Jack Herrity

John Frances 'Jack' Herrity (January, 1932 - February 1, 2006) was the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1976 to 1988. He had previously served as the supervisor for the Springfield District from 1972 to 1975.

Herrity was born in Washington D.C. After graduating from St. Anthony's High School, he joined the Coast Guard in 1951. Following his service, he attended George Washington University, obtaining a bachelors degree from the School of Foreign Service, and both a bachelors and masters degree in labor law from the University Law Center. Herrity married his first wife, the former Justine Kratz, in 1958, and the couple would eventually have five children.

In 1965, Herrity founded Jack Herrity and Associates, an insurance company.

Although originally a Democrat, Herrity first sought political office as a Republican in 1971, and was elected as the supervisor from the Springfield district in November of that year, defeating Democratic incumbent Virginia McEnearney.

After serving a term as the lone Republican on the board, Herrity sought the Chair in 1975. He received his party's nomination on May 20, 1975, defeating state Delegate Warren E. Barry, and went on to defeat incumbent Democrat Jean R. Packard on November 4.

Herrity ran for Congress as the representative from Virginia's 8th congressional district in 1978, but lost to incumbent Herbert E. Harris, II.

In 1979, Herrity sought reelection, defeating Democrat Vivian E. Watts in the November election.

Herrity was uncommonly sedate in his 1983 reelection campaign, but still managed to defeat Patricia C. Watt and win his third term as chairman.

Herrity's run finally came to an end in the elections of 1987, when he was defeated by Democrat Audrey Moore, who had campaigned on a platform of slower growth in Fairfax County.

Herrity had three heart attacks while in office, the first two in 1976, and finally gave up smoking after his third in 1985. Herrity had a heart transplant in 1994.

Herrity died after spending two weeks in the Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Awards and Honors
The Fairfax County Parkway was designated the John F. (Jack) Herrity Parkway by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995. The Herrity Building in the Fairfax County Government Center complex is named after Herrity.