ABC Brochure
“Arlingtonians for a Better County,” or ABC, was a powerful non-partisan political force in Arlington County for decades, beginning in the late 1940s. The group was formed by residents who wanted to address local issues and advocate for change during a time when the Hatch Act limited the political participation of federal workers. One of ABC’s earliest and most significant issues was the improvement of Arlington’s public school system, which had a poor reputation prior to an influx of federal workers into the area. Many new residents prioritized strong public schools and worked through ABC to make improvements. As part of its school improvement campaign, ABC successfully advocated for Arlington to have an elected school board. This was significant because it ended the state’s practice of appointing the board. In 1949, Arlington’s school board became the first in Virginia to be democratically elected.
ABC members pushed for reforms like a county manager form of government, increased transparency, and fairer budgeting. They also promoted civic engagement and encouraged qualified candidates to run for office—often challenging the long-standing political machine. Arlington had grown rapidly during and after World War II. But local leaders refused to act quickly enough to meet the pressing needs of overcrowded schools, no libraries, poor streets, storm drainage, and few sidewalks.
ABC’s support for the public schools put it at odds with segregationist forces in the county. The group viewed the potential closure of the public school system to maintain segregation as an “almost existential threat”. Many ABC members believed that keeping the schools open was more important than maintaining segregation. For years, ABC worked in a traditional coalition with Arlington Democrats. In 1978, the group faced a major challenge for control of the County Board. While the original ABC no longer exists, it has become a model for similar “Arlingtonians for…” groups today to advocate for specific local issues.
