FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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AUGUST 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 5
Council Hopefuls Bring Lengthy Resumes in Education, Housing Continued from Page 1
to serve another term as vice mayor). The timing of the vacancy this time requires a public election rather than a Council vote, being more than 90 days out from the next election. It is unconfirmed that this is the first time a seat had to be filled due to the death of an acting Council member. (News-Press archives go back only to 1991, and those of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library are stashed away in storage while the library building is renovated and expanded.) At Monday’s Council meeting, Mayor David Tarter called for a moment of silence in memory of Sze, who lost a battle with cancer to die at age 69 on July 27. Tarter termed Sze “a passionate supporter of the City” during his 10 years on the Council who contributed enormously to the adoption of pro-environmental policies such as the impending “Net Zero” energy new high school and offered best wishes to his wife, Elizabeth, and his family.
Noting that flags were flown at half mast at City Hall for a full week, and also for a day in Arlington, he called Sze’s passing “a huge loss for the City.” While news about the compressed timetable for selecting a replacement came out late last week, Hiscott was ready to announce her plans this Monday, and has already begun the process of obtaining the minimum of 125 valid signatures of registered voters in the City. Shokoor told the News-Press last night that “I have allies who want to help and we’re just getting started.” By way of Facebook and email announcements, Hiscott asked supporters to come to her home in the Broadmont area of the City where a table has been set up by the sidewalk for petition forms to be signed, being in deference to social distancing factors. After Shokoor completed his post graduate schooling, he had been working on affordable housing issues, and works for the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. Hiscott brings deep ties to the Falls Church community, espe-
THE TWO Falls Church locals vying for the vacated seat on F.C.’s council are Education Foundation’s director Debbie Hiscott and Housing Commission veteran Josh Shokoor. (C������� P�����) cially from her work with the nonprofit F.C. Education Foundation which in recent years has been host to two of the biggest fundraising events of the year, a gala banquet at the Washington Golf
and Country Club in Arlington in the spring and a “Fun Run” in the fall. In a campaign announcement statement issued yesterday, Hiscott wrote about Councilman
Sze, “He and I shared a long-term commitment to the City of Falls Church and I would hope to continue his legacy. My aim would
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