It was going so well. I'm talking about the Sept. 25 school board candidate town hall hosted by the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) at Forestville Elementary School. The GFCA president used all the right words about the association's nonpartisanship and policy of not endorsing candidates. The rules laid down by the moderator were fair and respectful. Disruptive behavior was not going to be tolerated.
The Forestville audience politely applauded their favored candidates. Aside from a few placard-wielding demonstrators who tried to intimidate Democratic endorsed candidates Elaine Tholen, Abrar Omeish, Rachna Sizemore Heizer and Karen Keys-Gamarra, the audience was pretty chill, as the young people say. Even all of the eye-rolling and head shaking from the Republican Dranesville candidate failed to encourage her supporters to misbehave.
Everything was going well until the final two questions prior to closing remarks. The moderator explained he had questions specific to Elaine Tholen and Karen Keys-Gamarra. My ears perked. He proceeded to read from submissions scribbled on both sides of two 3 by 5 cards. The words were clearly geared to embarrass Elaine and Karen rather than elicit policy-related answers.
And, obviously submitted by Voices of Fairfax (VoF).
VoF, for the uninitiated, is an echo chamber that trafficks in a conspiracy that descends to near-Pizzagate levels. It is an amalgam of gotchas, gaslights and whatabouts designed to spread false information and fear ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
I seethed for a few minutes then lodged a complaint with the GFCA president. He had, in my opinion, veered – unwittingly or otherwise -- into partisan territory by allowing the two questions. He answered that they were the only two questions for specific candidates. Exactly my point, sir!
Greg Brandon
McLean