Leader on Criminal Justice Reform and Former Federal Prosecutor, Steve Descano, announces bid for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA --- At the Fairfax County Democratic Committee meeting on November 27th, Steve Descano announced his candidacy to be the next Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Steve is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, a former federal prosecutor under the Obama Administration, and a progressive leader who has worked extensively with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia and the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee. Steve was also one of the inaugural members of the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel, a position he relinquished to run for Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Steve’s campaign is based on three central themes:
Community – Constituents should know their elected officials and trust that their values are the community’s values.
Equality – Everyone should get a fair shake in the criminal justice system, regardless of how much money they make, where they live, or the color of their skin.
Justice – There are no shortcuts to justice, and it’s the job of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to think holistically about our criminal justice system’s effects on the communities it’s meant to serve.
In his announcement, Steve said “We need a Commonwealth’s Attorney that understands the critical role that community engagement must play in a 21st-Century criminal justice system… we must work not just to eliminate crime, but to eliminate fear.”
The Democratic primary election for Commonwealth’s Attorney will take place on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. The general election will coincide with other state elections on November 5th.
Steve lives in Burke with his wife of 15 years, Ryanne, and their daughter Charlotte, 7. More information about Steve’s issue profile and vision for the office of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney is available on his website. Connect with Steve on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date with campaign events and announcements.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney is the lead prosecutor for the county, taking on thousands of cases every year. The Commonwealth’s Attorney leads an office of prosecutors and determines how the office exercises prosecutorial discretion and handles its cases, including the office’s stances on charging, pleas, and sentencing, among other issues. An elected position, the Commonwealth’s Attorney serves four-year terms and is elected in non-gubernatorial state elections.