Ferguson Urges Civility in Clerk Debate

Following earlier acrimonious debates when his opponent admitted he’d “crossed the line,” Arlington Circuit Court Clerk candidate Paul Ferguson, a veteran of 12 years on the Arlington County Board, complemented his novice challenger for his decorum Monday in a debate at the Lyons Village Community Center.

The clerk position, held the last 30 years by David Bell, serves the City of Falls Church in addition to Arlington, and both Ferguson and Mark Kelly have spent a lot of time campaigning in both jurisdictions.

In Monday’s debate, Kelly conceded that “maybe I leaned too far into the negative before,” in reference to earlier debates. “I’m trying to find a way to talk about a sitting office-holder’s record.”

He was challenged by both Peter Rousselot and Michael Gardner, chairs of the Arlington County and City of Falls Church Democratic Committees, respectively, to take a “positive campaigning only” pledge.

He later added, “A couple remarks at the last debate probably crossed the line. I will not cast aspersions on my opponent’s character, and will only talk about his record.”

While the clerk position in service of the Arlington Circuit Court is not partisan, the partisan distinctions between Ferguson, who got his start in politics supporting Democratic candidates, and Kelly are no secret.

Kelly, who graduated from the Regent University School of Law founded by the Rev. Pat Robertson, once a Republican presidential candidate, worked six years as the chief of staff for Republican Congressman Jim Ryun from Kansas.

Both Ferguson and Kelly agreed that technological improvements are needed in the clerk’s office, and both hailed Bell’s tenure there. Both will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

 

Recent News

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
On Key

Stories that may interest you

F1: The Movie In Theaters

Lisa Released on June 27, this is a big sports drama about professional auto racing and personalities behind the scenes. Brad Pitt continues to defy his age in the action

Our Man In Arlington 7-10-2025

For my “Front-Page History” series, today we are looking at headlines from July 2, 1977, just one day after the new Virginia laws passed by the General Assembly went into

A Penny for Your Thoughts 7-10-2025

Hope may be a theological virtue, an inspiration or an aspiration, even a town in Arkansas, but hope is not a strategy.  Hope is not a plan.  General Colin Powell

Support Local News!

For Information on Advertising:

Legitimate news organizations need grass roots support like never before, and that includes your Falls Church News-Press. For more than 33 years, your News-Press has kept its readers informed and enlightened. We can’t continue without the support of our readers. This means YOU! Please step up in these challenging times to support the news source you are reading right now!