Key Facts
Background
Jeffrey C. “Jeff” McKay has been involved in Fairfax County politics for 20 years. He served for 12 years as then-Supervisor Dana Kauffman’s chief of staff. After that, he ran and won the election as Franconia District Supervisor in November 2007. He was elected Chairman in 2019 [2].
McKay has a BS in Public Administration and Political Science from James Madison University and is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership [3]. He served as president of the college Young Democrats during his sophomore and senior years, and as Chair of the Virginia Young Democrats College Caucus [1].
In 2019, McKay was investigated by the Virginia State Police. The investigation considered whether McKay’s purchase of his family home from a developer friend for $850,000 in 2017 was an undisclosed gift. McKay denied malfeasance, and was later cleared of any wrongdoing [1]. More recently, McKay has received criticism for allegedly using a county take-home car for personal errands and prohibited personal use [6].
Key Issues
COVID-19
During the COVID pandemic, McKay supported Fairfax County’s mass testing, vaccination equity clinics, quarantine and isolation sites, and the evictions task force. McKay wants to ensure that as many Fairfax County residents as possible are vaccinated [1].
Economy
McKay supports expanding benefits for employees and entering collective bargaining agreements with unions. During McKay’s time as Chairman, Fairfax County passed six weeks of paid family leave and a collective bargaining ordinance [4, 5].
Social Programs
McKay wants to allocate spending toward rental and food assistance, healthcare, small business grants, community outreach, and more. He has established the Chairman’s Task Force on Equity and Opportunity to address the social inequality that exists in Fairfax County [1].
Incarceration
McKay supports the Diversion First program, which directs people away from jail and into mental health treatment [1].
Endorsements
The Washington Post; Mark Warner, U.S. Senator and 69th Governor of Virginia; Terry McAuliffe, 72nd Governor of Virginia; Gerry Connolly, Member of Congress; Jennifer Wexton, Member of Congress; David Marsden, Virginia State Senator; Adam Ebbin, Virginia State Senator; Barbara Favola, Virginia State Senator; George Barker, Virginia State Senator; Mark Sickles, Virginia State Delegate; Paul Krizek, Virginia State Delegate; Eileen Filler-Corn, Virginia State Delegate; Vivian Watts, Virginia State Delegate; Kaye Kory, Virginia State Delegate; Stacey Kincaid, Fairfax County Sheriff; Sharon Bulova, Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Kathy Smith; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Penny Gross; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; John Foust; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Cathy Hudgins; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Dan Storck; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Linda Smyth; Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Karen Corbett Sanders, Chair, Fairfax County School Board; The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics 2068; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 26; Service Employees International Union 512; Service Employees International Union 32BJ; Keystone Mountain Lake Regional Council Carpenters; Baltimore/Washington Laborers District Council (LiUNA); Sierra Club of Virginia; The Fairfax League of Conservation Voters; Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades; UNITE HERE 25; Fairfax Education Association; Fairfax Coalition of Police 5000
Sources
1 Wikipedia
2 Fairfax County, Virginia
3 McKay for Chairman
4 InsideNOVA
5 Fairfax Times
6 WJLA