Arlington County Board Meeting, January 25, 2025.
At the January 14 meeting of the Arlington Civic Federation (CivFed), George Mason University Public Policy Professor and former County Board Chair John Milliken delivered a paean to Arlington County government.
According to Milliken, the modified county manager form of government, adopted circa 1932 when the county had a population of 26,000, was essentially the same then as now. The only change was to elect the 5 member at-large county board for staggered terms instead of every four years.
In Millken’s view: “Given the plaudits we’ve seen for Arlington in recent years and before, it’s a system that has served us very, very well. . . In those 88 years we’ve had a pretty good system.” The only question for Milliken is whether the system will continue to serve us well.
Milliken’s tribute overlooks the fact that County government is as undemocratic in its operation as it was racist in its origins.
According to local historian Sherman Pratt, the current at large system was adopted after Black leaders ran for local office in the county’s 3 districts. Replacing these districts with an at large board thwarted Black political ambitions for several generations.
Because board members are not accountable to their neighbors, it has also served to silence any neighborhood or civic organization that opposes County Board on any matter large or small.
Milliken is also evidently unaware of a “Resolution to Restore the Public’s Confidence in Arlington County Governance” adopted by CivFed in 2023 that thoroughly documented a long list of abuses in the County’s dealings with its citizens.
In light of these inconvenient truths, I challenge Milliken’s full throated support for the status quo.