Editing Fairfax, Virginia (section)

==Local government and politics==
As an independent city of Virginia, rather than an incorporated town within a county, Fairfax derives its governing authority from the [[Virginia General Assembly]]. In order to revise the power and structure of the city government, the city must request the General Assembly to amend the charter. The present charter was granted in 1966.<ref name="charter">{{cite web|title=Fairfax, City of|url=http://law.lis.virginia.gov/charters/fairfax/|website=Legislative Information System|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref> An [[exclave]] of Fairfax County is located within Fairfax.<ref name="Fairfaxcitymap" /><ref name="Courtadd" />
{{PresHead|place=Fairfax, Virginia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}} Retrieved December 8, 2020.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|4,302|8,797|468|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|4,007|9,174|302|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|3,702|7,367|959|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,775|6,651|203|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,691|6,575|132|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|5,045|5,395|106|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,762|4,361|433|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,319|3,909|517|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,333|3,884|1,476|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,576|3,430|95|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,234|3,263|41|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,475|2,614|915|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,174|3,464|185|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,063|2,274|138|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,963|2,153|968|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1964|Democratic|1,924|2,835|7|Virginia}}

=== Elected officials ===
In November on even-numbered years, city voters elect a Mayor, six at-large Councilmembers, and five at-large School Board members to serve two-year terms. These offices are non-partisan and at-large, and there are no term limits.<ref name="charter" /> City voters also elect the two city constitutional officers: Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue for four-year terms. Other elected officials who serve the city elected by city and Fairfax County voters include the Sheriff (four-year term), Commonwealth's Attorney (four-year term), and Clerk of the Court (eight-year term). State elected officials who represent Fairfax include the Virginia Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Virginia Senator (34th District), and Virginia Delegate (37th District). Starting with the 2023 election, the city will lie within the 37th Virginia Senate district and the 11th House of Delegates district. Federal elected officials who represent the Fairfax include the [[President of the United States|U.S. President]], [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]], two [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]] (six-year terms), and one [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]], 11th District (two-year term).

===Mayor arrested for distribution of methamphetamine===
On August 4, 2016, then-Mayor Scott Silverthorne was arrested in a sting operation conducted by the Fairfax County Police Department. After receiving a tip that he was involved in drugs-related activities online, a police detective engaged Silverthorne on an online website "...used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men."<ref name="FCPD">{{cite web|title=Three Arrested for Distribution of Methamphetamine|url=https://fcpdnews.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/three-arrested-for-distribution-of-methamphetamine/|website=Fairfax County Police Department Public Affairs Bureau|date=August 5, 2016 |publisher=Fairfax County Police Department|access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref> The detective then arranged a meeting with Silverthorne and two other men, in which they agreed to exchange methamphetamine. At the meeting in [[Tysons, Virginia|Tysons]], detectives performed the exchange and then arrested Silverthorne along with the two other men. He was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.<ref name="FCPD"/> He announced his resignation on Monday, August 8, 2016, in a letter to the City Council.<ref name="WaPo Story Silverthorne">{{cite news|last1=Olivo|first1=Antonio|title=Fairfax Mayor Scott Silverthorne to resign after sex-for-drugs arrest|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/fairfax-mayor-scott-silverthorne-to-resign-after-sex-for-drugs-arrest/2016/08/08/bd68772c-5d78-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html|access-date=October 19, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>

Silverthorne maintains that he was not distributing methamphetamine for sex, and he was not tried for any sexual crimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.queerty.com/scott-silverthrone-talks-meth-sex-scandal-addiction-everything-media-got-wrong-20170702|title=Scott Silverthorne talks about his 'meth-for-sex' scandal, addiction, & everything the media got wrong|first=Graham|last=Gremore|date=July 2, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023201928/https://www.queerty.com/scott-silverthrone-talks-meth-sex-scandal-addiction-everything-media-got-wrong-20170702|archive-date=October 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Nonprofit Grants Program ===
In December 2024 the recipients of the City's new Nonprofit Grants Program<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nonprofit Grants Program {{!}} City of Fairfax, VA |url=https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/human-services/city-of-fairfax-nonprofit-grant-program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240923230406/https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/human-services/city-of-fairfax-nonprofit-grant-program |archive-date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.fairfaxva.gov |language=en}}</ref> were named. <ref>[https://www.fairfaxva.gov/Home/Components/News/News/13137/18 City of Fairfax Va, Nonprofit Grants Program recipients 2024.]  ''www.fairfaxva.gov.''  City of Fairfax VA Website. Retrieved on December 12 2024</ref> Announced in 2024 the City funded the grant program $300,000. Ongoing funding for the nonprofit grant program will be approved as part of the city’s annual budget process.
The City offers two grant options for human services nonprofits:

# '''Standard Nonprofit Grant''': This competitive program funds nonprofits seeking to develop, expand, or enhance services for city residents in the areas of prevention, crisis intervention, long-term support, and human services. Organizations may apply for a $10,001-$50,000 grant. For FY25, $275,000 is allocated.
# '''Mini-Grant:''' The Mini-Grants program provides funding through a competitive process for eligible nonprofits focused on capacity building or small-scale projects. The application requires basic details about the organization's mission, project, budget, and two performance measures. Organizations may apply for a $5,000-$10,000 grant. For FY25, $25,000 is allocated.*<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nonprofit Grants Program {{!}} City of Fairfax, VA |url=https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/human-services/city-of-fairfax-nonprofit-grant-program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240923230406/https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/human-services/city-of-fairfax-nonprofit-grant-program |archive-date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.fairfaxva.gov |language=en}}</ref>