Arlington’s County Board remains in Democratic hands, with an incumbent and a former school board member fending off challenges from two Republicans and a Green party candidate.
Walter Tejada, the board’s vice chairman, successfully defended his seat, winning 32 percent of the vote in the five-way race, according to unofficial results available Tuesday night. Former school board member Mary Hynes got 31 percent of the vote to win the second seat, vacated by Board Chairman Paul Ferguson.
Recommended Stories
“It was a good campaign,” Hynes said. “I think voters were looking for experienced and proven leadership.”
Republicans Michael McMenamin and Joseph Warren won 20 percent and 11 percent. Green candidate Josh Ruebner received 6 percent.
“We didn’t do as well as expected,” McMenamin said. “But, we won three precincts this year. We didn’t take any last year.”
Despite Arlington’s Democratic stronghold, McMenamin managed to bring in about $31,300, according to his final campaign finance report before the election. Hynes and Tejada raised $47,700 and $45,350, respectively.
McMenamin ran on a platform that County Board members neglected basic maintenance and ineptly handled construction projects like the long-delayed Cherrydale and Crystal City fire stations.
Hynes said Tuesday the long list of construction projects, which Arlington can’t afford, are “very much on my mind.”
She has suggested to other board members that they create a citizen task force to prioritize the projects, a plank of her campaign platform.
In the only other contested Arlington races, Ferguson won the clerk of the Circuit Court seat vacated by the retiring David Bell, and Sheriff Beth Arthur, a Democrat, was re-elected.
A total of 30,142 people voted Tuesday, about 23 percent of the electorate. A tally of absentee ballots was not available by press time.
Arlington County Board (2 seats):
» Walter Tejada*, D, 32.35%
» Mary Hynes, D, 31.32%
» Michael McMenamin, R, 19.67%
» Josh Ruebner, G, 5.61%
» Joseph Warren, R, 11.04%.
Arlington Circuit Court Clerk:
» Paul Ferguson, D, 70.93%
» Mark Kelly, R, 28.83%.
* = incumbent
