This post was originally published on this site.
Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has appointed Del. Mark Sickles (D-17th District) as Virginia’s next Secretary of Finance.
A special election will be conducted on Jan. 20 to fill his remaining term. The 17th District includes Franconia, Springfield, and parts of Alexandria in Fairfax County.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee will hold a firehouse primary on Dec. 28. Voting will be conducted in person at three locations and online.
Four candidates have registered for the primary:
- Carla Bustillos, a community leader and business owner; president of the Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
- Russell Brooks, a retired foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State; chair of the Northern Virginia Democratic Caucus.
- Garrett McGuire, chair of the Board of United Community, serving the Route 1 corridor; previous chair of the Fairfax–Falls Church Community Services Board; lobbyist for AT&T.
- Joy McManus, teacher at Mount Vernon High School; a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a nonprofit promoting sensible gun laws; a former staffer on Abigail Spanberger’s campaign for governor.
Sickles has served in the House of Delegates for 22 years. According to Spanberger, “As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Del. Sickles has years of experience working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass commonsense budgets that have offered tax relief for families and helped Virginia’s economy grow.”
Sickles also chaired the Health and Human Services Committee.
As Secretary of Finance, Spanberger said, Sickles will “play an essential role in guaranteeing Virginia’s long-term economic strength, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and addressing the challenges facing Virginia communities,”
Related story: Adam Wise to face Gretchen Bulova in the Jan. 13 special election