*disclaimer* The author of this article is the daughter of April Chandler, a member of the LCPS School Board representing Algonkian District. This article is unbiased and factual, and is in no way affiliated with Mrs. Chandler.

On November 7, Virginia’s state-wide legislative elections were held, with 140,810 people in Loudoun county showing up to cast their ballot. The same night, the results were declared. Here’s a little bit about the candidates elected to offices that represent our district: Algonkian district. 

Russett Perry, Senate, 31 district

The Senate, the upper chamber of Virginia’s legislative branch, contains 40 seats, and works to create laws and establish a state budget. Perry ran and won on a Democratic platform. As seen in many of her ads, she is an advocate for women’s rights to abortion, and means to bring down the cost of living, endorse common sense gun laws, and ensure both necessary healthcare and a fair justice system. Formerly, Perry was a CIA officer and a prosecutor for Loudoun’s Commonwealth Attorney Office.

Atoosa Reaser, House of Delegates, 27 district

In the lower chamber of the legislative branch, the House of Delegates, Reaser has won one of a hundred seats. She is a democrat, attorney on the Virginia State Bar, and the current (leaving office in January) school board member for Algonkian District. She places an emphasis on quality public education, safe gun legislation, and women’s rights to abortion. Reaser’s family immigrated from Iran when she was a young age, as she says on her website, “They wanted to ensure she could grow up in a free country, where she would have equal access to education.”

Bob Anderson, Commonwealth’s Attorney

The Commonwealth’s Attorney is an office that prosecutes felonies and misdemeanors in Loudoun County. Bob Anderson will once again fill this role of constitutional officer, after a previous stint from 1996 to 2003. He is “passionate about the pursuit of justice and ensuring the safety of our communities and children,” as he says on his website. His strategy to “combat violent crime” is “aggressive.” As the officer, he promises a transparent “open-door policy,” and to improve coordination, cooperation, and communication in the office. 

Mike Chapman, Sheriff

Chapman has been serving as the sheriff since 2012, and has once again won re-election. Formerly, he served as the DEA’s Chief of Public Affairs, along with other roles in the administration, and was an officer for the police department in Howard County, Maryland. Chapman will continue to operate the largest sheriff’s department in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Henry Eickelberg, Treasurer

The Treasurer’s office is responsible for billing and collecting taxes, and investing and safeguarding the county’s revenue. Eickelberg is a Republican, but stresses the importance of the office remaining non-partisan. He was the corporate Vice President of Human Resources at a Fortune 100 company, and was appointed by both Obama and Trump to advisory committees. He also continued to serve under Biden’s presidency. 

Phyllis Randall, Board of Supervisors, Chair

Randall has been the Chair of the Board of Supervisors since 2015, having won re-election twice now. At the time, she was the first person of color elected as the chair of a county board in Virginia history. While the Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, approves land rezonings, and more, Randall represents Loudoun on various regional, state, and national bodies. She also is a mental health therapist with a past of working in justice-related populations. 

Juli Briskman, Board of Supervisors, Member

Briskman is a member of the Board of Supervisors, representing Algonkian district. She has been in Loudoun for over two decades, and started her career in journalism. After her time with the State Department overseas, she started to work in education. Briskman believes in women’s rights to abortion and equality in the workforce, adequately funding public schools, and transparency in the government. 

April Chandler, School Board, Member

The School Board is the official policy-making body of Loudoun County Schools, and Chandler will be the representative for Algonkian District starting in 2024. She has a background in education, working in preschools before becoming a substitute teacher. More recently, she served as staff aide to Atoosa Reaser while she was the Algonkian representative. Chandler’s platform is built on her belief that schools are meant to be a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Additionally, she believes in the importance of building communities, and both hiring and retaining excellent educators.