Plum wrote,

“Karen reflects the progressive Democratic values I have always represented and has the depth of experience in public service that will enable her to go to work immediately.”

In addition to Delegate Plum, our campaign has many other endorsements, including Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall, former Herndon Mayor Mike O’Reilly, Herndon Town Council members Cesar del Aguila and Pradip Dhakal, Senators Dick Saslaw and Dave Marsden, Delegate Vivian Watts, my school board colleagues Karen Corbett Sanders, Megan McLaughlin, Dr. Ricardy Anderson, and Sandy Evans, and Reston Community Leaders John Farrell, John Lovaas, and Laurie Dodd.

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

I am running for an open seat, HD-7. Delegate Plum is a beloved member of our community and House of Delegates. We cannot thank him enough for dedicating 44 years to us and thank him for his service!

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In the House of Delegates, I will advocate for a world-class public education system that attracts business and builds a thriving economy for all. I will use my leadership skills and strong voice to champion our reproductive rights, climate change issues, affordable housing, gun safety, DEI policies, LGBTQIA+ rights, workforce development, justice system reform, and transportation concerns. I have summarized my priorities below. For details, please visit my website.

Public Safety

Ban assault weapons, enact commonsense gun safety laws, and reform the criminal justice system. Among other measures, in response to the Timothy Johnson shooting, I will propose grand jury procedure reforms. My press release discusses the issue.

Civil Rights/Worker Rights
Protect workers and the civil rights of all persons to create a welcoming and inclusive Virginia.

Even with the advancements under the Democratic leadership in 2020-2021, additional measures are necessary to protect against all forms of discrimination based on age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, and neurodiversity. Among other measures, I support the removal of the same-sex marriage ban in the Virginia Constitution.

Access to Health Care
Codify women's reproductive rights and ensure access to health care.

Access to health care for all is a fundamental human right. As Delegate and an attorney who advocates for the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, I will be a leader in expanding access to health care and improving public health overall.

Environment/Climate Change
Build a new Green Economy and create clean energy jobs.
We all need clean air, water, and land, and it is best to develop a thriving clean energy-based economy. This should include large investments in job training programs for renewables, building and energy-efficient, smart grid residential, and commercial energy efficiency. Additionally, we should prioritize equitable, affordable, and clean housing and transportation systems and a plan to achieve net zero through targeted goals.

Housing & Community Care
Fund affordable housing and community care programs.
One of my first votes as a school board member was to approve the One Fairfax policy, a guiding light in developing equitable opportunities in all community sectors. Such policies are essential to provide affordable housing and neighborhoods that allow all to live, work and play in their local community.

Voting Rights
Voting is a fundamental right; we must protect the right to vote and expand access to the polls. Three years ago, Virginia was one of the worst states for voting. However, that changed in 2020 when the General Assembly removed barriers enacted by Virginia Republicans. I saw the impact of their Jim Crow-inspired voting laws when I served as an Election Protection Attorney inside local polling places

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

I am committed to building community, protecting, supporting our children, and preparing for a brighter future, including access to a world-class education, safe, environmentally friendly neighborhoods, and a thriving economy.

I have served on the Fairfax County School Board as an at-large member since 2017. Over the past six years, I have focused on equitable access to opportunity for all students which has included improving our special education services, a review of our advanced academics program so that all children are challenged academically to achieve their full potential, reviewing policies such as the child abuse reporting and addressing disparities of discipline and education access. I worked through the pandemic when our schools had to reinvent education delivery, and FCPS used their buses to deliver lessons and food to students, used resources to set up broadband, our schools became vaccination clinics, and our workers provided support to communities who were afraid to vaccinate or return to school.

John Lewis Leadership Academy

I successfully advocated for the John Lewis Leadership Academy which focuses on teaching, civics, public policy, and leadership and allows students to serve and learn history. The program began this year after I spearheaded the development, worked with the bipartisan project, and formed a 70-person body of national leaders who advised the effort. This past spring, students of the program followed in the steps of John Lewis on a field trip, learned history from those who lived it, and their trip culminated with walking across the Pettus Bridge.

