March 17 Chosen for Special Election to Replace Forrester

Court must approve election date

A special election will be held March 17 to decide who will replace Councilwoman Kristin Forrester.

The long-serving Dumfries Town Councilwoman stepped down from the governing body last night. She will take a new Federal Government job overseas.

The council will appoint someone to fill the Council vacancy. The appointee will hold the position until a special election is held to select the permanent council person.

The March 17 date was chosen because it is 56 days prior to Virginia’s June 9 Primary Election. Candidates who wish to replace Forrester must now go into the community and obtain at least 125 signatures, that will later be verified by the Prince William County Voter Registrar, to have their name included on the ballot.

Some council members, including Forrester, wanted to allow whomever is appointed to serve until May 2016.

“It will give my replacement time to work with the council, give time to give input for to the council rather than just sitting up here for a couple weeks,” said Forrester.

But Mayor Jerry Foreman and Councilman Cliff Brewer said an election is needed sooner than later.

“By us appointing someone, we’re taking it out of the citizens’ hands. We need to put this back in the citizens hands and let them decide who they want on this council,” said Brewer.

“If we wait until May 2016, the person will fill this seat will fill it for 18 months. If we ask our citizens and say ‘hey give us you resumes, we want to know who is interested in this position’ and then turn around and select someone for 18 months, that person is serving for half a term and I think the citizens should be the ones selecting that, not the council members,” said Foreman.

The court must approve the March 17 special election day. The Town Council is expected to appoint an interim Council member in January.