Arlington County Board

Arlington County Board
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Agency name	Arlington County Board
Formed	1936
Jurisdiction	Arlington County, Virginia
Headquarters	Arlington County Courthouse

Arlington County Board. The Arlington County Board is the governing body of Arlington County, Virginia, a county located in the Washington metropolitan area near Washington, D.C., Pentagon City, and Crystal City. The board is composed of five members, including a chair, who are elected by the citizens of Arlington County, Virginia to oversee the administration of the county, which is home to many notable institutions, including Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon, and Marymount University. The board works closely with other local governments, such as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the City of Alexandria, Virginia, to address regional issues, including transportation, education, and economic development, in collaboration with organizations like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

Introduction

The Arlington County Board is responsible for setting the overall direction and policies for the county, which has a diverse population of over 230,000 people, including residents of Ballston, Clarendon, and Columbia Pike. The board's decisions have a significant impact on the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors to the county, including those who work at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The board's meetings are open to the public and are held at the Arlington County Courthouse, which is located near the Arlington County Jail and the Arlington County Police Department. The board also works closely with other local organizations, such as the Arlington County Public Schools, the Arlington County Fire Department, and the Arlington County Sheriff's Office, to ensure that the county's services are effective and efficient, in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions like the City of Falls Church, Virginia and the Fairfax County Public Schools.

History

The Arlington County Board was established in 1936, when the county adopted a new form of government, which replaced the previous system of government by a board of supervisors, similar to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Since then, the board has played a crucial role in shaping the county's development, including the construction of Interstate 66, the Dulles Toll Road, and the Washington Metro, which connects Arlington County, Virginia to Washington, D.C., Maryland, and other parts of Northern Virginia. The board has also been involved in various regional initiatives, such as the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, which aim to improve the region's air quality and transportation infrastructure, in collaboration with federal agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Over the years, the board has worked with notable leaders, including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Gerald Ford, to address national and regional issues, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Clean Air Act.

Members

The Arlington County Board consists of five members, who are elected at-large by the citizens of Arlington County, Virginia for four-year terms, similar to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The members of the board are responsible for representing the interests of all residents, businesses, and organizations in the county, including those in Shirlington, Virginia Square, and Westover. The board members also serve on various committees and commissions, such as the Arlington County Planning Commission and the Arlington County Transportation Commission, which are responsible for advising the board on specific issues, such as land use, transportation, and public safety, in partnership with regional organizations like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Current and former members of the board have included notable individuals, such as Barbara Favola, Adam Ebbin, and Mark Levine, who have gone on to serve in other public offices, including the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates.

Responsibilities

The Arlington County Board has a wide range of responsibilities, including setting the county's budget, which is over $1 billion, and overseeing the administration of county services, such as public safety, transportation, and education, in collaboration with organizations like the Arlington County Police Department, the Arlington County Fire Department, and the Arlington County Public Schools. The board is also responsible for making decisions on land use and development, including the approval of zoning ordinances and the issuance of building permits, which affect neighborhoods like Clarendon, Ballston, and Columbia Pike. Additionally, the board represents the county's interests at the regional and state levels, working with organizations like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to address issues such as transportation, air quality, and economic development, in partnership with federal agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The board also works closely with other local governments, such as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the City of Alexandria, Virginia, to address regional issues and promote cooperation and collaboration, similar to the National Association of Counties and the International City/County Management Association.

Elections

Elections for the Arlington County Board are held every two years, with two or three seats up for election, depending on the year, similar to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The elections are non-partisan, meaning that candidates do not run on a party ticket, and are held in November, with the winners taking office in January, similar to the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates. The board members are elected at-large, meaning that they represent the entire county, rather than a specific district, similar to the United States Senate. The elections are overseen by the Arlington County Electoral Board, which is responsible for ensuring the integrity and fairness of the electoral process, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Elections and the Federal Election Commission. The board's elections have been the subject of attention from regional and national media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Politico, which have covered issues like campaign finance reform and voter turnout, similar to the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors.

Category:Government of Arlington County, Virginia