J.D. Spain Kicks Off Campaign for Arlington County Board
ARLINGTON, VA — Last night at Cafe Sazon in Arlington on Columbia Pike former Arlington NAACP President J.D. Spain kicked off his bid to serve on the Arlington County Board. The former combat vet whose service as a U.S. Marine has placed him in leadership positions before was joined by a large crowd of supporters. At one point before Spain spoke the crowd was packed at the front door of Cafe Sazon such that no one could enter.
It’s noteworthy that J.D. Spain was introduced by two young electeds who represent the future of Virginia politics: Attorney and fmr. Delegate Jay Jones, who ran for Attorney General in 2021, and attorney and fmr. Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, who ran for Governor in 2021 and is now running for the State Senate in SD33.
MISSING MIDDLE. High housing prices in Arlington, (which are starting to rival Manhattan…) education and mental health policy were the main topics focused on at Spain’s launch event. The audience of supporters nodded in agreement and applauded in approval as speakers focused on community concerns.
In January 2022, WTOP reported that, “the average price of a detached, single-family house that sold in Arlington County, Virginia, in December 2022 was $1,258,648. That is 17% more than the average price a year earlier, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors… For all of 2021, the number of homes sold in Arlington County and the total dollar sales volume both increased by 27%, compared to 2020.”
The average sale of a home in Arlington for Dec. 2022 was $526,00 according to Long & Foster. Currently the average rent in Arlington is $2,124 according to Apartment List.
“We do have to diversify our portfolio of housing. We need to look at alternatives to how we've been doing business. So yes, a lot of us are not happy with the current state of affairs, but we need to evolve. We need to be innovative, and we need to think about the future,” Spain said on an issue that is certain to a top priority in 2023.
“I know: It is a very toxic divisive subject right now. But don't let housing divide us y’all. We're better than this,” Spain said.
“He understands affordable housing, he's ready to address livable wage. He's ready to make sure that we move to 100% green energy economy, ready to make sure that everyone works,” fmr. Delegate Foy said speaking on Spain.
“I look around this room. It is a Saturday night in February. It is cold outside. You guys are right here. A diverse group of energetic folks who are here for this man right here,” fmr. Delegate Jay Jones began.
“I have been a lot of places over the years across the state. I've never seen a crowd like this for a local candidate for office. This is incredible,” Jones noted.
RELATED: 🏃🏾♂️ CHART of incumbents and candidates running for the General Assembly in 2023.
Others in the large audience of Arlington Democrats and community activists included attorney and fellow Marine Phil Thompson, who was the former President of Loudon NAACP and Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and former Arlington School Board member Dr. Emma Violad-Sanchez.
The Arlington County Board is five members. Currently the only Black member is Chair Christian Dorsey. The other members are Vice Chair Libby Garvey, Takis Karantonis, Katie Cristol and Matt de Ferranti. Board members serve staggered four-year terms. Primary day this year is June 20 and Election Day is Nov. 7.
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