Democrats at the Virginia Senate on Thursday blocked an amendment from Governor Glenn Youngkin that would force the Loudoun County School Board to stand for re-election this year and accused Governor Youngkin of trying to subvert democracy by trying to hold the election.
Youngkin was attempting to have the board vote one year earlier than scheduled due to his administration’s ongoing investigation into how the school system handled sexual assaults. Loudoun County’s board has faced several controversies stemming from both Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares claiming that they have repeatedly mishandled and covered up sexual assault on school grounds for political gain. (RELATED: Youngkin Calls for Early Election for Loudoun Co. School Board)
On Thursday, the Democrat-controlled senate voted to block that amendment. Loudoun Board of Supervisors member Juli Briskman on Twitter called the block of the amendment “Excellent News!! Thank you for stopping this attempt to subvert democracy!!”
Excellent News!! Thank you for stopping this attempt to subvert democracy!!
— Juli Briskman 🌞 (@julibriskman) April 28, 2022
In response, Republican Delegate Chris Head said in a floor speech, “Members on the other side, Mr. Speaker, are saying this is an attack on democracy. How is holding an election an attack on democracy? If the people of Loudoun like this board and its actions, then I have absolutely no doubt that they will return all of them to a four-year term.”
“This school board is using the powers delegated to them by this legislature and they’re misusing them terribly… The fix is to allow the people of Loudoun County to express their views at the ballot box just as soon as possible,” he said.
Ian Prior, executive director of the parents group Fight For Schools, said in a statement that voters have information now that they did not have in 2019.
“The members of the Loudoun County School Board did not run for office in 2019 on a platform of violating open meetings law, Title IX, and the constitutional rights of students, parents, and teachers, nor did they campaign on covering up a sexual assault and being investigated by a special grand jury,” Prior stated
It would appear that the Loudoun County School Board will be staying in place for another year.