Alicia Plerhoples announced earlier this morning that she is running for Chair of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors.
In brief, Alicia is
- a serious progressive, grassroots involved, African-American woman;
- experienced in the community (advisory boards, elected to a community center, citizens’ associations);
- a Georgetown law professor and taught at Stanford, a Yale Law School, Princeton Wilson Center, Harvard University graduate
- passionate, eloquent, thoughtful, substantive, ethical, decent, caring ...
- engaged on and intent on acting on a wide-range of 'issues that matter', from environmental to education performance to educational/etc equity and justice to ...
- well, etc …
I have had the chance to get to know Alicia through Virginia Democracy Forward (VADF) which Alicia co-founded and helps lead. Formed from scratch in the ashes of November 6th, 2016, VADF has mobilized people (door-to-door, postcard writing, letters to the editor, etc ...), analytical resources, and political decision-making, and money for candidates across Virginia (and special elections across the nation, like Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania) and now numbers well over 400 active members. A privilege of VADF engagement was meeting and getting to the know Alicia who, quite honestly, blows me away … she is ‘the real deal’. I, the County of Fairfax, we all will be well-served with her in elected office.
Others agree. From Lowell Feld at Blue Virginia,
I met with Plerhoples last month and was very impressed with her, including her impressive educational and professional background, as well as the fact that she’s a strong progressive and environmental advocate.
Take a moment to get to know her and, well, I am sure that you will agree.
With the ugliness that surrounds the three Commonwealth-wide elected officials, it feels great to be enthusiastically sharing good news from Virginia politics, information about someone who epitomizes what we want in public officials, someone who merits our support.
Excerpts from Alicia’s email to supporters earlier today:
Dear Friend,
I hope you’re sitting down, because this may come as a bit of a shock. I am suspending my School Board campaign to run for Chairman of Fairfax County.
Why? Because there are two Fairfax Counties, divided by economic security and opportunity. I am running for Chairman because I want to close the gap. I have lived the disparate realities of Fairfax County and bring a different type of leadership to the challenges we face -- a leadership that is inclusive, responsive, and visionary. We need leaders who have the political courage to move Fairfax County forward as an innovator in all arenas, not those that are satisfied with the status quo.
I often tell my two daughters that they are not growing up like I grew up. As a child, I experienced housing instability and food insecurity, just as many hardworking families do today in Fairfax County. I am committed to closing that gap by ensuring that all of our communities and businesses benefit from economic growth, and that our residents have access to affordable housing, well-paying jobs, excellent public education, reliable public transportation, a clean environment, and a sustainable future. My vision for Fairfax County is a community-friendly economy.
Why Now? What's happening in Richmond has left me disappointed beyond words. The people of Virginia voted resoundingly, in what was termed a “blue wave,” for progressive, principled leadership, and we are crushed to now face a crisis in leadership. In this moment, everyone has paused to take stock. I paused my School Board campaign to consider this crisis. How did we arrive here? When our leaders falter, what can we do? We can step up.
The only person of color on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is retiring. In 2020, one of the most beautifully diverse counties in Virginia may not have a single person of color in its top governing body. Our retiring Supervisor stood up at the Fairfax County NAACP meeting last week and made an impassioned plea -- “It takes being in the room, having a seat at the table, to make change, or our progress can vanish.”
I’m responding to her call to service.
I will bring my 14 years of legal experience advising companies, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and charities to the office of Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. As a tenured law professor and expert in community economic development law, I bring both experience and a vision to lead Fairfax County forward.
I ask for your continued support. The Democratic primary is June 11, just four months away. Our campaign is off to a strong start and our team is in place. The press release of our campaign announcement for Chairman is below.
Join us!
Text of Alicia’s announcement:
Alicia Plerhoples Announces Candidacy for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Fairfax, Virginia – Georgetown Law Professor Alicia Plerhoples, of McLean, announces her candidacy for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Plerhoples is an expert in community economic development law and represents entrepreneurs, small businesses, and charitable organizations. Alicia is a vocal community advocate, serving on the McLean Community Center Governing Board, on the FCPS School Board’s Human Resources Advisory Committee, the Fairfax County NAACP Budget Committee, and on the Board of the Franklin Area Citizens Association.
“There are two Fairfax Counties, divided by economic security and opportunity. I am running for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors because I want to close the gap through affordable housing, public education, environmental justice, and transportation improvements,” said Plerhoples. “I have lived the two extremes of Fairfax County and bring a different type of leadership to the challenges we face — a leadership that is inclusive, responsive, and visionary. We need leaders who have the political courage to move Fairfax County forward as a leader in all arenas, rather than being satisfied with the status quo.”
“I often tell my two daughters that they are not growing up like I grew up. As a child, I experienced housing instability and food insecurity, just as many hardworking families do today in Fairfax County. I am committed to closing the gap in Fairfax County by making sure that all of our communities and businesses benefit from economic growth, and that our residents have access to affordable housing, well-paying jobs, excellent public education, reliable public transportation, a clean environment, and a sustainable future. My vision for Fairfax County is a community-friendly economy. I will bring my legal experience working with entrepreneurs, small
businesses, and nonprofits to the office of Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors.”
Alicia Plerhoples is a tenured Professor of Law at Georgetown Law where she focuses on community economic development, social enterprise law, nonprofit law, and corporate governance. Plerhoples is the founder and director of the Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic which provides pro bono business legal services to social enterprises, charitable organizations, and small businesses. She has served on the law school’s faculty Hiring Committee and as the Chair of the law school’s Diversity Committee, which is tasked with enhancing the law school’s inclusion climate and enhancing cultural competency inside and outside the classroom. Plerhoples is a graduate of Yale Law School, Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and Harvard College. As a Harvard alum, Plerhoples volunteers on the northern Virginia Harvard Schools Committee and is a member of the Yale Law School Executive Committee. Plerhoples also serves on the McLean Community
Center Governing Board, which provides oversight to the Community Center staff and presents its annual budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for review and approval. Plerhoples lives in McLean with her husband, a surgeon who practices in northern Virginia, and their two young daughters.
Friends of Alicia Plerhoples, PO Box 158, McLean VA 22101 www.aliciaplerhoples.com;
info@aliciaplerhoples.com