Sharon Bulova

Sharon Bulova
Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
In office
February 3, 2009 – December 16, 2019
Preceded byGerry Connolly
Succeeded byJeff McKay
Member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from the Braddock district
In office
1988–2009
Preceded byAudrey Moore
Succeeded byJohn Cook
Personal details
Born
Sharon Schuster

(1947-12-06) December 6, 1947 (age 77)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Richard T. Bulova
  • Louis G. DeFalaise
Children
Alma materNorthern Virginia Community College
Websitesharonbulova.com

Sharon Schuster Bulova /bəˈloʊvə/ is an American politician who was chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia. A Democrat, she was first elected chairman in a special election on February 3, 2009.[1] Bulova was reelected in 2011 and again on November 3, 2015. She retired at the end of her last term in January 2020.[2]

Early life and education

One of four children of Lawrence King Schuster, Sr. and the former Mary Suzanne Knox, Sharon Schuster grew up in Pikesville, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.[3] In 1966, Schuster married scientist Richard T. Bulova and the couple moved to Fairfax County, where Richard worked at Fort Belvoir.[4] After living in Woodbridge for a short time, in 1971, they moved back to Fairfax County, buying a house in the Kings Park West neighborhood of Fairfax.[5][6]

Bulova was elected vice president of the Kings Park West Civic Association, then became president when the existing president moved to Korea.[6] In 1984, Annandale District Supervisor Audrey Moore hired Bulova.[7]

Political career

In 1987, Bulova was working as a legislative aide to Annandale District Supervisor Audrey Moore when Moore decided to challenge Republican Jack Herrity for the Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.[8] Moore encouraged Bulova to replace her on the Board; Bulova declared her candidacy in April 1987.[9]

Bulova, a Democrat, defeated Republican D. Patrick Mullins for the Annandale District seat in the November 1987 election, and was sworn in the following January.[10]

In 1988, Bulova became a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.[11]

In her first term as supervisor, Bulova focused on transportation, environmental and educational issues.[12] One of her major projects, which she had begun working on while still on Audrey Moore's staff, was the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service.[6]

Bulova announced her run for a second term as supervisor in February 1991.[13] Though Democratic chair Audrey Moore was deeply unpopular, and despite the Republican strategy of tying all the board's Democrats to deeply unpopular chair Audrey Moore, Bulova won reelection as supervisor from the renamed Braddock District in November 1991, defeating Paul E. Jenkins.[14][15]

In her 1995 run, Bulova handily defeated the Republican candidate, restaurant owner Paul A. Romano, III.[16]

Bulova was unopposed for her runs as Braddock District Supervisor in 1999 and 2003. She defeated Carey C. Campbell in the 2007 election for Braddock District supervisor with over 80% of the vote.[17]

The election of Gerry Connolly as congressman from Virginia's 11th congressional district in November 2008 necessitated a special election to fill the chairman's seat on the Board of Supervisors. In the February 3, 2009 special election, Bulova defeated her challengers, Republican Springfield District Supervisor Pat S. Herrity, as well as Independent Green Carey C. Campbell and independent Christopher F. DeCarlo.[18]

On November 3, 2015, Bulova was reelected as chairman of the Board of Supervisors, defeating Republican Arthur G. Purves and Independent Green Glenda Gail Parker.[19]

In November 2011, Bulova received the Tower of Dulles award from the Committee for Dulles for her work to bring Metrorail to Dulles International Airport.[20]

Community efforts

In 2011, Bulova initiated a Private Sector Energy Task Force consisting of corporate, institutional, and community leaders.[21][22] The task force was charged with defining a strategy to position Fairfax County as a leader in the areas of energy efficiency, sustainability, and green technology.[23]

The Business Roundtable Discussion Group was put together by Bulova to identify strategies for accelerating economic recovery in Fairfax County. In addition, the group is tasked with finding new economic development opportunities that include energy efficiency, conservation, and affordable housing strategies.[24]

Bulova put together a task force for the Fairfax County Asian American History Project. In May 2010, this task force produced a book and a website which captures the history of Asian-Americans in Fairfax County.[25]

Bulova founded the Faith Communities in Action. This countywide network encourages faith communities and charitable non-profit organizations to work in partnership with local government to better respond to the needs of the community.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Chairman-Elect Bulova to Be Sworn in Feb. 6" (Press release). Fairfax County, Virginia. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  2. ^ Olivo, Antonio (2019-11-06). "Democrats pick up one board seat in Fairfax but GOP's Herrity hangs on". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  3. ^ "Larry Schuster Sr., Sharon Bulova's Father, Dies". Connection Newspapers. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  4. ^ Anderson and, John Ward; Hilzenrath, David S. (31 December 1987). "Fairfax Board Takes New Direction: Chairman Moore At Forefront of Drive To Curb Growth". The Washington Post. ProQuest 139074979.
  5. ^ Baker, Peter (14 January 1989). "To Residents, Kings Park West is Place to Grow". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Bulova, Sharon (5 May 2005). "Oral History Interview" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Laura McDowell. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  7. ^ Biele, Jesse (14 May 2011). "Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova Announces Re-Election Campaign". Centreville Patch. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  8. ^ Anderson, John Ward (22 April 1987). "Audrey Moore Opens Campaign for Chairman: Fairfax Board Member to Oppose Herrity". The Washington Post. ProQuest 139086998.
  9. ^ "Moore Aide Announces". The Washington Post. 30 April 1987. ProQuest 306865927.
  10. ^ Hockstader, Lee; Jordan, Mary (4 November 1987). "Moore Trounces Herrity: Defeat of Fairfax County Board Chairman Signals Slower Growth". The Washington Post. ProQuest 306968925.
  11. ^ "Transit Means Business! Speaker and Panelist Bios: Sharon Bulova" (PDF). Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Choices in Fairfax County". The Washington Post. 3 November 1991. ProQuest 140565134.
  13. ^ "Bulova to Run For Reelection". The Washington Post. 21 February 1991. ProQuest 140405561.
  14. ^ Seaberry, Jane (6 November 1991). "Republicans Gain Control Of Board". The Washington Post. ProQuest 140566517.
  15. ^ Baker, Peter (14 November 1991). "GOP Wins By Linking Democrats; Republicans Capitalized On Rejection of Moore". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  16. ^ "NORTHERN VIRGINIA ELECTION RESULTS: Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties". The Washington Post. 9 November 1995. ProQuest 307865325.
  17. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » 2007 Board of Supervisors General Election Fairfax County - Braddock". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  18. ^ Gardner, Amy; Somashekhar, Sandhya (2009-02-04). "Bulova Declares Victory in Fairfax". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  19. ^ Olivo, Antonio (2015-11-03). "Big wins for incumbents, Democrats in Virginia's largest jurisdiction". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  20. ^ a b "Biography". Sharon Bulova Web site. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  21. ^ McCaffrey, Scott (3 March 2011). "Fairfax Effort to Tackle Energy Issues Wins Applause from Neighbor". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Fairfax creates business energy use task force - Washington Business Journal". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  23. ^ "Fairfax Effort to Tackle Energy Issues Wins Applaud from Neighbor"
  24. ^ "Chairman Bulova's Biography". Fairfax County Web site. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  25. ^ "FCAAHPHome". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sharon Bulova.