Menstrual Equity Initiative
I collaborated with Senator Jennifer Boysko and then community advocate Holly Siebold to implement the menstrual equity initiative. Through these efforts, FCPS instituted a pilot program that provides menstrual supplies in girls’ bathrooms. Research shows that girls were frequently absent from school during their cycles. This interrupted their access to education and presented an equity concern.

Protecting Students
As a school board member in the district under constant attack by the right-wing/dark money/Youngkin administration, I regularly speak out against racism, misogyny, anti-LBGTQIA+ attacks, and all forms of hate speech. As guardian ad litem, I have had occasions when LBGTQIA+ students (minors) have experienced horrible treatment due to their gender identity. It was my honor to work with young people who needed to find healthy, caring support as they grew into young adults.

Title IX
I also worked on the school board to ensure that the letter and spirit of Title IX are honored within our school system. Its protections are critical to providing equitable access to opportunities for women. I will strongly support it and resist any efforts to diminish it as Betsy DeVos and the Trump Administration tried to do.

Teach Truth
I have been outspoken on attempts to whitewash history, including issuing a joint statement with my school board colleague Dr. Ricardy Anderson opposing the Governor’s attempt to erase African American history and supporting the Teach Truth Resolution.

Other accomplishments include:

• Worked to address discipline disparities.
• Spearheaded changes to the Child Abuse Reporting Policy to recognize mandatory reporting requirements better.
• Worked with community members and staff military ombudsman to better serve our military-connected students.
• Advocated for a military family Advisory Committee Championing programs and initiatives to support the mental health and emotional well-being of all students.
• Supported increased teacher pay and collective bargaining.
• Proposed Board Study of Advanced Academics and Language Immersion programs.
• Proposed Budget Amendment to address student behavioral concerns.
• Supported name changes to remove Confederate names from our schools.
• Expanded anti-bullying efforts so that our kids feel safe.
• Passed balanced budgets with competitive salaries and reduced class sizes.
• Secured full funding for Title I programs.
• Improved environmental stewardship.

For more information and links to primary sources, visit my website.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“You are your brother’s keeper.” I am the daughter of a military veteran and a social worker in a family of all boys. My mother’s words motivated me every day, as an attorney representing the best interests of children and as an elected official fighting for all children every day to ensure equitable access to a robust, world-class public education.

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

Before I was a candidate and elected school board member, I was a community advocate working with government officials and testifying before the school board on issues such as the Sleep Proposal, which changed the time for high school start times. My experiences as a community organizer shaped my beliefs and actions to always listen to constituents.

As a candidate and as a legislator, I will always seek input from HD-7 constituents on issues important to our community and respond to suggestions for legislation. I will be a progressive leader that keeps Virginia moving forward.

Recently, I was asked to share information about my family that may not be well known. Interestingly, on the campaign trail, I enjoyed conversations with old friends and new friends about the diversity of our community and our collectively wonderful traditions and food. Here is my response.

“I have the privilege of living in a welcoming family that taught me to enjoy and respect diverse cultures. I am an African American raised by a social worker and a military veteran. My family specializes in hospitality and boasts a few chefs. My husband is of Bolivian and French descent. His father immigrated to the U.S. four times before he joined the military and later became an inventor and scientist who obtained several patents.

After my parents began to age, we became a multi-generational household, and I became a caregiver. This was an opportunity for my children to learn more about the cycle of life and they received a few history lessons. My children have enjoyed the rich backgrounds of their family members. Given the representation of cultures from South America, Africa, parts of Europe, and the United States, we always share flavor-filled, well-seasoned food and good company.”

I look forward to sharing a meal, a cup of coffee, or just a conversation over the coming months and years. Thank you for your consideration, and I ask for your vote on June 20.

Related:

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• Mary Barthelson Running In June 20 Democratic Party Primary: Profile
• Paul Berry Running In June 20 Democratic Party Primary: Profile
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• 2023 Democratic Primary: In-Person Voting Starts Friday In Fairfax
• Meet 4 Democrats Running To Represent Reston In VA House Of Delegates