The Lasso hosted a virtual candidate forum during Block 8 on October 15 for School Board and City Council candidates to address Falls Church City’s youngest voters. A recording of the forum is available here. 

Candidates answered the following questions:

• What is one tangible policy you would like to implement in Falls Church?
• What is one tangible policy you would like to implement in schools?
• Would you be in favor of requiring the COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible FCCPS students?
• How can we take steps to educate students about the LGBTQIA+ community and ensure Falls Church is a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ students?
• On City Council, what steps will you take to implement affordable housing policies?

Some questions were drafted by the Lasso Editorial Board and others were questions from the student population. All candidates were given 60 seconds for opening statements and 45 seconds to answer questions.

Many candidates thanked students for listening and stressed the importance of younger generations participating in politics. 

“I want to express my appreciation to each and everyone who is participating in this to all the students, but especially to [Lasso co-Editors-in-Chief] Sam [Mostow] and Eva [Williams],” City Council candidate David Snyder said. “You’re playing a critical role in the importance of a free press.”

This forum was also an opportunity for Meridian students to learn about the ideas that the City Council and School Board candidates have and get a chance to hear answers of questions they had for the candidates.

Throughout the forum, candidates for both the council and board thanked the students and emphasized the importance of student participation in government.

“Thank you for joining us and spending your time learning about local politics,” City Council candidate Debbie Hiscott said. “It’s really important.”

“Students, thank you very much,” Snyder said. “You’re part of a long stream of students who have graduated and gone through some of the best schools in America.”