Teachers Union Backs Hynes, At-Large Candidates In School Board Race

The Fairfax Education Association threw its weight behind six Democrat-endorsed and three Republican-endorsed candidates last week but chose not to make a recommendation in two contested races.

The association, which represents more than 6,000 FCPS employees backed, Dan Storck over Republican-endorsed Michelle Nellenbach for the Mount Vernon seat; Patricia Hynes garnered the nomination for the Hunter Mill seat over Republican-endorsed Nancy Linton.

But the union favored Republican-endorsed Louise Epstein for the Dranesville seat over incumbent Jane Strauss.

The Fairfax Education Association evaluates candidates on their voting records if they are an incumbent, their answers to a questionnaire, and interviews conducted by members of the association’s government relations council.

The union chose democrat-endorsed Megan McLaughlin for the Braddock seat over her Republican-endorsed challenger Nell Hurley. Both candidates would be newcomers to the board, if elected.

Democrat-endorsed Tamara Derenak Kaufax and incumbent and Democrat-endorsed Sandy Evans, captured the nominations for Lee district and Mason district respectively. Neither faces a challenger in the fall. Republican-endorsed and incumbent Patty Reed, who is running unopposed for the Providence seat was also endorsed by the association.

For the at-large seats, the association favored democrat-endorsed Ilryong Moon, Republican-endorsed , and , who has not been endorsed by either party.

The union did not endorse candidates running for the Springfield or Sully seats on the school board.

In the case of the Springfield seat, where Democrat-endorsed John Wittman faces Republican-endorsed Elizabeth Schultz, Hairston said the association liked both candidates but didn’t favor one over the other. 

“We liked some of what both of them what had to say,” he said. “Our folks can make their choice on that one.”

In the case of the Sully district, the association was not impressed enough with either Democrat-endorsed and incumbent Kathy Smith or Republican-endorsed Sheila Ratnam to make a recommendation.

In Kathy Smith’s case, Hariston said, it was primarily her voting record and her working relationship with teachers that prevented her from winning the association’s endorsement.

“We are looking for some folks who are going to listen and be responsive to the needs of the workforce,” he said.

The association will also be making endorsements for the state legislature.  The will be making its own endorsements later this fall.

Click here to see the full annoucement.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct party endorsement of Tamara Derenak Kaufax. The original article also left off Patty Reed's endorsement. Patch regrets the errors.