McKay, Lusk score wins in county-wide Dem straw poll

Fairfax County Board Chairman candidate Jeff McKay and Lee District Supervisor candidate Rodney Lusk won their respective races at Sunday’s Fairfax County Democratic Committee straw poll.

The county-wide straw poll was held at Mustang Sally Brewing Company in Chantilly and attended by more than 500 people, according to the FCDC. It’s the first year that the FCDC has held a county-wide straw poll.

McKay, the current Lee District Supervisor, edged out first-time political candidate Plerhoples by 20 votes. McKay and Plerhoples soaked up the vast majority of votes in the four-way race to be the Democratic nominee for board chairman, mirroring the results of a February straw poll held by the Mount Vernon Democrats.

The official board chairman results, from the FCDC:

• Jeff McKay: 226
• Alicia Plerhoples: 206
• Ryan McElveen: 36
• Tim Chapman: 17

McKay has now won three straw poll events ahead of the June 11 primary, although in two of those polls Plerhoples finished within 20 votes.

In the four-way race to be the next Lee District Supervisor, Lusk came away with 43 percent of the vote. Lusk, a former Lee District planning commissioner and member of the county’s economic development authority, also won the Mount Vernon Democrats straw poll earlier this year.

Larysa Kautz, a non-profit executive running for political office for the first time, finished second, edging out Lee District Planning Commissioner James Migliaccio.

The official Lee District supervisor results, from the FCDC:

• Rodney Lusk: 126
• Larysa Kautz: 67
• James Migliaccio: 61
• Kelly Hebron: 39

Because the event was open to attendees from around the county, the Lee District straw poll included votes from people from outside the district.

In the Commonwealth’s Attorney race, newcomer Steve Descano topped incumbent Ray Morrough 319-141. Descano also won the Mount Vernon Democrats straw poll earlier this year.

Rachna Sizemore Heizer, a first-time candidate, came out on top among the four candidates vying for the three at-large seats for the Fairfax County School Board. Unlike the board chairman and supervisor races, candidates for school board are endorsed by parties, and do not have a primary election.

The official at-large school board results, from the FCDC:

• Rachna Sizemore Heizer: 291
• Karen Keys-Gamarra (incumbent): 253
• Abrar Omeish: 193
• Ilryong Moon: (incumbent): 177

In the Mount Vernon District School Board race, incumbent Karen Corbett Sanders topped Pameal Ononiwu, who only recently entered the race.

• Karen Corbett Sanders: 292
• Pamela Ononiwu: 43

Full results from other county races can be seen on the FCDC’s website.