Chairman Hopefuls Have Lots Of History

Fairfax Contest Pits Bulova vs. Herrity

It has been more than 20 years since Sharon S. Bulova took the first step in her political career.

In some ways, she had John F. "Jack" Herrity, then the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, to thank for the opportunity. A seat opened on the board when Herrity's increasingly unpopular, pro-development views invited a challenge from a Democratic supervisor in 1987. Bulova jumped in to run for the open seat.

On Tuesday, Bulova will again pursue higher elected office. But this time, a Herrity stands in her way.

Bulova (D-Braddock) and Herrity's eldest son, Supervisor Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield), are the leading candidates in Tuesday's special election for chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

Both are seeking to succeed Gerald E. Connolly (D), who won a seat in the House of Representatives last fall. Each is looking to the past for a connection to voters -- she as an experienced hand who spent decades serving Fairfax constituents, he as the son of one of the county's best-known leaders.

Both face challenges as they seek to show they can steer the county through its worst budget crisis in a generation.

"She's got to defend the status quo, which is the largest deficit in the region," said former congressman Tom Davis (R-Va.), who is also a past chairman of the Fairfax County board. He has endorsed Herrity. "She's got that burden, but she also has the advantage of being an incumbent in a county where people are relatively happy."

Herrity, meanwhile, faces an uphill political battle in a county that has consistently supported Democrats since his father was chairman. And, after just one year on the board, he must show that he is more than just his father's son.

On a recent frigid Saturday morning, as Herrity, 49, handed out literature in front of a Giant Food store in Vienna, many greeted him with a smile and a familiar refrain: 'I knew your father.' "

"Yeah, but it's not just about my father," Herrity said when asked about the frequent comparisons.

Herrity has depicted himself as a softer, "less Irish" version of his father. Few expected him to follow the elder Herrity into the grueling world of politics, which took a toll on the family. But in 2007, he surprised his friends and relatives by deciding to run for the Springfield seat. Less than a year after his election victory, he decided to run for chairman.

Herrity acknowledges that his father's death in 2006 might have played a part in his decision to run.