Fairfax County is the place where Democrats go to win the state of Virginia. It’s THE Democratic county, the most Democratic county in Virginia, the county in Virginia with the most organized Democratic party. Which makes their behaviour toward Karen Keys-Gamarra somewhat disappointing.
Karen Keys-Gamarra is the only current school board member running for an at-large seat on the Fairfax county school board. Fairfax County has 9 magisterial districts and they each have a representative on the school board. Then there are 3 at-large members who represent the whole county.
Ms. Keys-Gamarra spoke with the “Grand Dame” of Fairfax county politics recently relating to some of the crazy inner politics of the area. The down deep in the weeds stuff that unfortunately goes on everywhere; where the privileged folks get privilege and the un-privileged folks don't get the privilege; even if they are the history making incumbent.
Karen Keys-Gamarra is currently the only Democratic school board member who has been elected countywide, the only black person elected county wide and the only woman elected county wide. (They like her, they really, really like her!)
She’s done something no one else has done, she's run countywide and won. Others have tried (Gerry Connolly, Sharon Bulova, Katherine Hanley) but none have won every district. Others have tried, but no one but her has won all 9 magisterial districts.
Karen Keys-Gamarra had the encouraging call with the “Democratic Queen of the County” telling her that people know what’s going on and that they have her back.
Let’s have her back too. She’s already been elected to do the job once. She’s been doing the job and she’s been doing the job well. Let’s help her keep doing the job!
One candidate ~ Karen Keys-Gamarra