Tonight the Fairfax County Democrats will endorse a third candidate for At-Large School Board to replace their endorsed candidate who withdrew last month.
That endorsement should go to Ryan McElveen.
Here's five reasons why:
1) Democrats need to field more young candidates. It helps turnout among young voters that benefit every candidate on the ticket.
2) Ryan handled his defeat at the last endorsement meeting with total class and got behind the endorsed Democratic candidates. His opponent was going to run At-Large as a non-endorsed candidate against the Democrats until this opportunity opened up.
3) Ryan isn't part of either faction in school board politics right now, both of which are behaving in ways that are embarrassing for such a large county and great school system.
4) Ryan attended Fairfax County Public Schools, including Marshall High School, a low performing high school in the system. He has a unique perspective from that which could help focus on student achievement issues in schools in the eastern part of the county.
5) Most important for Democrats- Ryan is from Westbriar precinct in Vienna, one of the precincts Barbara Comstock added to her district to try to win re-election against Pamela Danner. In what will be a very close race for Delegate, having a popular Democratic hometown candidate on the ballot with her in Westbriar could help tip that precinct- and the seat- to Pamela. Win or lose countywide, if Ryan's candidacy helps take down Comstock it has done us all an incredible favor.
"Ryan isn't part of either faction in school board politics right now, both of which are behaving in ways that are embarrassing for such a large county and great school system."
Either faction?
More in-sultant incendi-uendo?
There's a slur behind this compliment to Ryan.
Mean what you say and say what you mean.
AND wasn't this - yawn! - covered already?
School Board HAS a student rep.
Do we really need another Student Government Association member on the School Board?
Ryan might play well with others in 4 or 8 years - but turning over executive management skills to someone who was on the playground fewer than "this many fingers" ago?
Not so much.
Posted by: Tax Smart Not More | July 26, 2011 at 01:03 AM
Notlarry:
1-2-3-4-5
Only 5 reasons?
As high as he can count, eh?
Posted by: TJ'in It | July 26, 2011 at 01:16 AM
@Tax Smart Not More: I won't say you are ignorant of the facts here, because that much is evident. I suppose Mark Zuckerberg should have waited for permission from his elders before he changed the world and become a self-made millionaire? Wake up Rip Van Winkle, young people don't need your permission to change the world. Those that are accomplished will take their place at the table based on merit - not "putting in their time" like the old people were raised to do. Mediocrity is so out of fashion now.
If you look at what Ryan has done already, you would find he is far more traveled, educated and connected than many others running for the school board.
People like you are exactly why we need people like Ryan bringing a FRESH perspective to business as usual on the school board.
Posted by: csread | July 26, 2011 at 08:29 AM
If people waited until their time, all we would have are old farts who have no idea whats going on in the real world. Ryan has the training and experience necessary to win this race.
Posted by: WhatTJSays | July 26, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Ryan was one of the few candidates who walked out of the FCDC meeting with his dignity intact! His father is an FCPS teacher, and Ryan is working overtime to connect with constituents, especially in his precinct. This connection will go a long way toward motivating people who are disconnected from the School Board to vote. I think people can tell that he's genuine in his passion for improving our schools.
Posted by: GCMwhat | July 26, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Are you serious? You want to pick a candidate solely on the fact that he might be able to help another candidate rather than win the seat he is running for? Where does that logic come from? You're basically asking people to throw away the FCDP endorsement vote and their general election vote with this guy.
Posted by: JD_in_Fairfax | July 26, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Ryan is the son a fairfax County teacher. He will have an opponent who is the father of a former FCPS student.
Ryan is running based on not being a part of either faction. I have not seen him take a substantive position on classroom programs, classroom size, pay for teachers, retirement for teachers, size of administration, construction of new buildings, or collaboration with BOS.
He has to be more than a former student. He must be an informed and engaged former student.
Posted by: Concerned in Fairfax | July 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Ryan spoke about those issues at the last endorsement meeting -- the meeting he was "informed" enough to file on time for, unlike his current opponent.
Posted by: Sanders_12 | July 26, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Concerned in Fairfax, I am wondering if you are even a member of the FCDC and been to several of the events where Ryan has laid out his vision for FCPS. What has Steuban bothered to voice other than he wants to change disciplinary policies. What did Charisse espoused before she got the nomination.
If you want specific policy proposals, ask Ryan for them. Don't bitch about not hearing them because you are some mindless drone for Maria Allen
Posted by: WhatTJSays | July 26, 2011 at 01:04 PM
The ageism of Tax Smart Not More and TJ'in It is grossly disrespectful to young professionals and students.
Frankly, given the fact that Ryan has a greater stake in the future of the county than many of the older members (Ryan is starting his adult life as a resident of Fairfax County, while many others are approaching the end of their life as a resident of Fairfax County) it stands to reason his voice would be a strong addition to the school board.
Posted by: Not Ageist | July 26, 2011 at 01:26 PM
FCPS have been twirling down the shitter for the past 20 years. Electing this clown will only speed up the process.
