Fairfax County Democrats to Choose Sheriff Nominee Tuesday

Fairfax County Democrats will elect a nominee Tuesday in acaucus at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax. The winner will face a Republican candidate to succeed former Sheriff Stan Barry, who retired a month ago.

Kincaid has served in the office for 26 years, coming into the office in 1986. She has a few years on Sites, who has served since 1995.

But Sites is currently serving as sheriff in the interim before the special election. He was sworn into the position by a judge July 1 and has already begun implementing policies and ideas he believes will better the office.

During a debate last week, the two candidates discussed their visions and priorities for the sheriff’s office should they get elected in November.

Sites said he wants to focus on performing and improving the office’s main jobs: running the county jail, protecting courtrooms and serving civil process. Having worked on the office’s budget in the past, he is also looking at freeing up money that can be used in better programs.

Kincaid also wants to focus on the office’s main jobs, but says she wants to do more as well, including changing the public’s perception that the sheriff’s office is “disengaged and unapproachable” by stepping up the office’s involvement in the community.

Kincaid also wants to reform the promotion system in the office, to make it more objective and less confusing. Finally, she said the office’s current budget was too small and that she planned to advocate for more money from the county to avoid cutting programs.

Sites has been endorsed by state Sen. George Barker (D-39) and the Fairfax County Coalition of Police.

“Sites has instituted successful programs and has continuously found ways to improve the office and be more efficient without costing money to the taxpayers,”  FCCP President Chris Cochrane said in a release.

Kincaid has been endorsed by a number of county organizations and influencers, including members of the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers.

She has also received endorsements from public safety unions, including the Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics union and the Fairfax Deputy Sheriffs Union, of which she is a member.

Tuesday’s caucus is being held at Woodson in the auditorium.

Registered voters in either Fairfax County or Fairfax City are eligible to attend, with check-in beginning at 6:30 p.m.