FlyingPawn

Here in Fairfax County, our previous chair of the county board of supervisors, Gerry Connolly, has moved on to represent the Virginia 11th in Congress. (For the record, FlyingPawn HQ is in the 8th district, represented by Jim “earmark the s— out of it” Moran). To replace Connolly, there is a special election this coming Tuesday. The candidates are Democrat Sharon Bulova, and Republican Pat Herrity, whom I have done extensive research on using campaign mailings from the Fairfax County Democratic Party.

Experience

Bulova has been on the board of supervisors for 21 years. Herrity has only been on the board since 2007, but his dad was chairman for 12 years and has a highway named after him, so county government is in his blood. Advantage: Tie

Transportation

This is the only issue in the race, as far as I can tell. Bulova is a founding board member of the VRE commuter rail system, and favors the plan to expand Metrorail to Dulles airport. Herrity oppposes the Metro expansion plan, to the point of suing the county over it, but he apparently has an alternative rail plan involving adorable tykes:

Advantage: Tie

Looks

Ultimately, the best reason to vote for someone is their physical appearance. This is the only known photograph of Herrity:

I think he looks upset/gassy and the black-and-white makes him look more unfriendly. My wife thinks it makes him look pensive and traditional.

Bulova, on the other hand, looks like Mon Mothma. Advantage: Bulova