Four McLean district residents have qualified to run for seats on the McLean Community Center’s 2007–2008 Governing Board. As there are only three adult and two teen positions available on the board in this year’s election, all four candidates are currently unopposed and will take seats on the board unless a write-in campaign determines otherwise.
The board sets policy and provides general oversight for all the facilities and programs of the Center, including the Robert Ames Alden Theatre and the Old Firehouse Teen Center.
Governing Board balloting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at the McLean Day festival at Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road. Residents also may vote by absentee ballot from Monday, April 16, through Wednesday, May 16. The center is located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.
Residents of Dranesville Small District No. 1 are eligible to run for a seat on the 11-member board. Candidates are required to obtain the signatures of 10 McLean district residents in order to have their names placed on the election ballot.
Three adult positions and two youth positions are open this year. Adult members will serve three-year terms; youth members will serve one-year terms. One youth member (age 15 to 17 years old) will be selected from the area served by McLean High School and one will represent the area served by Langley High School. However, youth candidates do not have to attend these schools to serve on the board.
Write-in candidates are allowed.
Adults vote for adults and youth (ages 15–17) vote for the youth representative who resides within the same high school district, Langley or McLean. Residents of Dranesville Small District No. 1 may cast their votes in the election at the McLean Day 2006 festival or by absentee ballot. Residents must provide proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or another form of identification, in order to cast a vote.
Absentee ballots will be available beginning Monday, April 16. A resident may request an absentee ballot package by phone or e-mail (mail@mcleancenter.org), or pick one up at the center. Completed ballot packages must be received at the center by close of business — 11 p.m. — on Wednesday, May 16.
For more information on the MCC Governing Board Election, call the Center at 703-790-0123/TTY: TAP-TALK, or visit www.mcleancenter.org
Adult Candidate Statements
Katherine Armstrong
I have lived in McLean for nearly 15 years and our children attend Churchill Road Elementary School and Madeira. I enjoy volunteering at their schools, at SHARE, and previously served on the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. For nearly 24 years, I have been an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission working on consumer protection issues. I am currently serving an unexpired, one-year term on the MCC Board and look forward to the opportunity to serve again.
Drew Clark
Drew Clark grew up in McLean and graduated from Langley High School in 1983. He returned to the area in 1993. He now lives near McLean High School with his wife Jennifer, their seven-year-old son Elijah, and three-year-old daughter Grace. Clark wants the McLean Community Center to thrive with activities for all ages. He wants our community to better utilize the advantages of information technology for communications. Professionally, Clark works as a technology journalist. Go to www.drewclark.com/mclean, for more information.
Kevin Dent
Kevin Dent lives on Ingleside Avenue with his wife, Kerrie, and his four children Alanna, Patrick, Collin and Kiera. He is a transactional lawyer with Baker Botts, L.L.P., where he has practiced for 18 years. As a neighbor of the Center and a lawyer with a strong real estate development background, Kevin hopes to provide the board with guidance on how best to evaluate the various options it faces with respect to expansion of the facilities and offerings at MCC.
Youth Candidate Statements
Jeb Byrne –
Langley High School Area
My name is Jeb Byrne and I’m the oldest of eight children. I’m a sophomore at Georgetown Prep and this is my second year in student government. I have held many other leadership positions at Prep. I have participated in McLean Youth Sports since I have been eligible and I am interested in serving on the board as a way of giving back to the McLean community. McLean has provided me with 10 years of great memories playing many sports.