Good call!
Posted by: Not Bubby | July 26, 2011 at 01:28 PM
I got to know Ryan pretty well at UVA, and must say he is someone who deeply impresses me. This is a good call, Ben, and I hope to see him on the School Board. From personal knowledge I can say Ryan is smart and ernest, and would be a great voice for students and teachers alike.
Not Bubby - "twirling down the shitter"? Is that why FCPS is still one of the top-ranked public school systems in the country, with many of the US News' top-ranked high schools (including my alma mater at #1!)? If that's what you're referring to, I'll take your "shitter" over most people's "tolerable" any day.
Posted by: Sam | July 26, 2011 at 02:03 PM
I've heard of the downticket effect, but never the upticket effect... inventing new political concepts to make a silly point. What fun!
Posted by: NotNotNotLarry | July 26, 2011 at 02:30 PM
upticket effect... yeah. Presidential candidates never do this when they select a VP.
Posted by: BroncoBuster | July 26, 2011 at 02:52 PM
NotNotNotLarry - Actually, the "upticket effect" is fairly common, because once you get below the federal and statewide level, different people care about different races. To the average voter, "State Senator," "Delegate," "County Supervisor," and "School Board Member" are about equal in importance, so it's not uncommon for someone to turn out because of a hot school board race, who would not have turned out otherwise.
Posted by: Sam | July 26, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Ryan:
Is a great candidate for the school board. Win or loose Ryan will work hard for the Democrat's.I have talked to Ryan about education issues and he will give you an answer to you questios.
Best of Luck
Posted by: Mike Gropman | July 26, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Sam, good for you that you were fortunate enough to attend TJ. Yes, Fairfax has a few very good schools. It also has an ever-increasing number of declining schools, sagging SOL scores, increasing crime rates, and climbing dropout rates.
20-25 years ago, FCPS was one of the top school *systems* in the country. Today, not so much. Now all they boast about is a handful of schools where they have concentrated all their smart Asian kids. Good luck with that.
Posted by: Not Bubby | July 26, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Given that my son is preparing to go with a group of Robinson students to perform a play Off Broadway this weekend and then to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, I hardly think that Fairfax Schools are collapsing.
Am mostly off the grid for a little while longer, but eagerly waiting to hear what happened at the FCDC meeting tonight.
Posted by: GretchenLaskas | July 26, 2011 at 09:03 PM
RYAN WINS!!!!!
Posted by: WhatTJSays | July 26, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Ryan won by two votes! What an exciting night!
Posted by: Kevin | July 26, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Democrats are crazy not to endorse Maria Allen, but as a republican, this is great news. As a parent, a high school that has an impressive drama club is not something that I care about. I'm someone who thinks that academics are the most important thing. Actors can be trained elsewhere, someplace where taxpayers don't have to pay for that fun hobby.
Posted by: Lovettsville Lady | July 26, 2011 at 10:33 PM
I meant no disrespect to Ryan who obviously has a serious illness. I hope that his treatment is successful. It's so sad to see someone so young who is so seriously ill. My heart goes out to him and his family.
Posted by: Lovettsville Lady | July 26, 2011 at 10:35 PM
LL, serious illness? What the heck are you talking about? I havent seen anything about a serious illness...
Posted by: truthteller | July 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM
I think LL is referring to his absence of hair. Not that that indicates any illness...
Posted by: Not Dave Marsden | July 26, 2011 at 11:37 PM
LL- given your opinions on drama programs, I'm glad you no longer live in Fairfax County! :)
Congratulations to Ryan, and I look forward to working with him and a good election this fall!
Posted by: GretchenLaskas | July 26, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Yes, I assumed that he must be in treatment for some kind of serious illness because he's 25 and has no hair of any kind on his head or face. That's exactly what happens to people receiving chemotherapy. If he's not ill, I am very glad to hear that. I hate to see kids that young be that ill.
Posted by: Lovettsville Lady | July 27, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Lovettsville Lady- His fiancee is also asian. Do you want to comment on her driving skills?
Posted by: Kevin | July 27, 2011 at 09:39 AM
All of the 13th hour support for Ryan belies the fact that no one thought he was impressive enough 7 weeks ago or so to endorse him in the actual FCDC process.
Not on the first, second or third vote.
Or when the bylaws were scrapped so FCDC wouldn't embarrassingly be left with only one endorsed candidate.
A near bottom-tier candidate weeks ago is now heralded as an exceptional choice after the endorsement tug-toy was barely won?
Talk about factions-this whole mess smacks of nothing but.
Posted by: Molly Corbin | July 27, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Marshall hasn't been a "low performing school" for a long time. Test scores have been better than Robinson and Lake Braddock for years, and most of the students now live in expensive neighborhoods in Vienna. There may be other reasons to support Ryan, but suggesting that he attended some school of hard knocks surely isn't one of them.
Posted by: Mozart | August 28, 2011 at 10:29 PM