Arlington County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson’s announcement Monday that he will not seek re-election next year has opened up a race formerly seen as a lock for the 11-year board veteran.
Ferguson — who announced he will run for clerk of the Arlington County and Falls Church Circuit Court next year — was expected to run, along with County Board Member Walter Tejada, for the two seats up for grabs. Both are Democrats, and because of the party’s stranglehold on county politics, were expected to win easily.
With Ferguson out of the picture, the board races are no longer as predictable. Tejada is considered a favorite, and the ever-active Arlington political rumor mill is speculating that former school board Chairman Mary Hynes will replace Ferguson on the Democratic ticket.
Hynes retired from the school board in December after 12 years, and her tearful send-off indicated she’s well-liked by many in the county. She has yet to make a formal announcement on whether she’s going to run.
Whoever wins Democratic primary will face strong competition from at least two other candidates.
Former Green Party candidate Josh Ruebner told The Examiner he expects his party to field a candidate in this year’s contest.
“I think it’s pretty likely we will enter the race,” he said. The Green Party will decide on a candidate in the spring, he said.
Republican Mike McMenamin, who ran last year, also told The Examiner he expects to run again.
Ruebner captured 5 percent of the vote last year, while McMenamin earned more than 26 percent.
