Farrell Withdraws From House Of Delegates Race, Endorses Keys-Gamarra
RESTON, VA — The five-way race to fill the House of Delegates seat that represents Reston became a four-race on Sunday night. John W. Farrell announced he was withdrawing from the race and endorsing fellow Democratic candidate Karen Keys-Gamarra.
“When Karen Keys-Gamarra announced her candidacy, I knew we had our candidate,” Farrell said, in an email to Patch. “She has spent her career representing kids in need of services before the courts. More than 18,000 residents in HD 7 have already voted for Karen multiple times. We know her, we know her values and her commitment to our future and our children’s future. We’ve also seen her in action, fighting for our community and standing firm against efforts to force a far right agenda on Fairfax County schools.”
Farrell, an attorney with McCandlish Lillard and a member of the Reston Association Board of Directors, originally entered the race on Feb. 22. This was a day after long-time Del. Ken Plum’s announcement that he was not seeking re-election in November. At the time, Farrell said his goal was to see the General Assembly grant Reston a city charter.
Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The following is the full text of Farrell’s email:
As I have walked around Reston over the last two months, our neighbors have asked me about Reston’s open seat in the House of Delegates.
I entered this race because I wanted voters to have an opportunity to vote for a candidate with a long and consistent track record of working with and for groups that unapologetically support all of our Democratic values, and for a candidate who has lived in the district long enough to know how to best to fight for Robert Simon’s founding principals for Reston.
When Karen Keys Gamara announced her candidacy, I knew we had our candidate. She has spent her career representing kids in need of services before the courts. More than 18,000 residents in HD 7 have already voted for Karen multiple times. We know her, we know her values and her commitment to our future and our children’s future. We’ve also seen her in action, fighting for our community and standing firm against efforts to force a far right agenda on Fairfax County schools.
So, as I announce my withdrawal from the HD 7 race, today, I strongly endorse Karen Keys-Gamarra for the Reston House District. I hope you will join me in working for, fundraising for, and voting for Karen on June 20.
John Farrell
In addition to being a House of Delegates candidate, Farrell was also running for an at-large seat on the RA Board. Voting in the 2023 RA election ended on Friday and the results will be announced at RA’s annual members meeting on April 11, at 7 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The four remaining candidates in the 7th District race are all Democrats: Keys-Gamarra, Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth, and Mary Barthelson. They will square off in the June 20 Democratic Party primary. Early voting for the primary begins on May 6 and voters must register by May 29 to be eligible to vote in the primary. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot for the Democratic primary is June 9.
So far, no Republican candidate has officially entered the 7th District race. The filing deadline for candidates is 7 p.m., on June 20.
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, to choose candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia Senate, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, Fairfax County Sheriff, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, District Members of the Board of Supervisors, At-Large Members of the Fairfax County School Board, District Members of the School board, and Directors (vote for 3) of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: cheap converse women low top shoes